Stone Poneys

Formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965, Stone Poneys was a folk-rock band whose modest success served as a launchpad for the career of the group's most famous member, American singer Linda Rondstadt. Stone Poneys' original lineup also included guitarists Kenny Edwards and Bobby Kimmel, both of whom co-wrote the bulk of the band's material. After becoming a hip fixture on the Los Angles nightclub circuit, the group signed with Capitol Records in 1966 and released a self-titled debut album, The Stone Poneys, early the following year. Evergreen, Volume 2 was released that summer and peaked at Number 100 in the US, marking the band's only time appearing on the Billboard 200. The group did, however, climb to Number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 1967's "Different Drum," a gender-bending cover of Michael Nesmith's original song. By the time Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. III was released in 1968, though, the group's lineup and musical direction had shifted radically, and Linda Ronstadt's increasing prospects as a solo artist had begun to cause tension within the band's ranks. The record proved to be the final release of Stone Poneys' career, with Ronstadt officially going solo one year later with the album Hand Sown ... Home Grown.