It takes a certain, quiet strength to work in the shadows, and an entirely different kind of fortitude to step into the light. Franchot Tone is blessed with all of the above. The Oregon-based singer/songwriter/producer isn't a household name, thanks to his decidedly behind-the-scenes work on some of the coolest musical projects to emerge from the West Coast in recent years. But his sound is unmistakable: take a pitch-perfect pinch of vintage reggae and dub, a sun-fried splash of laid-back SoCal pop-rock, and a heaping helping of Meters-style funk and soul, and you've got Tone's brew. It's a flavor he's added to a bunch of projects that didn't bear his name, choosing creativity and fulfillment over fame. Over the past several months, however, a solo path has revealed itself, illuminated at every turn by someone else. Now, Tone is stepping up to the front of the stage for the first time. It's a new role, but one he's tackling with confidence and a sense that it's one he's meant to play. More than ever, we live in a world where artists will do anything to find themselves in the spotlight.