George Simon Stanford is an American singer and songwriter. He was signed to Mercury Records and is best known as the lead vocalist of the band Townhall.
Education Stanford is a graduate of Harriton High School in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, where he played trombone in his high school jazz band.
Career Stanford attended the University of the Arts (Philadelphia) to study music but dropped out to play with the Philadelphia rock act Townhall. He played with them for five years, producing one live album and two studio albums (Live at the Point, 2003's New Song, and 2005's American Dreams). In 2006, Stanford moved to Los Angeles and was offered a record deal with Epic Records. He relocated to Smash/Mercury Records the following year, moved back to Philadelphia, and released his debut album, Big Drop, in June 2008. It was preceded by an EP and the lead single "My Own Worst Enemy," which was featured on VH1's "You Oughta Know" program.
After he departed from the label, he formed his own independent label, Gbones Music, and released the EP Roll Away in 2010, which included his single "Meet Me in L.A.". He followed it up with the Las Palmas EP in 2012 and an artist residency at The Piano Bar in Hollywood.
His second studio album, Something Better, was released in 2014 and included the track "Happy As You Are," which was featured on Amazon.com's "Artists on the Rise" series. Later that year, he premiered a holiday track called "It's Christmas Time (Midnight Ridin)".
In 2015, he worked on the soundtrack to the feature film "The Grace of Jake," starring Jordin Sparks and Michael Beck. He released his single "Pressure Makes Diamonds" in October 2015 and premiered it on Pat Monahan's show on SiriusXM's The Pulse. He premiered the song "I Got Famous" on his official social media in May.
In August 2016, Stanford announced he had scored two original songs for the upcoming J.K. Simmons film "The Bachelors," set for release in 2017. The following month, he announced he had signed with Round Hill Music, as a songwriter. He announced a new single release for November titled "Starring You". In 2017, he continued to tour and released three more digital singles, "Better Man", "Future Classic" and "Moving On."
In 2018, his song "Magic Hour" was featured in the television series Kevin (Probably) Saves the World and Chicago P.D. He released a new digital single "Holding On" on May 23, 2018.
Later that year, he announced a new EP recorded in an old Los Angeles church titled Alone at the Pilgrim set for release in November. He also premiered a new digital single titled "Rebellionaire" on October 10.
In November, he began premiering a series of videos from the Alone at the Pilgrim sessions, produced by TAR+FEATHER, leading up to the EP's release on December 7.
Personal life He is married and has two children.
Discography
Solo career YearAlbum2008Big Drop 1st studio album Released: June 3, 2008 Formats: CD, Digital Label: Mercury Records2014Something Better 2nd studio album Released: August 29, 2014 Formats: CD, Digital Label: George Stanford
With Townhall YearAlbum2001Live at the Point Live album Released: September 1, 2011 Formats: CD Label: Home Grown2003New Song 1st studio album Released: February 25, 2003 Formats: CD, Digital Label: Townhall2005American Dreams 2nd studio album Released: June 28, 2005 Formats: CD Label: 33rd Street
EPs YearAlbum2007The EP EP Released: 2007 Formats: CD Label: Smash Records2010Roll Away EP Released: March 12, 2010 Formats: CD, Digital Label: Gbones Music2012Las Palmas EP Released: July 21, 2012 Formats: CD, Digital Label: Gbones Music2018Alone at the Pilgrim EP Released: December 7, 2018 Formats: Digital Label: George Stanford
Singles Year Single Chart positions Album 2008 "My Own Worst Enemy" 2009 "Meet Me In L.A." 2010 "Lemonade" rowspan="1" "Things I Don't Need" "Christmas For Two" rowspan="12" "It's So Easy" "You'll Never Know" "Pressure Makes Diamonds" "I Got Famous" "Today For Tomorrow" "Better Man" "Starring You" "Future Classic" "Movin' On" "Holding On" "Rebellionaire"
Videos Alone At The Pilgrim (2018) My Own Worst Enemy (2008) Meet Me in L.A. (2009) Roll Away (2010) Lemonade (2011) Cardboard Baby (Acoustic) (2012) Natural Girls (2011) Things I Don't Need (2012) Christmas For Two (2012) Downriver (2013)
References
https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-drop-mw0000581915 https://www.npr.org/artists/89310351/george-stanford Dye, David, George Stanford: Pop Meets Soul, World Cafe, National Public Radio, February 29, 2008
External links Stanford, George, Official Site