Biography
Nationally acclaimed Northwest songwriter and instrumentalist Stanley Greenthal performs a compelling mix of his original songs, and fresh arrangements of instrumental music from Brittany, Scotland, Ireland and the Balkans. With a mastery of guitar, mandocello and tenor guitar, Stanley is a poet who combines striking melody with images to evoke personal experience in the listener.
Stanley has released four recordings on his own Madrona Ring Music label. His first album, Songs for the Journey (1987), was produced by renowned Windham Hill recording artist Micheal O Domhnaill. Gordon Bok comments: "lovely instrumental work against the texture of his voice." Stanley produced and recorded his second album, All Roads (1991), which brought him increasing national recognition. "Greenthal works in a complex acoustic form, done so well as to appear simple...the result is the illumination of quiet inward choices that haunt all of us." — CD Review
Turning Towards You (1998), is distinguished from his other recordings, as Stanley produced, engineered and recorded it in his Seattle “Nohedroom” home studio. “A gifted instrumentalist and writer with a sharp eye for detail and poetic flair, Stanley Greenthal stands among the finest neo Celtic talents. Turning Towards You is a musical feast.” — John O’ Regan, Rock ‘N’ Reel, U.K. Stanley also recorded and engineered the solo harp album The Ancient Harp of Scotland (Mill Records, 1998) in his studio for William Jackson, reknowned founding member of top Scottish band Ossian.
Stanley's newest album (all instrumental), Mélodie - Brittany to the Balkans, (2002), is the culmination of his fascination with folk music cultures that began with his travels in England, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Greece, where he shared music with the traditional players and singers who continue to inspire his music today.
Since 1990, he has done extensive tours of the U.S. East and West coasts, North Carolina, parts of the Southwest, and British Columbia in Canada, sharing the stage with performers such as Joan Baez, Martin Hayes, Ossian, The House Band, Patty Larkin, Ad Vielle Que Pourra, Priscilla Herdman, and Robin Williamson. In 1999, Stanley completed a Westcoast tour accompanying The Windbags, a group composed of internationally known players of Scottish and Irish bagpipes, flutes, and other wind instruments, whose members were drawn from acclaimed Celtic ensembles, including Jerry O’Sullivan (of Altan), John Skelton (The House Band), and Pat O’Gorman (Rare Air). Stanley was one of a select group of world-class teachers invited to do workshops and concerts at Zoukfest, the first international gathering of bouzouki players, held July 13-19, 1998 in Weston, Missouri. He taught and performed again at the June 1999 Zoukfest. Stanley was selected for the Northwest On Tour 2001-2002 Tri-state Touring Roster (Washington, Oregon & Idaho); and 2000-2001 King County Touring Arts Programs in Washington.
Stanley and his wife Kip currently reside in Seattle, where he teaches guitar and mandocello, gives workshops, and runs a business, Uncommon Wedding Music, playing Celtic and original music for weddings.
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