CLEVELAND (WJW)– Devastating news for new music supporters in Cleveland. Michael Stanley, 72, has died. He was diagnosed with lung cancer previous slide and fought until eventually the extremely conclude.
Michael Stanley Gee was born in 1948, the very same yr the Indians received the Environment Series. He liked baseball, enjoying during his childhood in Cleveland and Rocky River. His potential gained him a baseball scholarship to Hiram School.
Michael also beloved audio. He acquired to enjoy guitar immediately after observing performers like Elvis and Beatles on tv. He played in many bands even though he was a college student at Rocky River Substantial School, together with The Scepters and “Tree Stumps. He performed with the band Sylk all through his college or university yrs.
Between his really like of baseball and his like of tunes, new music won out and he started concentrating on his songwriting. In 1973, Michael recorded “Rosewood Bitters,” a music that would stick with him all through his career and come to be a fan preferred.
In concerning recording periods, Michael labored for a report store in Cleveland. A person working day, he was requested to accomplish at a rival store and he was enable go. Michael had a conclusion to make.
“I was fired from my work, just purchased a new motor vehicle, experienced two toddlers and no work among us, and I was like… What am I going to do now?”
Out of the need to have to just pay out the payments, the Michael Stanley Band was formed. They began getting regional recognition, and ended up requested to open up for bands like Reo Speedwagon, Low-cost Trick, Foreigner, and Joe Walsh, who performed with Michael on his second album.
MSB went on to document albums like “Ladies’ Choice” and “Cabin Fever.” They were getting much more admirers, as apparent by several sold-out demonstrates at the Agora in Cleveland. Michael recalled what is was like back then, “The Agora held like 800 to 900 folks, and for a single clearly show we place in 2,500.”
Michael Stanley Band made it large with the release of “Heartland,” likely from opening act to headliner. The album stayed in the major 100 for much more than eight weeks. It spawned two massive hits: “Lover” with the legendary saxophone of the late Clarence Clemons from the E. Avenue Band and “He Just cannot Appreciate You,” which was a single of the very first films on MTV. It shot the single to number 33 on the Billboard Prime 100.
The early 80s albums “North Coast” and “MSB” brought the band back to Blossom Songs heart, where by they shattered attendance information show immediately after clearly show. The achievement even landed MSB on American Bandstand. It was a big dream arrive genuine for Michael.
“To be on the exhibit and have Dick Clark respond to us as psyched as he would have been to see Led Zepplin, that was excellent,” Michael claimed.
MSB broke up in the mid-80s and authorized Michael the possibility to start out the next 50 percent of his profession. Michael co-hosted PM Journal on FOX 8 for many years. He also followed in the footsteps of his father Stan Gee, a longtime radio DJ and announcer. Michael put in 30 yrs broadcasting on 98.5 WNCX. He attained 11 Emmy awards and is a member of the Cleveland Broadcasters Corridor of Fame.
In spite of his achievement, he dealt with many problems that could have finished his profession: a in the vicinity of-lethal coronary heart attack in the early 90s, shedding his mom to pancreatic most cancers and shedding his third spouse Denise to lung most cancers. Michael himself battled prostate cancer, but his new music allowed him to achieve point of view and provide an outlet. In a 2014 interview, Michael talked about the struggles.
“You have to decide on how you’re likely to offer with that. Are you going to curl up and sit like a sick dog until eventually it is over? Or are living your life? And with any luck ,, that’s the selection I made.”
In 2019, Michael acquired the Cleveland Arts Prize Life time Achievement award and Cleveland City Council renamed Huron Highway “Michael Stanley Way.”
In the fall of 2020, Michael fought lung most cancers. Ultimately, the ailment took his existence. During his 50 yrs of music and 70-additionally yrs on earth, Michael Stanley was synonymous with Cleveland. His memory life on with his children, grandchildren and 40 albums truly worth of audio.
Michael’s spouse and children many thanks the enthusiasts for often becoming there and for their like and guidance. Michael will be laid to rest in a personal provider at Lake View Cemetery. His family asks that contributions in Michael’s identify be built to the Higher Cleveland Foodstuff Financial institution and the Cleveland Animal Protecting League.
Stanley’s family launched a assertion to radio station 98.5 Saturday morning:
Cleveland singer and songwriter Michael Stanley Gee handed away peacefully at house on March 5th with his family members by his aspect. He was 72 yrs outdated. Michael battled lung most cancers for seven months with the identical power and dignity he carried throughout his lifetime. He will always be remembered as a loving father, brother, spouse, a loyal pal, and the leader of one of Cleveland’s most prosperous rock bands.
Michael will be laid to rest at Lake Look at Cemetery. The support will be private. In lieu of bouquets, contributions in his memory can be designed to the Cleveland Food items Lender (www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org) and/or the Cleveland Animal Protecting League (www.clevelandapl.org). Michael’s spouse and children would like to thank Hospice of the Western Reserve for their committed treatment, his buddies and prolonged relatives for “being there”, and his fans for their appreciate and assistance throughout the earlier forty decades. As he always mentioned, “It’s your entire world, pay back interest.”
Stanley family
Michael Stanley also wrote a letter to his lovers in advance of his passing, as shared by 98.5: