Stanley Martin Szelest (February 11, 1942 – January 20, 1991) was an American musician from Buffalo, New York, known for founding an influential blues band in the 1950s and 1960s, Stan and the Ravens, and later as a keyboardist with Ronnie Hawkins and, briefly, with The Band.[1][2]
In 1958, Szelest formed Stan and the Ravens, a blues group that became popular in western New York. New York producer David Lucas recorded sessions with the group, resulting in the release "Farmer's Daughter" a song written by Szelest. Lucas also recorded a song entitled, "Howlin' for My Darlin" and b-side, "It Won't Be Long Now" using the name, the Rivals instead of Stan and the Ravens for the Spector/Wand label. Lucas made some other recordings of the group, only one of which “Rag Top”, has ever been released.
In 1967, Stan and the Ravens broke up, although they would re-unite occasionally well into the 1980s.[3] In 2009, the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame released “Rag Top” on a CD compilation, and again on a vinyl compilation in 2016 – this time featuring Szelest on the cover (see discography).
In 1960, at the age of seventeen, he started to work with Ronnie Hawkins and his backing group, the Hawks. Calling Szelest "a living fountain of rock and roll piano", Hawks bass player Rick Danko claimed to have developed his bass style by copying Szelest's left-hand work on piano.[4] Szelest left the Hawks a little over a year later[5] and was replaced by Richard Manuel. The Hawks later left Hawkins to form an act of their own, which eventually came to be named The Band.
Szelest went on to have a busy career as a session player with acts as diverse as fellow Hawks alumnus King Biscuit Boy to avant-garde former Velvet Underground member John Cale. Szelest was also in Lonnie Mack's band during the 1980s and played on Mack's albums Strike Like Lightning and Attack of the Killer V; he can also be seen in several videos playing in Mack's band during that period. Szelest would return to Ronnie Hawkins many times over the years as well.
In the summer of 1984, Szelest began playing with his old bandmate from The Hawks Levon Helm as a member of his Woodstock All-Stars,[5] who played intermittently for the next four years, often featuring the Stan And The Ravens song "Rag Top" in their sets.[6] Szelest joined The Band, playing live with them in 1990 and participating in rehearsals and writing for their new record deal with CBS Records. He died of a heart attack in 1991 while in Woodstock recording with Levon Helm, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson. His piano playing can be heard on The Band's 1993 album Jericho (see discography). The album also features the song "Too Soon Gone", co-written by Jules Shear after Szelest handed him over 16 bars of a melody, which sat around Shear's Woodstock home. When Szelest died, Shear was called by both Levon Helm and Rick Danko and asked to finish the song as a tribute to Szelest. Apparently, Szelest had begun the song as a tribute to the late Richard Manuel. The album is dedicated to Manuel and Szelest with the caption "Too Soon Gone" in the liner notes.
Stan Szelest was inducted into The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 1986.[7]
Discographyedit
with Stan & the Ravens
Farmer's Daughter / No Turning Back (1965) (as "The Raven's") Sahara Records (SH 45–112)
Howlin' For My Darlin' / It Won't Be Long Now (1966) (as "The Rivals") Wand Records (WND 1146)
"Rag Top" on Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame Compilation CD Volume Two (2009), Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame
"Rag Top" on Vinyl Volume 1.2016 (features an image of Szelest on the cover) (2016), Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame (BMHOF2016)[8]
The Folk Ballads of Ronnie Hawkins (1960), Roulette Records – Appears on "Summertime", "I Gave My Love a Cherry", "John Henry", "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"[9]
Rock And Roll Resurrection (1972) Monument – piano
The Giant Of Rock 'N' Roll (1974) Monument – piano
^"Stan Szelest : Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
^"Ronnie Hawkins Discography". Ronniehawkins.com. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
^"Jericho". Theband.hiof.no. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
^As noted in the liner notes to the album, 1997, Moon Haw Records)
January 01, 1970
stan, szelest, stanley, martin, szelest, february, 1942, january, 1991, american, musician, from, buffalo, york, known, founding, influential, blues, band, 1950s, 1960s, stan, ravens, later, keyboardist, with, ronnie, hawkins, briefly, with, band, born, 1942, . Stanley Martin Szelest February 11 1942 January 20 1991 was an American musician from Buffalo New York known for founding an influential blues band in the 1950s and 1960s Stan and the Ravens and later as a keyboardist with Ronnie Hawkins and briefly with The Band 1 2 Stan SzelestBorn 1942 02 11 February 11 1942Buffalo New York U S DiedJanuary 20 1991 1991 01 20 aged 48 Woodstock New York U S GenresCountry rock rhythm and blues rock and roll countryOccupation s MusicianInstrument s Vocals piano keyboardYears active1958 1991Biography editIn 1958 Szelest formed Stan and the Ravens a blues group that became popular in western New York New York producer David Lucas recorded sessions with the group resulting in the release Farmer s Daughter a song written by Szelest Lucas also recorded a song entitled Howlin for My Darlin and b side It Won t Be Long Now using the name the Rivals instead of Stan and the Ravens for the Spector Wand label Lucas made some other recordings of the group only one of which Rag Top has ever been released In 1967 Stan and the Ravens broke up although they would re unite occasionally well into the 1980s 3 In 2009 the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame released Rag Top on a CD compilation and again on a vinyl compilation in 2016 this time featuring Szelest on the cover see discography In 1960 at the age of seventeen he started to work with Ronnie Hawkins and his backing group the Hawks Calling Szelest a living fountain of rock and roll piano Hawks bass player Rick Danko claimed to have developed his bass style by copying Szelest s left hand work on piano 4 Szelest left the Hawks a little over a year later 5 and was replaced by Richard Manuel The Hawks later left Hawkins to form an act of their own which eventually came to be named The Band Szelest went on to have a busy career as a session player with acts as diverse as fellow Hawks alumnus King Biscuit Boy to avant garde former Velvet Underground member John Cale Szelest was also in Lonnie Mack s band during the 1980s and played on Mack s albums Strike Like Lightning and Attack of the Killer V he can also be seen in several videos playing in Mack s band during that period Szelest would return to Ronnie Hawkins many times over the years as well In the summer of 1984 Szelest began playing with his old bandmate from The Hawks Levon Helm as a member of his Woodstock All Stars 5 who played intermittently for the next four years often featuring the Stan And The Ravens song Rag Top in their sets 6 Szelest joined The Band playing live with them in 1990 and participating in rehearsals and writing for their new record deal with CBS Records He died of a heart attack in 1991 while in Woodstock recording with Levon Helm Rick Danko and Garth Hudson His piano playing can be heard on The Band s 1993 album Jericho see discography The album also features the song Too Soon Gone co written by Jules Shear after Szelest handed him over 16 bars of a melody which sat around Shear s Woodstock home When Szelest died Shear was called by both Levon Helm and Rick Danko and asked to finish the song as a tribute to Szelest Apparently Szelest had begun the song as a tribute to the late Richard Manuel The album is dedicated to Manuel and Szelest with the caption Too Soon Gone in the liner notes Stan Szelest was inducted into The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 1986 7 Discography editwith Stan amp the Ravens Farmer s Daughter No Turning Back 1965 as The Raven s Sahara Records SH 45 112 Howlin For My Darlin It Won t Be Long Now 1966 as The Rivals Wand Records WND 1146 Rag Top on Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame Compilation CD Volume Two 2009 Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame Rag Top on Vinyl Volume 1 2016 features an image of Szelest on the cover 2016 Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame BMHOF2016 8 with Ronnie Hawkins The Folk Ballads of Ronnie Hawkins 1960 Roulette Records Appears on Summertime I Gave My Love a Cherry John Henry Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child 9 Rock And Roll Resurrection 1972 Monument piano The Giant Of Rock N Roll 1974 Monument piano The Hawk 1979 United Artists Records piano The Hawk amp Rock 1982 Trilogy records International piano The Hawk In Concert 1986 MMG Video piano lead vocals on Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On with Lonnie Mack Lonnie Mack And Pismo 1977 Capitol Records keyboards Strike Like Lightning 1985 Sonet Alligator piano organ keyboards Second Sight 1986 Sonet Alligator Keyboards co wrote Camp Washington Chili S R V box set by Stevie Ray Vaughan amp Double Trouble 2000 Legacy Epic Organ on If You Have to Know With Lonnie Mack Other contributions John Cale Vintage Violence 1970 Columbia keyboards Grinders Switch Featuring Garland Jeffreys 1970 Vanguard piano organ harmonica vocals Roger Tillison Roger Tilison s Album 1971 Atco Piano Charlie Starr Tough amp Tender 1971 Prophecy Records piano Marg Osburne My Kind Of Country 1972 Marathon piano Jesse Ed Davis Ululu 1972 Atco piano on White Live Fever Allan Capson Country Lane In My Mind 1973 Marathon piano organ Donna Moon Bittersweet 1973 Marathon piano Jo Anne Newman Easy Country 1974 Condor piano Crosby amp Nash Wind on the Water 1975 ABC Records Polydor electric piano on Fieldworker Jack Nitzsche Blue Collar Music From The Original Motion Picture Score 1978 MCA Records piano Steve Gillette A Little Warmth 1979 Regency Records Flying Fish Trio Records piano John Lewis Gator Blue 1982 Warpt Records piano David Wilcox Bad Reputation 1984 Capitol Records piano King Biscuit Boy Mouth Of Steel 1984 Stoney Plain Records keyboards piano Roy Buchanan Dancing on the Edge 1986 Alligator Roy Buchanan Hot Wires 1987 Alligator George Carver The Modern Agriculture 1988 Trace Elements Music piano organ Staying Together Original Soundtrack 1989 Rhino Records performs with Levon Helm on Lean On Me co wrote and performed on Hotel Buick Big Love in A Small Town The Northern Pikes Snow in June 1990 Virgin piano Jack de Keyzer Hard Working Man 1991 WEA piano on Nothing In The World Wash My Blues Away The Band Jericho 1993 Appears on Blind Willie McTell Atlantic City co wrote with Jules Shear Too Soon Gone 10 The Band High On The Hog 1996 Pyramid Records co wrote The High Price of Love Jim Weider And The Honky Tonk Gurus Big Foot 1997 Piano on the Chuck Berry instrumental Deep Feeling recorded 1990 11 Professor Louie amp The Crowmatix The Lost Band Tracks 2017 Funzalo Woodstock Records co wrote Too Soon Gone Long Ways Across Tennessee The Weight Band World Gone Mad 2018 co wrote You re Never Too Old to Rock N Roll Neil Young Homegrown 2020 Reprise piano on We Don t Smoke It No More wurlitzer on Vacancy recorded 1974 75 References edit Obituaries Stan Szelest Rock Pianist 48 The New York Times January 22 1991 Retrieved November 28 2013 Stan Szelest Credits AllMusic January 20 1991 Retrieved November 28 2013 Stan and The Ravens Milk Cow Boogie YouTube Archived from the original on December 15 2021 Retrieved January 17 2020 Helm Levon Davis Stephen 1993 This Wheel s on Fire William Morrow ISBN 0 688 14070 X a b Stan Szelest Theband hiof no Retrieved November 28 2013 Levon Helm Live at Joyous Lake Woodstock 07 18 1984 YouTube Archived from the original on December 15 2021 Retrieved January 17 2020 Stan Szelest BMHOF Class of 1986 Archived from the original on August 10 2015 Stan Szelest Discography Discogs com Retrieved January 16 2020 Ronnie Hawkins Discography Ronniehawkins com Retrieved November 28 2013 Jericho Theband hiof no Retrieved November 28 2013 As noted in the liner notes to the album 1997 Moon Haw Records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stan Szelest amp oldid 1180669950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
