Michael Stanley

I'm a lyrics guy. Always have been. And, while lyrics are nothing more than poems without great music, it's the lyricist that captures me everytime.

Henley, Sting, Joel, Taupin, Seger...the list goes on. But there are those Midwest journeymen that never fail to grab me. Jim Peterik is one...his lyrical prowess made Survivor albums cool, as it was the album tracks that so often caught my attention (and not necessarily the hits).

And the other is an artist named Michael Stanley. I'm not sure there is a guy as beloved by his hometown as Michael is in Cleveland, Ohio. Where he plays at Indians and Cavs games. Where the crowd sings along to non-hits. Honestly...browse the videos on YouTube. In some, you can barely hear him sing for the crowd.

But it's those lyrics that connect:

"It's 10:35 in the Heartland...make your move or you never will."

"All I ever wanted, all you gotta do, is baby just don't say goodnight 'til the man gets around to our song."

"This old town is where I learned about loving. This old town is where I learned to hate."

And the one that the crowd belts out every time:

"Thank God for the man that put the white line on the highway."

Sadly, there are precious few videos with quality sound...but maybe that's a further testament to Michael's fan base.

Bucket List? Yeah...a trip to Cleveland to see Michael and the Resonators burn it down?

It's right there at the top.