Michael Stanley's daughter talks about his legacy ahead of Willoughby Hills Rock N Roll Day

Aug. 11—A tribute to Michael Stanley, in addition to a Michael Stanley Band memorabilia booth, will kick off Willoughby Hills' Rock N Roll Day event this weekend.

"My sister and I are constantly overwhelmed by the support and the acknowledgement that Cleveland has given my dad, but Willoughby Hills especially," said Sarah Sharp, Stanley's daughter. "He's been a resident there for 25 years. He loved the city and we're honored to be a part of keeping his legacy alive. It's an amazing get-together."

The event will take place Aug.13 at 35405 Chardon Road from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Parking will be available at City Hall, St. Noel, the soccer fields at the Community Center and at Chagrin North Medical buildings at the corner of Route 6 and 91. There will be a path along the road roped off for walkers to the event.

There are currently three events planned inside the Community Center at 35400 Chardon Road.

Sharp, along with her sister, Anna Sary, will have a booth for Line Level Music, a company that Stanley created when he began his solo music career.

"We took over after he passed away, and we will be selling his merchandise," Sharp said. "He used it as a vessel to produce and distribute his solo music. As he was playing with the Resonators, that music would filter through that and he sold some merch."

Since her dad was not into social media, Sharp thinks that he never was able to reach out as far as she thinks he could have.

"When he passed away, my sister and I felt strongly about taking this (Line Level Music) over, keeping his legacy alive, giving the fans the music they wanted," Sharp said. "I got him, his music and the merchandise people have been wanting on social media to more people. It just took off last year."

Taking over Line Level Music has been like therapy for Sharp and her sister.

"It's been incredible because of the amount of love and support," Sharp said. "People are still wanting to wear his T-shirts, buy his albums and watch his DVDs. It's been an honor to do this. It helped us work through the grief of losing our dad by doing this and having interaction with the fans."

Stanley died last year at the age of 72. He has been described as the very symbol of rock and roll in Cleveland. Stanley started out as a solo artist in 1973 with two albums before forming the Michael Stanley Band, whose 1975 debut on Epic Records, "You Break It... You Bought It," introduced the more robust, arena-friendly anthems the group became known for. The band had its biggest national profile in 1981 when the single "He Can't Love You" reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"We grew up in South Euclid and then my dad moved out to several different cities, but he ended up in Willoughby Hills and loved it," Sharp said. "He had a house that was secluded out in the woods, had dogs, animals and loved being there."

When their dad was at the peak of his career with the Michael Stanley Band, Sharp and her sister were young.

"We didn't get the chance to really appreciate the musician and the songwriter," Sharp said. "As we grew up and continued to go to his concerts, and saw the other things he was doing on radio and TV, it was overwhelming to us the following he had — the dedicated fans. He's always been dad to us first, but after he passed, it brought the whole Michael Stanley thing to a new light. We had no idea how many lives he touched with his music with the encounters he had with people."

Sharp describes her dad as an extremely talented, generous, appreciative person.

"I think people saw that and they enjoyed his music, and I'm so glad that Cleveland thinks of him that way," she said. "My sister and I want to thank Willoughby Hills, and everybody who has been involved in getting this event together. We appreciate the acknowledgement for our dad, his music and his legacy."