Geno Stanley

Interview 16 October 2006

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Tell me about yourself, where you from, your family:

Mike, I'm just a plain, everyday, normal person ! That just love creating music,

I'm originally from Illinois, I have 2 beautiful kids, divorced father,

And your currently living in Denver Colorado

– what goes on there? What took you there.

Yes, Denver's a lovely place, has the mountains, for skiing, hiking, all types of outdoor activites.

How did I end up in Colorado ? Actually, I was passing through visiting a friend and ended up staying !

As far as the music scene, It's really not the market for R&B soul singer's. Especially for the ones who

write and perform their own material. If you incorporate an act that does cover tunes ? You might create

a small following ? Right now at this particular time...I'm feeling my more creative side.

What took you into music.

Music has always been a big part of my life. I can't remember a day growing up where there wasn't some type of device

playing, whether it was the radio or the record player ? So I guess naturally, I was just drawn to music.

I've always loved vocal groups...the harmonies ! That's what really caught my interest.

You’ve been with Park Avenue, Sudden Impact and Full House – Tell me a little about each of these.

All these bands were under a company called " Pro-Entertainment" they hired me as a vocalist.

True story...I was hanging out with a friend of mine at one of the local pubs. That particular night, it was

Karoake Night, to make a long story short, after a few drinks my partner coaxed me into doing a song.

The guy that owned "Pro-Entertainment" just happen to be there and he invited me to an audition.

I got the gig ! Park Avenue and Sudden Impact were small bands with a male and female vocalist.

Full House, was the whole big band live show , dancers, singers, horns ,pretty much everything..that was FUN !

And you’ve also worked consistently with live showbands

I try...but honestly, it's very hard , Life often dictates alot of things, trying to balance your family time, Working your full-time job, kids , and etc .

At what point did you start to put together a solo album

" It Must Be Love " was actually the first song I had wrote for the album...actually I was trying to put together

a demo to shop. My partner " Smidi" just said , let's do an album..that's how it all came about.

Tell me about the album, it must be love,

" It Must Be Love ", honestly, I just wanted to write about love...the up's the down's, the happiness, the pain

it can bring, just the realness of being in love, sometimes when you lose someone you love, it can be devastating.

You pleased with how it finished up

I'm very pleased !

Its been out a while how did it do

I don't write my music to compare success or failure to how many records were sold. I love what I do !

I just hope someone can relate to the message I'm trying to get across.

Any interest from overseas, lets have a party is the kind of track that goes down well in the UK, but personally I prefer the ballads

Actually, 90 percent of my sells come from Japan or the UK...I love writing ballads..that's the "G-Love " (smile)

Who were the key people in helping you put the album together

My partner out of Las Vegas, Eric "Smidi" Smith and myself.

He laced the tracks and I locked the flow ! (smile)

What tracks caught attention. Some tracks were picked up for a film

" It Must Be Love " and "Being With You "

Are you doing much live work at the moment, whats happening

Rightnow, I'm not performing...just started writing for my follow up to "Baby, Get Ready "

Been busy producing songs for my first artist "Young Skeet "

Are you strongly independent or are you looking for a deal

I would sign a deal...but it has to be the right deal.

Where do you see yourself in the marketplace

That's a hard question to answer.. with the recent decline of R&B/Soul

singers that are getting major exposure and the way Hip Hop is dominating

the industry..Personally, I think CD's will be a thing of the past.

Digital downloads will be the thing in the future !

Tell me about your writing, you’ve had a few songs picked up

I write about real life situations...

You’re style is very much in the classic soul vein, who are your influences

All the Motown greats, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder.

R-Kelly, Babyface, Luther Vandross, the list goes on and on

Who out there right now do you like.

I'm definitely feeling NEO right now..hes got that R&B/pop flavor..catchy hooks,

I love what he's doing...very similiar to what I do ! (LOL) But I'm just a little

bit more soulful

What other things do you like to do

I love producing other artist's...I'm currently putting the wraps on my first

production as executive producer.. Dropping here shortly ..." Young Skeet",

R&B/Hip Hop, 16 year old rapper, from Illinois

Anything you’d like to add.

Be on the look out for " Young Skeet" !

Thanks for your time.

Mike

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