WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – March 5 will be the one-year anniversary of Michael Stanley’s death. His music resonated throughout Northeast Ohio and a tribute concert will remember him later this year in Warren. One of the area’s rising musical rock stars will be a part of it.
“Yeah, I didn’t want to say no to this one,” said Jackie Popovec, lead singer of the Youngstown-based rock band The Vindys.
On Sunday, May 29, Popovec will be on stage at the Robins Theatre in Warren as part of a tribute concert for Stanley. She’ll sing two songs, “All I Ever Wanted” and “I’ll Never Need Anyone More.”
She rehearsed with the band on Sunday.
“They gifted me this world tour T-shirt from 1982, which is when they did a four-night run at Blossom and sold out every night. So I’m, like, so lucky to have this shirt. I’m so glad they asked me to be a part of it,” Popovec said.
Our sister station Fox 8 in Cleveland reported on a similar Stanley tribute concert in early December in Cleveland. Stanley’s daughters were a part of it.
“He is watching and listening and smiling down on everyone who made his dreams come true,” one daughter said at the concert.
Youngstown’s Gary Markasky was the former lead guitarist. He plans to play at the Robins too and was in Cleveland for the first tribute concerts.
Markasky: “It was great. We sold out three nights — 3,500 each night.”
Reporter Stan Boney: “Did you enjoy playing with those guys again?”
Markasky: “We had a blast, man. It was great.”
“He is a rock legend and a Northeast Ohio legend. It’s been amazing the last couple years knowing him, knowing the band, and being a part of this now is super special,” Popovec said.
“Celebrating the Legacy of Michael Stanley” will play at Warren’s Robins Theatre on Sunday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Vindys will open the show.
The concert will feature members of The Resonators with Jonah Koslen and Michael Weber. It will also include Stanley’s longtime drummer and bandmate Tommy Dobeck.
A show is also scheduled for the Goodyear Theater in Akron on Saturday, May 28.
Tickets for Friends of the Robins Theatre members go on sale this Thursday. Everyone else is Friday. They range from $38 to $70.
A portion of every ticket sold for these two concerts will be donated to the newly formed 10,000 Watts of Holy Light Fund of The Cleveland Foundation.