Artist description Rick Stanley of Celtic Harps is a ballad singer/songwriter/harper/guitarist/composer and harpmaker. These days he designs and builds custom folk harps and performs the Celtic ballads that he started singing in the coffee houses of Boston during the folk revival of the 1960's. His Masters in English Lit/creative writing has enabled him to research and create songs that are historically accurate as well as beautiful.

Music Style Acoustic Celtic, Folk, World, New Age

Musical Influences Bob Dylan, Paul Brady, Micheal O Domnhill

Similar Artists Cat Stevens

Artist History Rick Stanley signed with Columbia/Epic Records in Los Angeles in the 1960's. Terry Melcher, who made the magic of the "Byrds" hit albums, took on the role of manager/producer to Rick and Pam Polland, "The Gentle Soul." They made the charts with two singles "Tell Me Love" (written by Rick) and "She's A Flying Thing That Sings" (written by one-time band member Jackson Browne). The album was called "Most beautiful...album of the year" by Billboard. Rick has written for, worked with or recorded with some of the most talented musicians in the business: Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Edwards, Beach Boys, Glen Campbell, Al Kooper, Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Steven Stills and many others. Rick took sitar classes from Ravi Shankar and travelled all over the world with Maharish Mahesh Yogi. Rick released a solo album in 1970 "Song of Life" which includes many of the songs he performed for kings, presidents, and educators. In 1972 he collaborated with Paul Fauerso of "The Loading Zone" and together they toured the U.S. and Europe performing songs from "Something Good is Happening". In the 1980's Rick recorded another new-age style album with Mac Gayden titled "In the Golden Dome". He also released "On English Hills", a collection of traditional Celtic ballads and original songs performed with voice and guitar. In the 1990's Rick became fascinated with the Celtic harp and studied how to design and build them as well as accompany himself on his favorite ballads.

Instruments Celtic harp, guitar, penny whistle, harmonium, bodhran, harmonica, banjo, sitar, tamborine

Albums The Ballad of Bothwell and Marie, On English Hills, In the Golden Dome, Something Good is Happening, Song of Life, The Gentle Soul

Location Douds, Iowa - USA

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