Michigan Music History Podcast

08/29/2026

Fred's pick this week from one of his books, is a tune; "Are We Through," by the Hunts Determination Band, and written by Flint's own, Regional Garland, instrumental. Fred's pick this week from one of his books, is a tune; "Are We Through," by the Hunts Determination Band, and written by Flint's own, Regional Garland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMT952geHcs&list=RDTMT952geHcs&start_radio=1
His story will be in my upcoming book, and for more information, go to www.fredreif.com - Please check out the Michigan Music History Podcast.

Great stories of American & European blues history as documented and told by the author, musician, and Saginaw, MI native, Fred Reif, as he traveled the world and collaborated with amazing musicians who put a stamp in the music culture we know today.

08/28/2026

"Mr. Mike’s Local Music Live Series".. a periodic video series featuring local musicians, this week featuring James Bradley, our MMHP guest this week, performing at BeMo's Bar last August. ~ featuring Luann Ervin on "Heatwave" 😎
James Bradley brought dance, funky soul, gospel,l rock, opera and classical music from Bay City, across the country and landed in New York City. His voice put him on the map, bringing together music along with Valerie Simpson, Dan Hill, Tommy James, Spinners, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Motown--from Mid Michigan to Toronto, back around the country landing him in New York. All with the golden voice that can do it all.
'My goal in life was to get an education and play music!' He did that at the highest level, with two degrees from U of M, a Wayne State Masters, time at CMU, and two degrees in New York where he has taught math (among other things) where he is now retired. Utilizing his voice, Bradley came up around the time of Question Mark and the Mysterians, Dick Wagner, and many others heading into the '70s. 'Keep your door open and have more opportunity.' Bradley continues to play clubs and is looking to tour Europe (again) soon. Pure Michigan--turn this up!
(The link to MMHP interview with James Bradley is in the comments.)

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08/23/2026

Dr. J’s Michigan Song of the Week for the MMHP989 podcast is “Bacon Fat” by Andre Williams & His New Group. After Andre Williams left the Five Dollars, he put together a new group with Gino Parks and some young singers who were still in high school for his next project at Fortune Records. “Bacon Fat” was inspired by their experiences on a road trip to Tennessee during the summer to play some gigs in the Memphis area. Opening with a lowdown sax solo, the song features an irresistible ‘diddley-diddley-whomp-whomp’ beat and a cool dance routine to go with it; but it’s Williams’ idea to talk in rhythm on the lead vocal that makes it special. Although he is sometimes referred to as the “Father of Rap,” Williams’ drawled opening lines, ‘When I was down in uuuunhh, Tennessee…. all my friends was uuuunnhh, glad to see me,’ unleashes a primal style that sets a standard for badass rock and roll vocals. After Epic Records leased the song from Fortune for national distribution, it reached # 9 on Billboard’s R&B chart in early 1956. “Bacon Fat” was the biggest hit of Williams’ career, but his New Group broke up soon after because of a dispute over the songwriting credits on the single.

Andre Williams "Bacon Fat"Prior to "Village of Love," Fortune's b...

08/22/2026

"Mr. Mike’s Local Music Live Series".. a periodic video series featuring local musicians, this week featuring James Bradley, our MMHP guest this week, performing at BeMo's Bar last August.
James Bradley brought dance, funky soul, gospel,l rock, opera and classical music from Bay City, across the country and landed in New York City. His voice put him on the map, bringing together music along with Valerie Simpson, Dan Hill, Tommy James, Spinners, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Motown--from Mid Michigan to Toronto, back around the country landing him in New York. All with the golden voice that can do it all.
'My goal in life was to get an education and play music!' He did that at the highest level, with two degrees from U of M, a Wayne State Masters, time at CMU, and two degrees in New York where he has taught math (among other things) where he is now retired. Utilizing his voice, Bradley came up around the time of Question Mark and the Mysterians, Dick Wagner, and many others heading into the '70s. 'Keep your door open and have more opportunity.' Bradley continues to play clubs and is looking to tour Europe (again) soon. Pure Michigan--turn this up!
"The link to MMHP interview with James Bradley is in the comments.)

Visit the post for more.

08/21/2026

Fred's pick of the week, from one of his books, is a tune by Sonny Stitt, called "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHr8q5wG_fU&list=PLKUZ81XslCXI0wXI0wLnuYspnG4bS7SM7&index=1 On the recording, is organist, Don Patterson, and drummer, Billy James. Sonny Stitt is from Saginaw, and his story is in my first book, and will be in my upcoming book. For more information, go to www.fredreif.com Please check out the Michigan Music History Podcast.

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupAll God's Chillun Got...

08/20/2026

S7 E2: James Bradley!

James Bradley brought dance, funky soul, gospel,l rock, opera and classical music from Bay City, across the country and landed in New York City. His voice put him on the map, bringing together music along with Valerie Simpson, Dan Hill, Tommy James, Spinners, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Motown--from Mid M...

08/19/2026

This Thursday on the MMHP in the 989:

New York by way of Bay City, James Bradley brings soul, gospel, rock, blues, opera and orchestration to the world!
He was renown in the ‘70s, got to record for various projects and worked his way to the Big Apple.
His story is amazing, cherished, and one to be heard. School was his heart and music is his soul!

Tune in this Thursday morning….

08/16/2026

Dr. J’s Michigan Song of the Week for the MMHP989 podcast is “Never Thought You’d Leave Me” by The Pleasure Seekers. Patti Quatro was checking coats, and her younger sister Suzi was working at the snack bar at the Hideout teen club when they told owner Dave Leone that they had formed an all-girl band. The group featured Patti on lead guitar, Suzi on bass, Nancy Ball on drums, her younger sister Mary Lou on rhythm guitar, and Diane Baker on keyboards. In the fall of 1964, Leone gave the Pleasure Seekers a three-song audition at the Hideout. After passing with flying colors, the band became a regular attraction at the club during 1965. Near the end of the year, Leone took the band into a small home studio in Detroit to record two songs he had written. Released on Leon’s Hideout label, the A-side was “Never Thought You’d Leave Me” with Nancy Ball singing lead, and the flip was the classic “What A Way To Die,” featuring lyrics about teen drinking and Suzi Quatro’s lead vocal. The Pleasure Seekers went through some lineup changes in 1966. Older sister Arlene Quatro joined on keyboards, and her husband Leo Fenn started managing the band. This led to higher profile gigs that included being part of a USO package tour to entertain troops in Vietnam during the late 1960s.

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesNever Thought You'd...

08/15/2026

Fred's pick of the week, from one of his books, is a tune by this Flint, Michigan group, The Perfections, who recorded for Tri-City Records, out of Saginaw. The tune is: "Get On Down," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk0xn7KkAKc&list=RDVk0xn7KkAKc&start_radio=1 Their short story will be in my upcoming book. For more information go to www.fredreif.com and please check out the Michigan Music History Podcast.

Buy & Sell Vinyl @ https://www.raresoulman.co.uk/Find Us On Discog...

08/09/2026

Dr. J’s Michigan Song of the Week for the MMHP989 podcast is “My Last Dance With You” by Nathaniel Mayer and the Fabulous Twilights. Born in Detroit in 1944, Nathaniel Mayer started singing in church at the age of nine. As a teenager he would often be found harmonizing with friends on the hit songs of the day in his high school’s music room. After signing with Jack and Devora Brown’s Fortune Records at the age of fifteen, he recorded his debut single, “My Last Dance With You,” in 1959 with Joe Weaver’s Blue Note orchestra. The Fabulous Twilights, girls Mayer went to school with, provided the dream-like backing vocals, and Mayer turned Devora Brown’s song into a beautiful doo w*p ballad with a dramatic spoken word section in the middle. The Mind Over Matter book described the resulting record as sounding “almost out of the scope of time.” Released in 1960, “My Last Dance With You” was popular in Detroit, and it provided the impetus for Mayer to quit school and concentrate on music full time.

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesMy Last Dance With ...