Kerry Stanley was infected with a dangerous recombinant virus back during the Folk Scare of the 1960’s: music and progressive politics. Attempts at a cure have been largely unsuccessful, and he has been playing, singing, and asking too many questions ever since.
Losing his first guitar by leaving it under a hotel bed in Ocean City, Maryland, brought about a period of remission that unfortunately was short-lived - he bought another. Hopes were raised that a cure might “take” when that instrument was stolen in New York City, but those hopes were dashed when a group of friends selfishly enabled his on-going poor behavior by giving him the Guild D35 that he continues to play today. The fact that even the near-destruction of his guitar by baggage handlers at Delta Airlines didn’t slow him down for long shows the strength of the disease. He had the guitar repaired, and his ailment seems to be getting worse.
He has also taken up the acoustic bass, and the virus appears to be causing certain unusual movements of the hips when he plays it.
Once content to play songs written by others for a small circle of friends, he now writes his own music and performs regularly around Kansas City with Checkered Past, an outspoken group of similarly afflicted musicians. Yet more ominously, he has lately been heard muttering things like, “All of Phil Ochs’ songs are relevant again,” and, “and, “Nixon doesn’t look so bad anymore.”
There are even some suggestions that the condition may be both contagious and hereditary. His wife supports and encourages Checkered Past. His two daughters help with the recycling, they think that gay marriage is no big deal, and they consider MoveOn.org to be a mainstream organization.
Readers are cautioned not to applaud when he plays, or compliment his songwriting. It only encourages him.
