Stu Nankin's Still Rockin'

At 58, Stu Nankin keeps the music alive.

By: Bobby Hart | From the issue: May 2009

Photo: Marshall Franklin Long

Stu Nankin.

As in so many enduring relationships built on passion, 58-year-old Stu Nankin has been on a long roller coaster ride. But the heart-stopping twists and turns aren’t part of a soap opera romance. Instead, the drama stems from the special beat the producer/musician has walked to most of his life.

Since he picked up a guitar at the age of 14, Nankin has followed his own special rhythm, from his hometown of Milwaukee to the Twin Cities to Los Angeles and back. The tune has changed over the years, however, spanning genres from surf to the British invasion, to R&B, jazz and spiritual music.

“I love the beauty of classical music, I love the raw soulfulness of R&B, I love the grit and power of hard-driven rock,” said Nankin, who lives in Maple Grove with his wife, Maria-Elena, and 16-year-old daughter, Gabby. “For me, when I listen to or play music, it’s about musical value and feel, not so much about genre. I like a wide variety of musical styles, but for me it is about substance.”

Nankin’s ear for music, combined with carefully honed skills, has landed him gigs with prominent musical talents over the course of his career. In 1975, he became the original bass player for the popular regional rock band Chameleon, which later featured keyboardist Yanni. A few years later, he joined a new band, Romeo, with guitarist Dez Dickerson, who went on to play with Prince.