Harvey Stone, credited as one of the architects of modern urban contemporary radio, has died. He was 83.
As the longtime president and general manager of KBLX(FM), Stone spent 31 years shaping one of the most influential stations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
He guided the station from Inner City Broadcasting’s acquisition of the former KRE(FM) through its sale to Entercom in 2012, according to a release.
Under his watch, KBLX became a successful independently operated, minority-owned radio property that consistently competed against major broadcast groups with greater resources.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Stone was recruited by the Sutton family — owners of Inner City Broadcasting — to lead KBLX. There, he helped develop the signature “Quiet Storm” format, blending contemporary R&B, smooth jazz and mellow instrumentals.
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Guided by his philosophy that “music has no color,” Stone helped shape a station that attracted a diverse audience while remaining rooted in the African American community.
He was also instrumental in convincing national advertisers to invest in Urban radio at a time when many agency buyers overlooked the format due to outdated assumptions.
Beyond programming, Stone created the “Stone Soul Picnic,” which grew into a popular Northern California live music event and community celebration.
Stone was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2015.
He was also affectionately known as the “godfather” of the California Historical Radio Society for his role in securing Berkeley’s historic KRE building as the organization’s first permanent home.
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