Steve Stanley

Raised in Oklahoma in the 1970s, Stanley developed an appreciation for the music of the 1950s and 1960s through his mother’s record collection.{{Cite web|url=https://www.earcandymag.com/thenowpeople-2006.htm|title = Interview with Steve Stanley of the Now People (Mar 2006)}} According to Brian Greene’s 2012 Shindig! article on Stanley: “The seven-year-old (Stanley) was greatly affected by Elvis Presley’s death and, later in his youth, felt like a musical outsider, preferring the music of Elvis, Buddy Holly, and The Beatles to the then-popular rock and pop acts.”{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/shindig-issue-25-2012-stanley-article-a|title = Shindig Issue 25 2012 Stanley Article|date = February 2012}} His family later moved to Los Angeles where he played in bands, including The Acitones and Single Bullet Theory. After working as a waiter, he entered the music business at age 24 as a salesman for Navarre Corporation, a music distributor based in Minnesota.{{Cite web|url=https://theseconddisc.com/2010/10/26/the-second-disc-interview-3-whats-happening-now-with-steve-stanley/|title = The Second Disc Interview #3: What's Happening "Now" with Steve Stanley! - the Second Disc|date = 26 October 2010}} By 1997, he was one of the three top salesmen in the company when Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records, the man who signed Sam Cooke and Ritchie Valens, hired Stanley to head up sales for his label.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4wkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA85|title=Billboard|date=20 December 1997}}

While at Del-Fi Records, Stanley co-produced releases for the label, including the various-artist compilations Gee Baby Gee: The Del-Fi Girl Groups,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/del-fi-girl-groups-gee-baby-gee-mw0000050293|title=Del-Fi Girl Groups: Gee Baby Gee - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website=AllMusic}} and Delphonic Sounds Today!: Del-Fi Does Del-Fi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/delphonic-sounds-today-del-fi-does-del-fi-mw0000043972|title = Delphonic Sounds Today: Del-Fi Does Del-Fi - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}} After leaving Del-Fi, Stanley began producing, designing, and/or annotating reissues for the Rev-Ola imprint of London-based Cherry Red Records. Stanley’s projects focused on lesser-known, cult pop artists of the 1960s whose albums had long been out of print, including titles by The Merry Go Round,{{Cite web|url=https://popdiggers.com/the-merry-go-round-listen-listen/|title = The Merry-Go-Round - Listen, Listen|date = 19 July 2005}} Eternity’s Children,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/eternitys-children-mw0000221884/credits|title = Eternity's Children - Eternity's Children | Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}} Nino & April,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/all-strung-out-rev-ola-mr0000954430/credits|title = All Strung Out [Rev-Ola] - April Stevens, Nino Tempo, Nino Tempo & April Stevens | Release Credits|website = AllMusic}} Evie Sands,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/any-way-that-you-want-me-mr0000340805|title = Any Way That You Want Me - Evie Sands | Release Info|website = AllMusic}} and others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rev-ola-records-mn0000322106|title=Rev-Ola Records Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=AllMusic}} Rev-Ola’s reissue of Nashville arranger Bergen White’s For Women Only album,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bergen-white-mn0000054797/biography|title = Bergen White Biography, Songs, & Albums|website = AllMusic}} which Stanley also produced, received five-star reviews in both Mojo{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/mojo-june-2004-bergen-white-review|title = MOJO June 2004 Bergen White Review|date = June 2004}} and Uncut{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/uncut-june-2004-bergen-white-review|title=UNCUT June 2004 Bergen White Review|date=June 2004}} and made Uncut's Best Reissues of 2004 list.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/uncut-best-reissues-2004|title = UNCUT Best Reissues 2004|year = 2005}}

By the late 2000s, Stanley launched his own Cherry Red Records imprint, Now Sounds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/now-sounds-mn0000994731|title = Now Sounds Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website = AllMusic}} He produced, designed, and/or annotated reissues of albums by The Association, Janis Ian, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Cowsills, The Mamas & The Papas, The Knack, Dion, Del Shannon, Donna Loren, Roger Nichols, Paul Williams, Tiny Tim,{{Cite web|url=https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/purepopradio/episodes/2016-11-20T17_33_27-08_00|title = Tiny Tim Special, Part One: Steve Stanley (Now Sounds Records) and Kristian H}} and others. The label also includes mastering engineer Alan Brownstein{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alan-brownstein-mn0001845526|title=Alan Brownstein Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=AllMusic}} and writer/editor Sheryl Farber.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sheryl-farber-mn0001236497|title = Sheryl Farber Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website = AllMusic}} In 2012, music journalist and Saint Etienne member Bob Stanley (no relation to Steve) wrote a feature article on the Now Sounds label and sunshine pop music for The Times of London. He described Now Sounds as “specializing in late Sixties Soft Rock - the orchestrated, harmony-rich sound propagated by The Mamas and The Papas, typified by Pet Sounds, and made a world-beating now sound by Sgt. Pepper.”{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/the-big-reissue-with-bob-stanley-the-best-of-1960s-sunshine-pop-dwr3fdvglqz|title = The Big Reissue with Bob Stanley: The best of 1960s Sunshine Pop}} Also in 2012, Now Sounds was voted one of the Top 5 "Best Record Labels" in Shindig!'s 2012 Writers' Poll.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/shindig-magazine-2012-writers-poll|title = Shindig Magazine 2012 Writers Poll}}

Also a graphic designer, Stanley has art directed and/or designed boxed set packages and contemporary releases for Rhino Records, ABKCO Records, Warner Records, and Sony/Legacy, including titles by Nilsson, Bee Gees, Bob Seger, The Monkees, Love, Jan & Dean, Devo, Allen Toussaint, and others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-stanley-mn0000035121|title = Steve Stanley Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website = AllMusic}} The boxed set package of The Beau Brummels’ Bradley’s Barn, which Stanley designed, made Rolling Stone’s Best Reissues list of 2011.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/10-best-reissues-of-the-year-155317/archers-of-loaf-icky-mettle-155934/|title = 10 Best Reissues of the Year|magazine = Rolling Stone|date = 9 December 2011}} Stanley also art directed the various-artist collection Where the Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965–1968. In 2010 this boxed set was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Historical Album category.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/la-et-env-grammys-nominees-2010-list-htmlstory.html|title=Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards|website=Los Angeles Times|date=12 March 2014}}

The Los Angeles-based pop quartet The Now People includes Stanley and mastering engineer Alan Brownstein, with Nelson Bragg and Probyn Gregory,{{Cite web|url=http://www.beachboysstomp.co.uk/probyn-gregory/|title = Probyn Gregory «}} members of Brian Wilson’s backing band. The group’s debut album, The Last Great 20th Century Love Affair, was issued in 2006 on Bird Songs Recordings, an imprint of Parasol Records.{{cite web |url=https://www.parasol.com/collections/bird-song-recordings/now-people |title=Bird Song Recordings – Tagged "Now People"– Parasol Mail Order |website=www.parasol.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407182721/https://www.parasol.com/collections/bird-song-recordings/now-people |archive-date=2021-04-07}} The album was recorded at Studio Thru Inner Space and Carousel 44, and includes participation by some of the members of the Wondermints.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-last-great-20th-century-love-affair-mw0000574398|title = The Last Great 20th Century Love Affair - the Now People | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}} The Now People’s recording of “All The Things You Are,” written by Stanley, was featured in the motion picture Randy and the Mob, starring Ray McKinnon and Burt Reynolds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/randy-and-the-mob-mw0000498189|title = Randy and the Mob - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}} As a solo vocalist, Steve has also participated in tribute and benefit concerts in Los Angeles, including the Wild Honey Foundation’s 2015 presentation of The Beatles’ White Album.{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/Czgpk6EuZUI| archive-date = 2021-12-09| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czgpk6EuZUI| title = Wild Honey Orchestra-Honey Pie (featuring Steve Stanley) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

As a journalist, Stanley has penned articles which have appeared in Mojo magazine, including a 2004 feature on Bobby Jameson after Stanley located the reclusive singer songwriter through a private investigator.{{cite web |url=http://nightflight.com/remembering-mondo-hollywoods-bobby-jameson/ |title=Remembering "Mondo Hollywood"'s Bobby Jameson – Night Flight |website=nightflight.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524063321/http://nightflight.com/remembering-mondo-hollywoods-bobby-jameson/ |archive-date=24 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}

In the mid-2000s, Stanley launched a weekly Internet radio show called 'The Now Sounds'{{cite web|url=http://www.luxuriamusic.com/djprofiles/steve-stanley|title=Steve Stanley|publisher=Luxuriamusic.com|accessdate=15 November 2014}} on luxuriamusic.com. He has featured a number of guests on his show including studio drummer Bernard Purdie and Orpheus, a psychedelic Bosstown Sound band that had hits in the 1960s.{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/O1OyV4O00s4| archive-date = 2021-12-09| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1OyV4O00s4| title = Orpheus on The Now Sounds with Steve Stanley (Radio Interview) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

As an actor, Stanley appeared as Wrecking Crew member Barney Kessel in The Beach Boys: An American Family, a 2000 television film directed by Jeff Bleckner. The film was nominated for three Emmy Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/beach-boys-american-family|title=The Beach Boys: An American Family|work=Television Academy|accessdate=15 November 2014}} Stanley was also a musician on the 2013 documentary Dear Mom, Love Cher about Cher's mother, Georgia Holt.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5655330/?ref_=fn_al_nm_4|title = Steve Stanley|website = IMDb}}

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Sheryl Farber, a three-time Grammy nominee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/sheryl-farber/2101|title=Sheryl Farber|date=19 November 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/shindig-issue-25-2012-stanley-article-a/Shindig_Issue%2025_2012_Stanley_article_b.jpg|title = Shindig Issue 25 2012 Stanley Article|date = February 2012}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.cherryred.co.uk/label/now-sounds/ Official Now Sounds website]
• [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-stanley-mn0000035121 Steve Stanley at the All Music Guide]

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Category:American music historians

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Category:American radio personalities

Category:American record producers

Category:Living people

Category:1970 births