James Lee Stanley
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2024) |
James Lee Stanley | |
---|---|
pop/rock | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Labels | Wooden Nickel, Beachwood Recordings |
Website | jamesleestanley.com |
James Lee Stanley (born April 30, 1946) is an American folk singer-songwriter. Stanley was also a regular extra on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for six seasons.
Biography
Stanley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of Italian, German, Cherokee Indian, Scotch/Irish and English heritage.[1] He said in a 2002 interview that as a child he was "shy, bright, blessed ...[with a] strict father gentle mother ...[and] three beautiful sisters."[1] Stanley's uncle taught him to play the ukulele at an early age, and at sixteen he got his first recording contract and in 1970 did his first Los Angeles recording session through his friend Cass Elliot of The Mamas & the Papas. Stanley and Elliott remained friends until her death. About his early attempts at songwriting, Stanley said "The Producer told me to write songs, so I did. They were terrible."[1]
Stanley spent time in the
Early work
Stanley's first self-titled album on Wooden Nickel was released January 23, 1973, and one month later he had his first booking as a recording artist, opening for
After a positive critical reception for Three's the Charm and little support from Wooden Nickel, Stanley asked to be released from his contract which still had seven albums to go. The label agreed. Six years later, Stanley recorded Midnight Radio (1980) for Regency Records. A compilation album of Stanley's earlier recordings titled Eclipse (1982) was released by Jollye Roger. Stanley then recorded Racing the Moon (1984) for Takoma.
Beachwood Recordings
Following the release of Racing the Moon, Stanley made the decision to start his own label Beachwood Recordings. Stanley said, "I wanted to make a recording of music and comedy and all the labels said: 'Choose one or the other.' So I chose to start my own label and do just what I do.".[1] Stanley currently records for Beachwood, and tours regularly, performing up to three hundred dates each year. He has performed with such diverse acts as Steven Wright, Bonnie Raitt, Robin Williams, Nicolette Larson and Bill Cosby. Since 1990 Stanley has also been working on a musical titled Straight From The Heart, the story of two women and their relationship. In recent years Stanley has collaborated on "two-man band" projects with Peter Tork, Michael Smith, John Batdorf and Cliff Eberhardt, and the upcoming "two-man band" project All Wood and Led with Dan Navarro.
Discography
Albums
- James Lee Stanley (1973)
- James Lee Stanley, Too (1973)
- Three's the Charm (1974)
- Midnight Radio (1980)
- Eclipse (1982)
- Racing the Moon (1984)
- James Lee Stanley Live (1985)
- Simpatico (1989)
- Ripe Four Distraction (1991)
- The Envoy (1993)
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues: A Soundtrack Inspired by the Novel (1993)
- Domino Harvest (1997)
- Freelance Human Being (1998)
- Beachwood Christmas CD – 2001 (2001)
- Beachwood Christmas CD – 2002 (2002)
- Traces of the Old Road (2003)
- A Beachwood Christmas – 2003 (2003)
- The Eternal Contradiction (2007)
- New Traces of the Old Road (2008)
- Live in Tehachapi, Vol. 1–2 (2009)
- Backstage at the Resurrection (2011)
- The Apocaloptimist (2014)
- Alive at Last – In Philadelphia (2016)
- Dove – The Soundtrack to the Novel by M.H. Salter (2016)
- Had Enough Yet? Songs of Protest, Resistance and Hope (2017)
- Without Susie (2019)
With Peter Tork:
- Two Man Band (1996)
- Once Again (2001)
- Live/Backstage at the Coffee Gallery (2006)
With Michael Smith:
- Two Man Band Two (2002)
With John Batdorf:
- All Wood And Stones (2005)
- All Wood and Stones II (2013)
With Pamala Stanley and Chris Bennett:
- Straight From The Heart – The Musical (2015)
With Cliff Eberhardt:
- All Wood and Doors (2011)
Singles
- "Every Minute" / "I Knead You" (1973)
- "Wishing Well" / "This Could Be Goodbye" (1973)
- "Afternoon Rain" / "Lydia" (1974)
- "Plenty of Reason (For Going)" / "Windmill" (1974)
- "Midnight Radio" (1980)
- "Same Olde Samba" / "The Dancer" (1989)
References
- ^ a b c d Quote from 2002 interview with Bobby Brogan for an Academic paper
- ^ a b "Jamesleestanley : James Lee Stanley". Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
External links
- Official website
- James Lee Stanley Discography Detailed - Album track listings, musicians and recording details.
- DataMusicata.com Blog
- Details about his Rolling Stones covers album
- Details about his Doors covers album
- James Lee Stanley at IMDb
- James Lee Stanley discusses how the All Wood projects came to be
- James Lee Stanley – Apocaloptimist
- StartLogic
- Review: "Stanley, James Lee: The Apocaloptimist" - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!