Visual Soundtrack To The 80's: Michael Stanley Band

Michael Stanley Gee graduated from Rocky River High School (Ohio) in 1966. After a brief stint in the band Silk, Stanley graduated with a bachelor's degree from Hiram College in 1970. At Hiram he was a disc jockey for WHRM, the school's radio station, and was elected to the Student Senate.

Stanley released his first solo album, Michael Stanley, in 1973. The album, and its follow-up Friends & Legends were produced by Bill Szymczyk and featured contributions from Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren and David Sanborn. In 1974 Stanley formed the Michael Stanley Band and released eleven albums through the mid 1980s.

His highest charting singles with the Michael Stanley Band were "He Can't Love You" (#33) in 1980 and "My Town" in 1983 (#39), which both got decent nationwide airplay. In fact, "He Can't Love You" was the 45th video ever played on MTV. MSB also had 5 more Hot 100 hits in the 80s. The Michael Stanley Band was such a huge sensation in its home area that it still holds attendance records at Cuyahoga Falls' Blossom Music Center. Additionally, The Ohio State University Marching Band uses "My Town" as one of their premier stand tunes.

Stanley's song "Let's Get the Show on the Road" was covered on the 2000 album Live in the Classic City by Widespread Panic. "My Town" was covered by Little Texas on their album Big Time. "Rosewood Bitters" was covered by Joe Walsh on his 1985 album The Confessor.
Stanley was the co-host of PM Magazine on WJW Channel 8 from 1987 to 1990 and its follow-up Cleveland Tonight until 1991. He also appeared on The Drew Carey Show, playing himself. Since 1990, Stanley has been the afternoon drive disc jockey for classic rock radio station 98.5 WNCX in Cleveland.