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| Pamala Stanley |
| Pamala was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began singing with her brother (James) and sister (Sandra) by the time she was six. At age ten, she was recording for Frank Guida on the label that launched Gary U.S. Bonds and Jimmy Soul. After high school, Pamala, Chris (her husband at that time), Annabelle and Dennis Doughty opened one of the largest nightclubs in Tidewater, Virginia, the Fifth National Banque. Pamala and Sandra formed The Fifth National Band, which became the most popular local band in the area drawing thousands of fans over a five year span that included tours up and down the East Coast. By the late seventies, Pamala was in New York singing commercials, the best known of which was for Schlitz. She then flew to Germany and recorded the world wide dance hit, "This Is Hot," for EMI and did extensive touring in northern Europe and taped many national television shows in Germany, Holland, Ecuador and the United States, including "Dance Fever." She was a favorite on the hit Canadian show "Michele Gasmin's Talk Show." When she returned from her world wind touring she and her (then) husband Frank Mandaro produced and released "I Don't Want To Talk About It," written by her brother, James, and it went solid Top Twenty on the Billboard Dance Charts. Amazing, considering the label was Pamala and Frank's own Kommander Records and that this was their first release. They next produced the now classic "Coming Out Of Hiding," also written by her brother James and released on TSR Records. it went Top Four for the year on the same Billboard charts, received extensive video play on many major video programs including MTV, and was nominated for Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Best Female vocalist, alongside the like of Tina Turner and Madonna. She followed that with the release of "If Looks Could Kill," which found its way into the Arnold Schwarzenegger film "Raw Deal, which also went Top Twenty on those same charts. During a stay in Las Vegas singing at the Las Vegas Hilton, Pamala was invited to open a restaurant on Fort Lauderdale Beach called Evangeline. She had been seen by the owner during one of her shows. After doing her own show for a year, Pamala gradually pieced together her own band. For the following four years they became quite famous in the local area for their New Orleans Jazz, Swing and Boogie Woogie style. Early in 1999, Pamala decided to once again return to being a soloist. Taking off from the band has given her more time to write and record. She completed a classic CD in 2000 titled, "All in the Game," with songs from the thirties and forties. She followed that with another exciting disc entitled "Live And Cookin." She's also finished a soon-to-be released cartoon, musical, book-CD written by James Lee Stanley. Also, in the works are a Broadway CD and a CD of more of her original songs. In the new millenium she had a successful run at The Grill Room at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale for several years. She has gone from there to the lucrative and fun job of singing on cruise ships. Currently Pamala will be on the Celebrity Lines "Infinity" starting March 28 through August 1, 2004, which will be touring the Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, and Alaska. Of all the entertainers I've ever met and worked with she remains my all-time favorite! In 1984 I booked her for a show at a local Chicago club I was working at. In the interm it was revealed that she had already been booked that weekend at another club, needless to say I was heartbroken and crushed. After many phone calls her show was rescheduled. She did the show for expenses only, forgoing her usual fee. The show was spectacular and she was an angel, she signed my photo with: "To Danny, I'm so glad I finally got the chance to meet you...I'm glad we corrected the mix-up...I love you...Pamala Stanley." Needless to say (I was already a big fan) I became an instant life long fan, and yes I have EVERYTHING she has ever released. I had the joy of working with her several more times when she came to Paradise Chicago when I began working there later. In fact the owner and staff of Paradise was so enamored of her that we purchased her a top/cape that is seen in one of her most popular press photos (the one with the writing down the side of it). She loved that so much that you would have thought we gave her a million dollars.......but then that's just how Pamala is.....warm, sweet, caring, funny, genuine......and oh yes VERY talented. Look for her in stores and back on the club charts with "Clear Skies".......thanks Pamala....WE LOVE YOU! |
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