His letter to his fans before his death says it all. Stanley's family says in a statement he died Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Cleveland, Michael Stanley, who became known nationally for a radio hit in 1981 but was the very symbol of rock n roll for decades in the city of Cleveland, died Friday at age 72. ", "Somebody once said that if you love your job then it's not really work," he said. All the way through the entire career, I could never get him a monster hit record that always pissed me off, Szymczyk told the Plain Dealer. That was the coolest thing. And I walk out the door, and Im walking down Federal Street, and I realize I never got paid. Kubu is such a lovely character. Even more importantly, Michaels songs spoke to our hearts., As fans we adored and revered him, and in return he loved us right back, Harris continued. Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall, Visit The Discerning Reader for more reviews & giveaways. This book seemed to be especially long. Michael Christensen died Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. The Rocky River High School and Hiram I was literally stunned, said John, upon learning that legendary Cleveland rock and roll star Michael Stanley died Friday of lung cancer. John mentioned that the Michael Stanley Band broke the record at the Blossom Music Center for a three nightstand: 64,965 on August 23, 24, and 26, 1982. It's been a while since I read one of these, but I'd forgotten the stark contrast between this depiction of Botswana, as a nation as flawed as most others, and that if Alexander McCall Smith, whose Botswana is idyllic, full of polite, respectful people who might succumb to greed, bad judgment, or witchcraft from time to time, but not much worse than that. A Death in the Family follows on from Deadly Harvest, that I read not so long ago. Cleveland rock and roll legend Michael Stanley died Friday at the age of 72 following a months-long battle with lung cancer. Michael Stanley was born on 25 March 1948 (age 72 years; as in 2021 at the time of death) in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. He was graduated from Hiram College. His fathers name was F. Stanley Gee and his mothers name is Martha Galloway Gee. Michael Stanley was one of the most famous American singers, songwriters, and musicians. Michael has always been a master at the craft of songwriting. That song and a 1983 follow-up, the Cleveland-inspired My Town, which also cracked the top 40, were early staples of a nascent MTV. Stanley did his final afternoon drive shift on WNCX on Feb. 19. I have a little MP3 player, he said. As fans we adored and revered him, and in return he loved us right back. Two years later, "My Town" became the bands second Top 40 hit, peaking at No. The band would break up in 1987, playing a dozen farewell shows at the Front Row Theater. But as popular as MSB was locally, they just couldnt quite ascend to national stardom. Less than two hours after Stanley's death was announced, the radio station shared a letter he wrote to fans in his final days, beginning with him saying, "If you're reading this then I am off to catch up with that big club tour in the sky." When the #2 government mining official ends up dead, an apparent suicide, Kubu finally finds a distraction from his misery, and quickly determines the death was not accidental, and he sets off the find the murderer. But before and after that, the band was disproportionately huge in Ohio and surrounding states, which took their song Midwest Midnight (introduced on the live album Stage Pass, with its famous cleavage-baring cover) to heart as a statement of regional pride. Funeral Home Services for Stanley are being provided by Ertel Funeral Home. But can he? Stanleys rock career was solid in Ohio and the Midwest, but never quite broke through nationally, save for his hit song He Cant Love You. He later was an afternoon drive DJ and Saturday mornings host playing classic rock on radio station 98.5 WNCX. He passed away August 18, 2020 following a brief battle with cancer. It has 199 of my favorite all time songs, five of which are Michael Stanley. He then is assigned the death of a government official and it ends up being tied into his fathers murder. Somebody once said that if you love your job then its not really work. The Daily News publishes death notices and obituaries on a daily basis for Norfolkans, area residents and former residents. Cleveland rocker Stanley has died at age 72 after battling lung cancer. Stanley's family says in a statement he died Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Cleveland, where he performed regularly and worked at rock radio station WNCX. (CHUCK CROW/AP) Even more importantly, Michaels songs spoke to our hearts. In a letter posted Saturday on the radio stations website, Stanley wrote a farewell to fans: Hey gang Well, if youre reading this then I am off to catch up with that big club tour in the sky. It has been important to him to be on air up until recently, because you, his fans, mean that much to him., Stanley left an unreleased album in the can which brought producer Szymczyk back into the fold, more than 50 years after he produced the 1969 album by Silk, followed by a healthy run of records for Stanley and the MSB in the 70s. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The star of this series is the endearing and passionate Assistant Superintendent David 'Kubu' Bengu, a man with a remarkably big appetite for food, opera music, his family and ensuring that justice is served. He co-hosted PM Magazine on Clevelands Channel 8 from 1987-90. It was signed, T.J. He was at the station for more than 30 years, ending his stint just last month when ill health overtook him. Morgan Stanley chief U.S. equity strategist Mike Wilson recently compared U.S. stock valuations to the "death zone" sometimes encountered by mountain climbers. This is the 5th novel in Michael Stanley's Detective Kubu series set in Botswana, one of Sub-Saharan Africa's most promising nations. They were a band and they got signed and everything was great, said John. MICHAEL STANLEY OBITUARY. Kubu's father, an aging man in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, was his hero and they were very close, so imagine his dismay when he is instructed to have nothing to do with the investigation--although he knows on an intellectual level that it is only right and proper. We will miss Michael dearly. "There's no easy way to say this, Kubu. According to author Jacob Hoye in his book, "MTV Uncensored," "He Cant Love You" was the 47th video ever played on MTV. The Michael Stanley Band, or MSB for short, would record 11 studio albums and set concert attendance records at the Richfield Coliseum and Blossom Music Center. I was so disappointed that this was the last book in the series, but when I wrote the authors on another matter, they said that there was a new one in the works and it would be out in July in the UK and in October in the US. He is predeceased by his mother, Martha Fitzpatrick; his father, Stanley Gee; and his late wife, Denise Skinner. It starts with a family tragedy and ends up as a much more entangled, complicated tale of international corporate interests and corruption. Stanley told Monica Robins. Stanley was enough a part of Cleveland iconography that he appeared as himself on The Drew Carey Show, set in that city. So, I hear Michael Stanley almost every daywalking in the woods.. Michael was the king of Cleveland, and of course the Michael Stanley Band became a Midwest powerhouse, Walsh said in a statement published at Cleveland.com. The scenes of Kubu in the US were perhaps not strictly speaking necessary, but they were funny. 3News spoke with David Spero about the life and career of Michael Stanley. But that was hardly the extent of his TV credits. WebA Death in the Family is the fifth outing for Detective Kubu and is written by Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip (known together as Michael Stanley). Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. After the breakup, Stanley returned to solo albums and also hooked up with the bands the Resonators and the Ghost Poets, releasing work on Razor & Tie or his own labels. In 1974, Stanley put together the band that would take his name and catapult him to success. The clues lead to either the mine executives or the chief's son. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Despite this only being my second read in this exceptional series, set in modern day Botswana, the writing duo of Michael Stanley (Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip) have already established a firm place on my 'must read' list. Add a Memory Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. He will always be remembered as a loving father, brother, husband, a loyal friend, and the leader of one of Clevelands most successful rock bands.. Thanks for all your help! He played himself on an episode of The Drew Carey Show,whose theme songs was a cover of Cleveland Rocks and was set in the city. Singer-songwriter Michael Stanley died this week of lung cancer at age 72. But before the bus pulls out I wanted to thank all of you for being a part of my musical journey. If not, choose an option to start listening on demand commercial free to all shows now! Such grace.. 07, 2021, 12:57 p.m. Cleveland music icon Michael Stanley died Friday at the age of 72. You don't do that if you're not successful. I really, REALLY hope this is not the last in the Detective Kubu series! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Those desiring may make contribution to Temple Beth El or. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. "We toured seven or eight months out of the year for 13 years. Michael was our citys most beloved musician, songwriter and rocker. The Michael Stanley Band, or MSB for short, would record 11 studio albums and set concert attendance records in Ohio. And I went back., John said. In its late 70s/early 80s heyday, the Michael Stanley Band would sell out multiple nights at the Richfield Coliseum and Blossom Music Center. And the record they broke was Led Zepplins, said John. Stanley was deeply involved in the local Cleveland community, so much so that a section of Clevelands Huron Avenue was renamed Michael Stanley Way in 2019. We were big in Denver, we were big in Texas and Florida, but we couldnt get into Indianapolis.". As an early reviewer I had the pleasure of reading my first Detective Kubu Mystery. Michael Stanley's passing at the age of 64 on Thursday, June 30, 2022 has been publicly announced by Jones-Walton-Sheridan Funeral Home in Cranston, RI. WebThe obituary was featured in The Journal on February 28, 2023. At the start, his father is killed by a lethal knife wound, and Kubu is told by his boss to take a week off and stay away completely from the investigation. Age 50, of Grand Blanc, died Friday, December 14, 2012 at his residence. Photo: 98.5 WNCX/Facebook. I was literally stunned, said John, upon learning that legendary Cleveland rock and roll star Michael Stanley died Friday of lung cancer. What follows is a very frustrating time for Kubu as his irascible boss Mabaku bars him from any participation in the investigation because of Kubu's obvious closeness to the victim. "We couldnt get arrested in Columbus," Stanley told Cleveland Magazine in a 2019 interview. The energy of his music and its ability to bring people together helped to make Cleveland the Rock and Roll Capital of the World, and it galvanized the community to rally together and make our city the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. "I didnt get into this whole thing to be the front man of MSB or whatever," Stanley told 3News' Monica Robins in 2014. Details! My sincere condolences go out to the Stanley family on the passing of Michael. Stanley age of Saginaw, Michigan, born February 3rd, 1928 passed away on February 23rd, 2023 ;Surviving Stanley:Surviving besides his wife Bernice are two sons and one daughter, Gary Witkowski, Saginaw; Gail (John) Dumbra, Lewiston; Michael Witkowski, Saginaw; six grandchildren, Kirk, Jeffrey (Lauren), Brandon (Crystal), Jeremy, Justin and He also spent a year on the same stations Cleveland Tonight, with his television years garnering him 11 local Emmys. Baldwin Wallace eliminated from NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament, Cleveland Monsters Outdoor Classic at FirstEnergy Stadium delayed due to ice conditions. I received an advance e-book copy of A Death in the Family by Michael Stanley directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. 33 on the chart. John himself was behind the microphone in the 1970s and 80s as the afternoon drive disc jockey on then-radio station WSRD, nicknamed The Wizzard.. Thats what I wanted to do.. Thats the kind of impact they had.. This is my first full length Michael Stanley novel featuring Inspector Kubu. He played in a band that was first called The Tree Stumps, then Silk, and was able to secure his first record contract in 1969. Published: Mar. I'm generally not a fan of authors killing of family members of the protagonist. Michael Stanley's passing at the age of 30 on Thursday, August 11, 2022 has been publicly announced by Sien-Shelton Funeral Home in Skiatook, OK. 33 on the chart. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Before the Zoom interview even started, Thomas John turned his phone around to show a large photo hanging on the wall of his basement office. CLEVELAND If you grew up in Northeast Ohio in the 1970s and '80s, chances are, Michael Stanley and his band, the Michael Stanley Band, wrote the soundtrack to your formative years. I certainly felt the frustration myself. So that tells you something.. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. The death of Michael Stanley, a music legend to Cleveland area rock fans, saddened many people when we heard the news last week. John himself was behind Greg Harris, president/CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, released a statement saying: It is with a heavy heart that we share that Clevelands native son and local treasure Michael Stanley has passed away. He thanked his family, friends, co-workers, and supporters "for being a part of my musical journey" and ended with his famous catchphrase: "It's your worldpay attention! Pictured was a head and shoulders shot of Michael Stanley singing into a microphone. I like the Detective Kubu books, but in general feel that they go on and on. The group scored in 1981 when the song He Cant Love You cracked the Billboard Top 40, getting as high as No. The live double album Stage Pass was recorded in Cleveland, and youd see him at the Agora [in Youngstown] and it was exactly the same vibe, said John. Flood Warning issued for parts of several Northeast Ohio counties, The beloved musician-turned-DJ had been battling a serious illness, Fans share favorite memories of Michael Stanley, Stanley told Cleveland Magazine in a 2019 interview, 2022 shaping up to be 'epic' year in concerts, Cleveland Cavaliers CEO Len Komoroski says, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2021 induction ceremony moves to Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this October, Michael Stanley joins Contemporary Youth Orchestra to create Another New Years Eve fundraising video. "And if that's true (and I definitely think it is) then I have been happily out of work for over fifty years!". Rabbi Karen Companez officiating. I hoped to enjoy this because of the setting of Botswana. Detective novel set in Botswana but for Kudu, this time it's personal! The 73-year-old rocker - who got sober almost four decades ago - has recalled how he was unable to identify himself from his stage persona, who is famous for wearing signature black eye make-up and parading on stage with snakes around his neck, during his []. Superintendent David Kubu Bengu when his own father is murdered. Peace., Joe Walsh, another Cleveland rock hero and a player on Stanleys second album in the 1970s paid homage. Show your support Send a Gift Send a gift to a service or familys home. I didnt get into this whole thing to be the front man of MSB or whatever, Stanley told local Ohio TV station 3News Monica Robins in 2014. Born Michael Stanley Gee, Stanley grew up in Northeast Ohio, graduating first from Rocky River High School and then Hiram College. Stanley will be buried in a private ceremony at Lake View Cemetery. "A Death in the Family" is the fifth in the Detective Kubu series set in Botswana, South Africa and my third foray into these exciting and hugely entertaining stories. Already a member, log in! How come we cant get Michael, too. He was huge in the Midwest Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh. Choose from our database of on demand commercial free programs from the past 5 years, classic programs & themed box sets at your convenience! "Michael Stanley is dealing with serious health issues that prevent him from joining you in his 3-7pm time slot. Our readers left thousands of comments on our social media Source: music-news.com Alice Cooper didn't know if he should leave the house with his make-up on at the height of his drink and drug addiction. The MSB had its biggest national profile in 1980 when the single He Cant Love You reached No. All Rights Reserved. Survivors include daughters Anna Sary (Christian) and Sarah Sharp (Aaron); his sister, Nancy Oosterhoudt and niece Claire Kloss; his wife, Ilsa Glanzberg and stepson Cole Sweeney; and his five grandchildren Mallory Sidoti (Mike), Aidan Kraus, Brody Kraus, Wren Sary and Phoebe Sary. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 16th 2023 from 10:00 AM to WebSTR/AFP via Getty Images. One evening Kuku's world is turned upside down when he, the detective, gets the call he himself so often had to make to the family of victims his gentle father has been stabbed to death in a deserted road. He always has rousers and weepies. Hardly a day went by when John didnt play a Michael Stanley song or two, or three. WebMichael Paul Stanley was born January 27, 1980 in Freehold, New Jersey to Paul and Eileen Stanley. It came to the end of the night and I was like, Wow. We are sad to announce that on February 24, 2023, at the age of 66, Stanley Michael Black of Etters, Pennsylvania passed away. On March 3, the classic rock station finally acknowledged his absence, saying, Michael Stanley is dealing with serious health issues that prevent him from joining you in his 3-7pm time slot. Michael Craig Stanley, age 59, of Gladewater, Texas passed away on Friday, July 29, 2022. You can watch in the player below: Michael Stanley is survived by his wife Ilsa, his two daughters, and five grandchildren. Get Superstar Spotlights on Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Chicago, Barbra Streisand, Olivia Newton-John, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon & Duran Duran! We want to hear from you! Get help and learn more about the design. They never got the push from the record company that they should have.. Michael graduated from Plano Senior High School, and went on to earn his Bachelor's of Business Administration and Finance from Texas Tech University in 2004. Michael Stanley is survived by his wife Ilsa, his two daughters, and five grandchildren. Hook is an essential for any good novelhow it start and keeps a leader keep on reading it. It was really a lot of us against the world kind of feeling, he said. All the characters are well etched. Example video title will go here for this video. Did we reach the level that we wanted to, or that the fans wanted us to? Stanley, who passed away Friday at the age of 72 from lung cancer, leaves more than a small part of himself behind in his native Cleveland -- and a gaping hole in a "My biggest regret is that, for a lot of people, there was a feeling that it wasnt a successful band or that we were only a Cleveland band." Szymczyk told Cleveland.com that although Stanley was in declining health as they cut the Tough Room album last year, Its pretty rocked out. Thank you to Orenda books for providing me with a copy of this book for review. He was the co-host of WJW Channel 8's PM Magazine and Cleveland Tonight from 1987-91. Michael Stanley.. John was close personal friends with Stanley and the other band members, three of whom Gary Markasky, Michael Gismondi and Dan Pecchio were from Youngstown. I mean you felt like you were a part of that album even though you werent.. Share Obituary Let others know about This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Another excellent addition to the Detective David "Kubu" Bengu series. A good mystery set in Botswana. In 1990, he became the afternoon drive host at 98.5 WNCX, a position he would hold for the next 31 years. John called the Michael Stanley song Midwest, Midnight the greatest song about the music industry. He says the song explains why the Michael Stanley Band was a major regional band, but never huge nationally. A bright light & warm soul. I've read and enjoyed the other books with Detective Kubu. His record company changed his name to Michael Stanley. It was a well-plotted police procedural that allowed the reader to fully follow the Botswana crime-solving process, which is similar to that in the US. I adored the idea of a Botswanaian police procedural that steps away from the philosophical Mma Ramotswe mysteries. The timing was awful because Stanleys wife, Libby, had recently given birth to twin daughters, Sarah and Anna. But Stanley, a guitarist and songwriter, still dreamed of a career in music. We just couldnt bust him out of there.. Will he compromise the case, should the culprit be apprehended? There is a mine in the area that wants to expand and it would displace a lot of local villagers and the villagers are split whether to let the mine expand or not. FORECAST | Windy start to the weekendflurries too! Meanwhile, there is trouble in a mining town as the elders consider whether to allow expansion and relocation of residents, which went badly the last time, antagonizing the young and unemployed. For 12 years, Thomas John introduced the bands at the Agora in downtown Youngstown, for which he was paid. I got in it to be a songwriter. No, we didn't.". CLEVELAND Legendary Cleveland singer-songwriter and radio personality Michael Stanley died Friday at the age of 72, following a months-long fight with lung Solid Gold Members get 5 years of shows, classic programs & themed box sets, plus weekly show download! 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. A Death in the Family is book 5 in the Detective Kubu series written by brilliant writing team, Michael Stanley (Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip). That's what I wanted to do. I'm afraid he's been murdered.". Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Kubu's focus is all about improving the lives of his fellow natives and the inherent good of the man ensures he is excellent company! In the Botswana of detective Kubu Bengu, all manner of nasty things are afoot, including political corruption, mineral exploitation, foreign influence and manipulation, not to mention multiple murders, some of them very close to home. He then transitioned into a radio personality. Michael passed away from health complications and was surrounded by his family. The story felt disjointed and not up to their usual standard. This one felt flat. WNCX says he will be laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery in a private Stanley is survived by two daughters, Anna Sary (Christian) and Sarah Sharp (Aaron); his wife, Ilsa Glanzberg and stepson Cole Sweeney; his sister, Nancy Oosterhoudt, and niece, Claire Kloss; and five grandchildren: Mallory Sidoti (Mike), Aidan Kraus, Brody Kraus, Wren Sary and Phoebe Sary. Read because you love post colonial African detective fiction. The rocker was most recognized in the post-Michael Stanley Band years as a local TV and radio broadcaster. 33 on the Billboard 100. I think that some good edits wouldn't have hurt the story in the least, and could have saved the reader from feeling bogged down midway through the mystery. You are a rocker! He was 72 and his death was confirmed by his manager. Michael Stanley, who parlayed rocker stardom in the 70s and 80s into successful stints in radio and television in his later years, died Friday of lung cancer at his El, 5150 Calkins Rd, Flint. We are sad to announce that on February 24, 2023, at the age of 66, Stanley Michael Black of Etters, Pennsylvania passed away. Stanley Michael passed away on February 14, 2023 in Dove Creek, Colorado. Johns ultimate tribute to Michael Stanley can be heard through his earphones during his daily walks in Poland Woods. You will be redirected back to your article in, Jonathan Majors Talks About Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Negative Reviews, Spirit Awards: 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Takes Best Feature, 6 Other Trophies; 'The Bear', Quinta Brunson Tops In TV - Full Winners List, ParaPod Awards Set Nominees For Paranormal Event, Willem Dafoe Requested Emma Stone Slap Him Then Begged For More 19 Times, Prolific Actor Dies At 61 After Aneurysm; Hollywood Reax + Career In Photos, Eyes $51M+ Opening In U.S., A Record For Rocky Spinoff Franchise & Amazon, SAG-AFTRA And Casting Directors Weigh In On Self-Tape Controversy, Oscar Winner Guillermo del Toro On The Films That Lit His Fuse. a charity of one's choice. We had two top 40 hits. Michael Stanley, who parlayed rocker stardom in the 70s and 80s into successful stints in radio and television in his later years, died Friday of lung cancer at his home.