Biography
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Years Active
2008 – present (17 years)
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Members
- Brent Enman
- Josh Sanders
- Marty Hill
- Ronnie Riddle
Preacher Stone is an American southern rock band formed in 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina, by songwriters Marty Hill and Ronnie Riddle. The group emerged with a vision to revive the classic southern rock sound reminiscent of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, blending it with a modern edge. Their self-titled debut album, released in August 2009, quickly gained traction, earning airplay across the United States and Europe. The band’s breakthrough came when their song "Not Today" was featured on two seasons of the FX television series Sons of Anarchy, exposing them to a global audience and cementing their place in the southern rock resurgence.
The original lineup evolved from the remnants of two local North Carolina bands, Phantom Park and Riddle, and after some changes, settled with Ronnie Riddle on lead vocals, Marty Hill on lead guitar, Ben Robinson on guitar, Johnny Webb on keyboards, Jim Bolt on bass, and Josh Wyatt on drums. Known for their high-energy live performances, Preacher Stone built a reputation as a must-see act, often described as a mix of a rock show, a tent revival, and a family reunion. Their music, rooted in themes of real life—love, struggle, and Southern identity—resonates with a dedicated fanbase dubbed "The Congregation."
Over the years, Preacher Stone has released five albums: Preacher Stone (2009), Uncle Buck’s Vittles (2010), Paydirt (2014), Remedy (2016), and V (2024). Their discography reflects a maturation of sound, incorporating broader influences from classic rock and Americana while retaining their southern roots. The band has toured extensively across the United States and Europe, sharing stages with iconic acts like ZZ Top, Blackberry Smoke, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Deep Purple. Notable milestones include multiple appearances on the Lynyrd Skynyrd Simple Man Cruise and the Rock Legends Cruise, as well as a 2016 European tour spanning five countries.
Despite facing significant challenges, including the loss of keyboardist Johnny Webb in January 2024 and founding guitarist Marty Hill in May 2024, the band has persevered. Hill’s dying wish was for Preacher Stone to continue, a legacy now carried forward by Riddle, Robinson, Bolt, Wyatt, and new guitarist Nick Nguyen, handpicked by Hill. Their 2024 release, V, recorded at Gat3 Studios in Charlotte with Grammy-winning producer Glenn Tabor, has been hailed as their strongest work yet, earning critical acclaim for its raw emotion and authenticity.
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