Michigan Rock and Roll Legends

12/02/2025

12/02/2025

Thanks to Jim Render and Barry Kane for donating flyers, posters, and photos for the MRRL HOF Studio at the Historical Museum of Bay County. This is where we do the Michigan Music History Podcast.

12/02/2025

Congratulations to the White Stripes on their 2025 nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland! Still waiting for Grand Funk Railroad, Jack Scott, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Mary Wells, ? and The Mysterians, and Jr. Walker & The All Stars to be nominated.

09/02/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQu892GGbts Dr. J’s Legendary Michigan Song of the Week is “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” by Marvin Gaye. It was the second million-selling single released from Gaye’s landmark 1971 album “What’s Going On”. His eloquent composition became one of the most poignant anthems to deal with the state of the environment, and it continues to ring true to this day. Gaye plays piano on the track, and the strings were conducted by Paul Riser and David Van De Pitte with instrumental backing by the Funk Brothers. The leading sax solo was performed by Wild Bill Moore and the bass line in the song was provided by Bob Babbitt. The distinctive percussive sound on the recording was a wood block struck with a rubber mallet, drenched in studio reverb. Marvin produced “Mercy Mercy Me”, along with all the other songs on the “What’s Going On” album, and multi-tracked his vocals along with those of the backing vocalists in The Andantes. The song was Marvin Gaye’s sixth #1 single on the R&B charts. In 2002, “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” became his third single to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Watch GIGS on Samsung TV Plus: https://www.samsungtvplus.com?action=play&target_tab=discover&target_id=GBBD3000004VR&target_type=1 Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy ...

05/02/2025

Part 2 of our Andy Reed interview is coming Thursday!

04/02/2025

Congratulations to Billy Strings!

This is Billy Strings' second Grammy Award.

02/02/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P51LunEV3Sk Dr. J’s Legendary Michigan Song of the Week is “True Blue” by Madonna. The song was the title track of Madonna’s 1986 album, and it was the third of five hit singles released from that LP. “True Blue” is a tribute to the girl groups, including those on Motown, that were popular when Madonna was growing up in Michigan and were a direct influence of her music. According to Madonna, its title was taken from a favorite expression of her then husband Sean Penn and his very pure vision of love. When interviewed later, following her divorce from Penn, Madonna said of “True Blue”: “It’s a song about love. I didn’t know what I was talking about when I wrote it.” Madonna’s video for “True Blue” was shot in the fall of 1986 in New York and was directed by James Foley who had also done the videos for “Papa Don’t Preach” and “Live To Tell”. Foley’s charming retro video featured Madonna, three dancers, a vintage car, along with an all-blue malt shop. Madonna performed the song in choreographed moves, backed by her dancers, as a salute to the rock and roll culture of rock and roll’s first decade.

You're watching the official music video for "True Blue" from Madonna's album 'True Blue' released on Sire Records in 1986. Buy/Stream the 'True Blue' album ...

30/01/2025

30/01/2025

Sad news. Marianne Faithfull has passed away.

22/01/2025

Music fans, I need your help. I'd like to use this photo of the Motor City Bonnevilles and their manager for a new display at the MRRL HOF but I don't know the names of anyone in the picture. It was taken after they had won the Battle of the Bands at Roll Air in Bay City in 1965. Can anyone identify those in the photo from left to right?

22/01/2025

22/01/2025

Check out our latest podcast episode with the great Andy Reed on Thursday.

19/01/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWtvv6mQNLA Dr. J’s Legendary Michigan Song of the Week for the MMHP989 podcast is “Farmer John” by The Tidal Waves. The band formed in Roseville, Michigan in 1964, inspired by The Beatles’ appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. The Tidal Waves’ first single, “Farmer John” was released on the Detroit-based SVR label in early 1966 before being picked up for national distribution by the Hanna-Barbera Records. “Farmer John” was a huge hit in Michigan but did not do as well nationally. The Tidal Waves’ version charted at # 123 on Billboard but did much better on the Cash Box chart, peaking at # 79. “Farmer John” was written and first recorded in the late 1950s by the duo of Don & Dewey on Specialty Records. It did not become a hit, however, until 1964 when it was covered by The Premiers, a Hispanic rock group from California, and reached # 19 on the Hot 100. The Tidal Waves recorded two more singles after “Farmer John”, including the garage band classic “Action! (Speaks Louder Than Words),” before disbanding in 1967 over issues regarding the group’s royalties from their record sales.

classic party tune!ooooooooooooh farmer john...i'm in love with your daughter!

11/01/2025

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/01/10/sam-moore-dies-at-89-sam-and-dave/77612270007/ Sad news. Sam Moore, of Sam & Dave fame, has passed away.

Sam Moore contributed to musical lore of the '60s as part of Sam & Dave with hits "Soul Man' and "Hold On, I'm Coming." He died Jan. 10 at 89.

28/12/2024

I highly recommend this oral biography of the MC5.

28/12/2024

https://michiganrockandrolllegends.com/blog/523-mc5-an-oral-biography-kicks-out-the-jams Read Dr. J's review of the excellent new MC5 book!

The Ultimate MC5 book has arrived! MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock’s Most Revolutionary Band is hands down the best account of the rise and fall of Detroit’s hardest rocking and most notorious band by a country mile.

27/12/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=938viZLyinI&list=PLA7uGnBobjw_DJm17T1X1Q3fMN0uZtorz&index=1 Check out our latest podcast episode featuring Johnny Burke.

His voice has been in your car, home, earbuds and at your favorite restaurant for over 40 years. Johnny Burke has been on air around the state of Michigan, s...