INFO ABOUT JOE STANLEY: CD's: I Warned You Baby! All Night Long I'm Still Swingin' The Blues You Would Just Hate To Lose Vol. II The Blues You Would Just Hate To Lose Vol. I King of the Honky Tonk Sax
He was currently a member of the Dynaflows and Big Four Combo but when you piece
together his history, you ask yourself, why has he not received more recognition? Joe is
cousin to Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley and he started playing the clubs in the
'50s. He was one of the handful that would cross the color line to play with the black
musicians uptown around 14th and U. He was an original member of the Rainbows with
Marvin Gaye, Don Covay and Billy Stewart. He was with Billy Stewart at a birthday
party the night before Billy was killed in an auto accident. Joe could go from playing one
night with Link Wray the next night to Roy Clark and the next the Orioles. He toured
regularly with all of them. He had his own band, The Saxtons that backed Big Joe
Turner, Sam Cooke, Little Anthony, The Ames Brothers, Lloyd Price, The Drifters,
Bobby Darin, Bobby Rydell, Jackie Wilson, Dion & the Belmonts, Freddie Cannon
and many many others. The Saxtons would alternate sets on a double bill with Jimmy
Dean, his band providing the rock & roll as a counter to Jimmy's country. He joined Roy
Clark's band for a couple tours and played the Arthur Godfrey show with him. He was
in Dale Hawkins' band with Roy Buchanon. He and Roy left Dale at the same time and
Roy became a member of The Saxtons. In the early '60s Joe became a member of the
Bill Black Combo and ended up leading the band when Bill Black died. Joe joined with
Charlie Daniels (yes the "Devil Went Down to Georgia" guy) when Charlie would be
dressed in black tux, bow tie and black patent leather shoes with his hair slicked back
(can you paint this picture!) for his weekend gigs around DC. Joe had a standing
invitation from David Bartholomew to come join in when Fats Domino would come to
town. Joe Stanley helped Danny Gatton get his first gigs and was part of the Danny
and the Fat Boys band and the two of them were in Robert Gordon's band. He was
also part of the Red Hot Swinging Johnsons with Derek Huston and Jeff Lodsun. Joe
has one CD, King of the Honky-Tonk Sax on Mapleshade and is featured on a couple of
cuts from The Blues You Would Just Hate To Lose Vol. I & II. On Blues/Lose I, I
called him a Lieber & Stoller kind of guy and the following thoughts from a number of
other musicians can give you a picture of him:
Rusty Bogart, musician - I first saw him at Yesterdays around 1990 playing everything
from Deep Purple (the song) to Honky Tonk- standards to blues it was great
Roy Clark: Joe was a great part of my musical education. Even back then, (the 50's) he
could really get down. He was one of the trailblazers in good sax playing in the DC area.
Charlie Daniels - In the late 50's and early 60's when I was coming around, I Remember
Joe Stanley being one of the mainstays of the DC music scene. He always had a band
and was always working at one place or another.
Gary Gregg - musician - First time I saw him was in 90 or 91 at the Sunset Grill. I am
a big Texas Tenor fan and I was knocked out - here was this guy, playing live, everything
I had only had a chance to hear on record. I am so jealous of his ability to take the most
beat up and ratty instrument and produce the sweetest sounds with it.
Billy Hancock, musician - I first saw Joe in one of his Saxtons lineups in 1964 in a bar
that I was too young to get in to. I became a member of The Saxtons later in the 60's.
Without a doubt, when it comes to Honky-tonk, R&B and blues Joe is one of the most
influential people you will find in the DC area.
Rolph Hansen, musician - He's not the only one but there are very few players out there
that can blow that Earl Bostic 50's style of sax so correctly. His phrasing is right on
Charlie Hubel, musician - Joe is that link back to when music was vital and played with
no holds barred. You just don't hear many sax players that come at it with that approach
- it is not premeditated and it comes from the heart
Big Joe Maher - I first saw him with his band at Buzzy's Crabhouse in 1982. It was
like listening to an old jukebox but the guy was right there in front of me performing live.
I was blown away
Bobby Manriquez, musician - Some of the first nightclub gigs I ever did were w/ Joe. I
always liked his weathered, rather cynical views, his jokes and his mirror kept things
interesting. When I think of Joe Stanley, I think of a pro; he showed me the meaning of
being professional (I was a teen) in a manner that appealed to my sense of humor
Ed Monti, musician Saxtons alum - I can't think of anyone that Joe didn't play with
through the 50's and 60's. He has always been a mover and a shaker as far as the DC
rock & roll thing goes. If I grumbled about the type of club or pay we were getting he
would growl back "you're working aren't you"
Gene Newport, musician Saxtons alum - He's a survivor. I always called Joe a white
black man the way he played his music. We learned to play in an alley
John O'Connor, musician - I first say Joe play about 25 years ago at Desperado's. He
is both a great soloist, and superb section player; he can play any style of music well. He
never looked down on those of us who are younger and less skilled. If Joe Stanley told
you that you played well, you knew you had done something right. I would use words
like "fixture", "contributor" and "survivor". Joe has given more to the audiences and
young players of this town than 99% of the players on the circuit, and he's done it
without pomposity, self-aggrandizement or ego. If I live to be a hundred I'll never meet
another like him.
Sam Paladino, musician Saxtons alum - Joe is an institution of the DC scene. He was
one of the first to take his band (The Saxtons) on the road when others were scared to
Nap "Don't Forget the Blues" Turner - musician- I used to go see Billy Stewart's
band at the Spa on 14th and U it must have been around 1961 and there he would be
fitting right in
Chris Watling, musician - Joe is one of the last of the great stylists ala Sam Butera. He
has that R&B rock & roll thing down
Stan Weinberg, drummer with the Saxtons circa 1960 - very influential as far as tenors
go, he paved the way for a lot of the rock & roll bands that sprouted up around DC in the
50's. Everyone looked up to him
Phil Zavarella - Zavarella Music - I have been repairing that old Bundy Sax for 30
years and I want that instrument for my wall of shame. There is no other like Joe
Stanley in this town. He basically taught everyone to play.
Good Rockin Daddy
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