Kevin Stonerock is a product of the Midwest, born and raised in a small town 40 miles east of Indianapolis. He was Americana before the word became a staple in the music lexicon—an amalgamation of traditional country and roots rock, with the sensibilities and lyricism of a folk artist. Whether in concert, on stage doing any one of several original monologues, writing a play or crafting a song, first and foremost, Stonerock is a master storyteller; an introverted extrovert who is more comfortable in front of a crowd than in one.
As an artist, he’s always been hard to pigeon-hole. Never a person to settle on one specific musical destination, his songs contain elements of folk, retro country, rock and bluegrass; a trait which caused some confusion for the suits when he was label shopping in the late 70’s. A common refrain was that he was too rock for country, too country for rock and roll and too folksy for either. In the 80’s, through a happy accident, Stonerock swerved into a career as an actor, script writer, and producer while still keeping up his chops as a performing musician and songwriter. With over 5,000 performances to his credit, he hasn’t had a 9-5 job in over 30 years.
Although he was born and raised in the Midwest, his roots go deep into the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. A blood relative of “Davy” Crockett (they share common grandparents), he apparently inherited his famous cousin’s penchant for storytelling and love of solitude; conflicting notions which on one hand require being alone and the other an audience. As a songwriter, he brings ordinary characters to life with empathy and dignity. Songs like “Indian Man”, “Railroad Man” and “Black Diamonds”, the latter a story of a talented but alcoholic WW2 veteran with survivor’s guilt. Stonerock’s small town upbringing has also left it’s mark on his writing. “Thornburg Street”, “Small Town Rock and Roll”, “Those Days” and (from his latest release) “The Town Where I Was Born” pay homage to a way of life that he reveres and treasures.
Stonerock has released 6 solo albums, another as part of the Americana band “Bottom Dollar” and a book and CD set entitled "Civil War History Through Song". The songs for his latest album, released in May 2020, were all written in a two month period in the winter of 2018-19, snowed in and holed up by himself in a cabin he built in the woods, one half mile from the nearest road.
In addition to hundreds of coffeehouses, libraries, colleges, clubs, theaters, community centers, restaurants, concert halls, car lot promotions, corporate events and roadside dives, Kevin has been featured and shared the stage with notable artists at renowned venues such as The Improvisation in Hollywood, songwriter rounds at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, The Master Musicians Festival, Old National Centre, Rupp Arena, and center court at Market Square Arena as opening act for the Indiana Pacers. His sixth album of self-penned songs, Twilight Town, was released in May, 2020.