Michael Stanley Band
Michael Stanley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Stanley Gee 25 March 1948 |
| Died | 5 March 2021 (aged 72) |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, media personality, radio DJ, television host |
| Years active | 1969–2021 |
| Known for | Michael Stanley Band, Michael Stanley and the Resonators, radio DJ at WNCX |
Michael Stanley (born Michael Stanley Gee; March 25, 1948 – March 5, 2021) was a prominent American singer-songwriter, musician, and media personality known for his work on radio and television. He achieved considerable acclaim in the 1970s and 1980s for his heartland rock style, both as a solo performer and with his groups, the Michael Stanley Band (MSB) and Michael Stanley and the Resonators (MS&R), particularly throughout Cleveland, Ohio, and the broader American Midwest.
Early life, family, and education
Michael Stanley Gee completed his secondary education at Rocky River High School in 1966. He subsequently enrolled at Hiram College on a baseball scholarship, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1970.
Early career
During his college years, Stanley was a member of the band Silk (initially named the Tree Stumps), which issued the album Smooth As Raw Silk through ABC Records in 1969.
Following his graduation, while employed as a regional manager for a record store chain, Stanley launched his debut solo album titled Michael Stanley on Tumbleweed Records in 1973. The album was produced by Bill Szymczyk and featured contributions from notable musicians such as Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, Rick Derringer, and Joe Vitale. The album’s opening track, "Rosewood Bitters," became a regular highlight of Stanley's live shows and was later covered by Walsh in 1985. Later that year, Stanley released his sophomore solo effort, Friends and Legends, on MCA Records, again produced by Szymczyk. This record included collaborations with members from Barnstorm and Stephen Stills's Manassas, alongside artists such as Walsh, Vitale, Kenny Passarelli, Paul Harris, Joe Lala, Al Perkins, David Sanborn, Dan Fogelberg, and Richie Furay. Production assistance was also provided by J. Geils.
Michael Stanley Band
Established in 1974 by Michael Stanley, the Michael Stanley Band (MSB) initially featured singer-songwriter and lead guitarist Jonah Koslen, former bassist of Glass Harp Daniel Pecchio, and drummer Tommy Dobeck from Circus. By 1982, after several lineup changes, the group had expanded into a seven-member ensemble.
The MSB set attendance records at Cleveland area venues, drawing crowds such as 20,320 at the Richfield Coliseum in 1979. Additionally, two concerts held on December 31, 1981, and January 1, 1982, attracted a combined total of 40,529 attendees at the same venue. Their highest attendance came during four nights at the Blossom Music Center in August 1982, amassing an audience of 74,404.
On the national stage, their most successful moment arrived in 1981 with "He Can't Love You," a single from the album Heartland. The track reached #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and climbed to #27 on Cash Box. Another notable song, "In the Heartland" from North Coast, peaked at #6 on Billboard’s Top Tracks chart. The music video for "He Can't Love You" holds historical significance as the 47th video ever aired on MTV. The band's final Top 40 hit was "My Town" in 1983; its distinctive brass and percussion arrangement has since become a staple for the Ohio State University Marching Band.
After delivering twelve farewell performances at the Front Row Theater near Cleveland during the holiday season of 1986–87, MSB officially disbanded in 1987.
In tribute to Stanley's local prominence, Last Call Cleveland produced a theatrical parody titled Michael Stanley Superstar: The Unauthorized Autobiography of the Cuyahoga Messiah in 2004.
- Band Members
- Michael Stanley – vocals, guitar
- Jonah Koslen – lead guitar, vocals (1974–77)
- Daniel Pecchio – bass guitar, vocals (1974–79)
- Tommy Dobeck – drums
- Bob Pelander – keyboards (1976–87)
- Gary Markasky – lead guitar (1978–83)
- Kevin Raleigh – keyboards, vocals (1978–87)
- Michael Gismondi – bass guitar (1979–87)
- Rick Bell – saxophone (1982–84)
- Danny Powers – lead guitar (1983–87)
Television and radio
Between 1987 and 1990, Stanley co-hosted PM Magazine on WJW Channel 8, subsequently continuing with its successor program, Cleveland Tonight, until 1991. Additionally, he made a guest appearance as himself on the television series The Drew Carey Show.
Following a short stint at Cleveland's WMMS radio station, Stanley took on the role of afternoon drive DJ at Cleveland's classic rock station WNCX from 1990 until shortly before his passing in 2021.
In 1993, he joined the Howard Stern Radio Show for a Birthday episode, where he performed "Rosewood Bitters" live alongside Joe Walsh.
Later musical career
After the dissolution of the Michael Stanley Band, Stanley remained active in music by writing, recording, and performing with groups such as Michael Stanley and Friends, the Ghost Poets, the Resonators, and Midlife Chryslers. By 2019, the Resonators were performing approximately 25 concerts annually throughout Northeast Ohio and other parts of the United States. Over his career, he released around sixteen additional albums through Razor & Tie or his own label, Line Level.
Personal life
Stanley was married four times: first to educator Libby Hill Blake from 1970 to 1990; then to television producer Mary McCrone until around 2000; followed by marketing professional Denise Skinner from 2002 until her death from cancer in 2011; and finally to elementary school aide Ilsa Glanzberg from 2017 until his death in 2021. He was father to twin daughters Anna and Sarah (born 1974) and grandfather to five grandchildren.
Health and death
At age 43 in 1991, Stanley suffered his initial heart attack. In 2017, he received a prostate cancer diagnosis and later endured a second heart attack that year, which necessitated quadruple bypass surgery.
Stanley passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 5, 2021, following a seven-month struggle with lung cancer. He is interred at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.
Awards and honors
- From 1987 to 1991 – recipient of several local Emmy Awards
- 2012 – honored with the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Excellence in Radio Award
- 2019 – awarded the Cleveland Arts Prize for Lifetime Achievement
- 2019 – a portion of Huron Avenue in downtown Cleveland was renamed Michael Stanley Way
- 2021 – March 25 proclaimed Michael Stanley Day by the Cleveland City Council
Silk
| Year | Title | Label | Billboard 200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Smooth As Raw Silk | ABC S-694 | 191 |
Solo
| Year | Title | Label | Billboard 200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Michael Stanley | Tumbleweed TWS 106 | 206 |
| 1973 | Friends and Legends | MCA 372 | 207 |
Michael Stanley Band
| Year | Title | Label | Billboard 200 |
RPM 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | You Break It...You Bought It! | Epic PE 33492 | 184 | — |
| 1976 | Ladies' Choice | Epic PE 33917 | — | — |
| 1977 | Stage Pass | Epic PEG 34661 | 207 | — |
| 1978 | Cabin Fever | Arista AL 4182 | 99 | 97 |
| 1979 | Greatest Hints | Arista AL 4236 | 148 | — |
| 1980 | Heartland | EMI America SW–17040 | 86 | — |
| 1981 | North Coast | EMI America SW–17056 | 79 | — |
| 1982 | MSB | EMI America ST–17071 | 136 | — |
| 1983 | You Can't Fight Fashion | EMI America ST–17100 | 64 | — |
| 1984 | Fourth and Ten... | MSB 101 | — | — |
| 1986 | Inside Moves | MSB 201 | — | — |
The Ghost Poets
| Year | Album | Record Label | Billboard 200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Ghost Poets | Razor & Tie RT 2812 | — |
Solo Work After MSB
| Year | Album | Record Label | Billboard 200 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Coming Up for Air | Intersound 9174 | — | |
| 1998 | Live in Tangiers: The Acoustic Shows | Razor & Tie 82836 | — | |
| 2000 | MS-LIVE 2K | MK 2000-2 | — | |
| 2000 | Eighteen Down | Razor & Tie 82851 | — | |
| 2003 | The Ground | Line Level 201 | — | |
| 2005 | American Road | Line Level 202 | — | |
| 2006 | The Farrago Sessions | Line Level 203 | — | |
| 2007 | The Soft Addictions | Line Level 204 | — | |
| 2008 | Just Another Night | Line Level 205 | — | |
| 2009 | Shadowland | Line Level 206 | — | |
| 2012 | The Hang | Line Level 207 | — | |
| 2013 | The Ride | Line Level 208 | — | |
| 2014 | The Job | Line Level 209 | — | |
| 2014 | The Solo Years 1995–2014 | Line Level 222 | — | |
| 2015 | And Then... | Line Level 210 | — | |
| 2016 | In a Very Short Time | Line Level 211 | — | |
| 2017 | Stolen Time | Line Level 212 | — | |
| 2018 |
The Compact Michael Stanley |
Line Level |
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|
| 2021 |
Tough Room |
Line Level 213 |
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Singles
1974 rowspan=2 |1975 1976 1977 rowspan=2 |1978 1979 1980 rowspan=3 |1981 rowspan=2 |1982 rowspan=2 |1983 1985| Year | A-Side Track | B-Side Track | Label | US Pop | CAN Pop | Corresponding Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Rock and Roll Man" | "Denver Rain" |
Tumbleweed 1010 |
align=center | — |
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rowspan=2 |Michael Stanley | ||||||
| "Rosewood Bitters" | "Good Time Charlie" |
Tumbleweed 1014 |
align=center | — |
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| "Yours For a Song" | "Roll On" |
MCA 40177 |
align=center | — |
align=center | — |
Friends and Legends | |||||||
| "I'm Gonna Love You" | "Step the Way" |
Epic 50116 |
align=center | — |
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rowspan=2 |You Break It...You Bought It! | |||||||
| "Face the Music" | "Song for My Children" |
Epic 50151 |
align=center | — |
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| "Ladies' Choice" | "Sweet Refrain" |
Epic 50242 |
align=center | — |
align=center | — |
Ladies' Choice | |||||||
| "Nothing's Gonna Change My Mind" | "Love Hasn't Been Here" |
Epic 50416 |
align=center | — |
align=center | — |
Stagepass | |||||||
| "Why Should Love Be This Way" | "Late Show" |
Arista 0348 |
align=center | — |
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rowspan=2 |Cabin Fever | |||||||
| "Baby If You Wanna Dance" | "Fool's Parade" |
Arista 0368 |
align=center | — |
align=center | — | ||||||||
| "Last Night" | "Down to the Wire" |
Arista 0436 |
align=center | — |
align=center | — |
Greatest Hints | |||||||
| "He Can't Love You" | "Carolyn" |
EMI America 8063 |
align=center |33 |
align=center |10 |
rowspan=2 |Heartland | |||||||
| "Lover" | "Save a Little Piece for Me" |
EMI America 8064 |
align=center |68 |
align=center |— | ||||||||
| "Falling in Love Again" | "Does It Hurt" |
EMI America 8090 |
align=center |64 |
align=center |— |
rowspan=2 |North Coast | |||||||
| "When Your Heart Says It's Right" | "Victim of Circumstance" |
EMI America 8097 |
align=center |— |
align=center |— | ||||||||
| "When I'm Holding You Tight" | "In Between the Lines" |
EMI America 8130 |
align=center |78 |
align=center |— |
rowspan=2 |MSB | |||||||
| "Take the Time" | "Just a Little Bit Longer" |
EMI America 8146 |
align=center |81 |
align=center |— | ||||||||
| "My Town" | "Just How Good" |
EMI America 8178 |
align=center |39 |
align=center |— |
rowspan=2 | You Can't Fight Fashion | |||||||
| "Someone Like You" | "Highlife" |
EMI America 8189 |
align=center 75 |
align=center — | ||||||||
|
"Show Me Something" |
"Somebody Else's Woman" |
MSB 701 |
align=center — |
align=center — |
rowspan=3 Inside Moves |
- rowspan=2 1986 |
"When All Is Said and Done" |
"Here Come the Kids" |
MSB 801 |
align=center — |
align=center — |
- "Poor Side of Town" "Headlights" MSB 901 — —
|
Further reading
External links
- under the name Michael Stanley Gee