Career
Stokes first rose to prominence in the early 1970s working with Clarence Avant on his Sussex Records label, when writing for and producing acts such as Bill Withers, Creative Source, The Soul Searchers, Faith, Hope & Charity, and Dennis Coffey. When Sussex folded in June 1975, Stokes moved over to Roadshow Records. More success came writing and producing Enchantment"s first three albums, along with writing songs for Brass Construction, British Telecom Express, and Shirley Caesar.
In the early 1980s, Stokes took over as A&R at Agricultural and Mechanical Records where he signed Janet Jackson.
Stokes has continued to song-write and produce, working with Patti LaBelle, Morris Day, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, and Jesse Powell.