The story of how country-rocker Ty Stone hooked up with Kid Rock is already legend in music circles, repeated so often in the media and online that one would think Stone is tired of telling it."You don't get sick of a story like that, my friend," Stone said.Turns out a friend whose sister works at the Palace arranged two Detroit Pistons ticketsnext to Kid Rock's regular courtside seat for the friend and Stone a few yearsback.The friend also made sure to bring along a CD of Stone's material and at one point discreetly approached Rock and asked him to listen to the material, being a fellow Detroiter and all.Kid Rock (Romeo native Bob Ritchie) simply nodded and slipped the CD into his pocket.A few days later, Stone received the phone call that changed his life.A copy of the message, which is on Stone's website, goes like this: "It's Kid Rock. I like your voice. I like your songs. I like all your s—. Give me a call. I'd like to talk to you about your future."Within a few weeks, the Lincoln Park native who, at the time was flipping burgers while tryingto break into the music businessin Los Angeles was signed to Kid Rock's record label.That's how it all began.Flash forward to 2011 andStonereleased his first CD, titled "American Style." With Kid Rock as executive producer, "American Style" is a collection of what he calls "garage country" songs in the style of Bob Seger and John Cougar Mellencamp. There's even a song called "Bob Seger.""I feel every song on the record has the potential to be a No. 1 single," Stone said. "I've got that grimy Detroit thing going on. If you're from this city, you know what that is. It's that dirty, blue collar, greasy fingernails thing, but only a country version of all that."Stone, who's been crisscrossing the country talking up his new record in radio and television interviews, certainly is no stranger to Stars & Stripes. He's attended all of the past events and will now be a participant.And he knows his way around Mount Clemens, being good friends with Uncle Kracker, or Matt Shafer of Harrison Township, and Matt's brother, Michael. He also has played Thanksgiving nightsat the Mug Shots Bar & Grill, which the Shafers opened in Clinton Township."I'm going to make Uncle Kracker proud at Stars & Stripes," he said. "I'm going to play a few covers and sneak in a few surprises for the Clem."Ty Stone performs at 9 p.m. Friday, July 1 on the Budweiser National Stage.
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