CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has laid out specific plans for Michael Stanley Day, the citywide event honoring the Cleveland rocker who passed away from lung cancer earlier this month.
On March 25, which would have been Stanley’s 73rd birthday, the Rock Hall’s plaza will serve as the home base for a day’s worth of festivities honoring the local legend. Fans are invited to gather on the museum’s plaza with Michael Stanley’s family and members of his band The Resonators as Mayor Frank Jackson and Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley speak about Stanley’s legacy.
The Rock Hall will play Stanley’s music throughout the day both inside the museum and from its Rock Boxes set up along East 9th Street. Artifacts from Stanley’s career will also be on display in a new In Memoriam exhibit, including his handwritten lyrics, setlists and Stanley’s Jon Hill custom guitar. The Rock Hall will also show footage from Stanley’s career in the Voinovich Atrium and honor Stanley on the plaza’s “Long Live Rock” sign.
“The energy of his music and its ability to bring people together helped to make Cleveland the Rock & 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,” said Greg Harris, President and CEO, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “His contributions to rock & roll and our region will not be forgotten, and we are honored to preserve his legacy and tell his story forever at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is just one part of the day-long celebration for Stanley. Stations throughout Northeast Ohio, including Stanley’s home station 98.5 WNCX, will play Stanley’s hit “My Town” together at 10:35 a.m., paying homage to a signature line in Stanley’s song “In the Heartland.”
At the same time, Fans can visit linelevelmusic.com to stream two new songs from Stanley that will be featured on his upcoming album “Tough Room.”