Cleveland Turns Out For Michael Stanley Benefit
• The City of Cleveland is gearing up for what promises to be wonderful evening of music and memories, inspired by the life of the late, legendary Michael Stanley. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, a multitude of Stanley’s friends, musical colleagues and fans will convene at Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom for “Friends and Legends Take The Time Benefit: Celebrating the Music & Philanthropic Legacy of Michael Stanley.” The evening will be hosted by Paula Balish of Audacy Classic Rock 98.5 WNCX/Cleveland.
Stanley, who fronted his own popular Michael Stanley Band for decades and had been doing afternoons on 98.5 WNCX, died Friday, March 5, 2021, at 72 after a battle with lung cancer.
When Tommy Dobeck, long-time drummer of The Michael Stanley Band contacted Stanley’s daughters about wanting to do an intimate benefit concert to celebrate the music and philanthropic legacy of his friend, he never expected the overwhelming response from the Friends & Legends within the Northeast Ohio musician community that wanted to somehow participate in this very special evening. “After running the idea about raising money for the 10,000 Watts of Holy Light Fund of The Cleveland Foundation his daughters set up after Michael passed away in 2021, my phone started ringing off the hook,” said Dobeck, adding, “Based on the incredible line up of musicians signing up for the benefit, I can’t wait to see and hear what the evening’s Musical Director, Tommy Rich, puts together.”
In addition to Dobeck and Rich, at press time the lineup of performers includes Danny Pecchio, Ed Caner, Gary Markasky, Marc Lee Shannon, Michael Gismondi, Michael Weber, Paul Christiansen, Eric Sosinski, Rodney Psyka, Jimmy Clark and Michael Tyler performing music by Michael Stanley; Jimmy Fox and Dale Peters performing music by The James Gang; Billy Sullivan and Jim Bonfanti with Rich Spina performing music by The Raspberries; Alex Bevan, Austin Walkin’ Cane and Leonard DiCosimo, Jackie Popovec and Rick Deak from The Vindy’s performing music by The Pretenders; and Mark Avsecfrom Donnie Iris and The Cruisers, Jet and Donna from Lipstick, and Frank Amato from Beau Coup.
Tickets for this very special evening are on sale now at Ticketmaster. [Special thanks to JD Kunes]
