Michigan Music History Podcast

06/24/2026

Check out our cool MMHP989 podcast episode with Tino Gross on Thursday!

06/23/2026

This Thursday on the MMHP in the 989:

Detroit’s Chairman of the Music Board, Tino Gross himself, shares ALL the history one would want to know from the two-time Emmy Award winning television host, music producer, musician and all around bad-ass, in our next podcast.
Martin ‘Tino’ Gross brought the MMHP into his home studio in Royal Oak to sit down for an epic tale—Tino did not hold back! From behind the drums with John Lee Ho**er, to remixing R.L. Burnside, to tossing ideas around and recording Wayne Kramer, or fronting the Howling Diablos, there is no ‘off button’ for this Michigan musical gem and gentleman.
The stories from vocalist/J Geils frontman Peter Wolf to watching Eddie Harsch leave for the Black Crowes, or even his new Emmy Award winning ‘Tales From The D’ on Detroit PBS are just a tickle on the surface of this musical legend.
Join us first thing Thursday morning and hear for yourself…. Share this one with your friends!

06/21/2026

Gary’s Michigan Song of the Week for the MMHP989 podcast is “Long Blond Hair, Rose Lips” by Johnny Powers. Born John Pavlik, Powers started his career at 15 as a country musician in Detroit; but he switched to rockabilly after being influenced by the records of Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins. He got his ‘Powers’ stage name from label owner Devora Brown after she saw him eating a Powerhouse candy bar in the studio prior to recording his first single on Fortune Records. Johnny Powers went on to record his rockabilly classic, “Long Blond Hair, Rose Lips,” in 1958 on Fox Records, another small Detroit label. It was a regional hit, but when Fox went out of business in 1959, Powers signed with Sun Records. His recordings for the Memphis label were distinctive in that they were completed at the last session produced by Sam Phillips at the original Sun Studio at 706 Union. Powers then joined Berry Gordy Jr. at Motown during its early days, making him the only artist in history signed by both Sun and Motown. His style of music was not a good fit at Motown, however, and he went on to become a successful record producer in Detroit. Johnny Powers eventually moved to Nashville where he continued to do production work while performing at rockabilly revival shows.

Johnny Powers with the band of Stan Getz & Tom Cats, Long Blond Hair, Red Rose Lips, Fox Records 916Recorded 1957, Detroit, Michigan

06/20/2026

Fred's pick this week, from one of his books, is a song by the Jazz Exponents, from Saginaw, MI. The tune is called; "Night In Tunisia," written by Dizzy Gillespie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx9b7e8e-L4&list=RDhx9b7e8e-L4&start_radio=1 The group's story is in my first book, and a follow-up in my upcoming book. For more information, go to www.fredreif.com and please be sure to check out the Michigan Music History Podcast.

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupNight In Tunisia · Th...

06/14/2026

Gary’s Michigan Song of the Week for the MMHP989 podcast is “If You Want To Be My Baby” by Danny and the Galaxies. The Galaxies formed in Ironwood, a mining town located in the northwest corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near the Wisconsin border. The band’s name was taken from the new Ford Galaxie that the company had put out in early 1959 in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the ‘Space Race’ between the United States and Russia. The big break came after they opened for Jimmy Bowen, who had charted four singles on the Hot 100 in 1957 and 1958. Bowen was impressed with the Galaxies and, anxious to get into record production, he encouraged the band to record with him. The band had 500 45’s pressed and released on their own Darbo label. The group’s debut single was one of the earliest productions by Bowen, who would go on to greater fame as a Grammy-winning record producer in Los Angeles and worked on hits by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. The Galaxies’ manager advised the band to change their name to ‘Danny and the Galaxies’ on the “If You Want To Be My Baby” side of the record. He felt that it would be easier to sell the band if one of the members was highlighted. Since Danny Sullivan was the singer and songwriter, he was the logical choice. Their debut 45 has gone on to become one of the Upper Peninsula’s most sought-after rockabilly records.

Danny and The Galaxies - If you want to be my baby(Danny Sullivan)...

06/13/2026

Fred's pick of the week is a tune by bluesman, Sampson Pittman, with the song; "John Henry." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EebFbcZZv0U&list=RDEebFbcZZv0U&start_radio=1 Sampson's story will be in my upcoming book. For more info, check out www.fredreif.com and please check out the Michigan Music History Podcast.

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesJohn Henry · Sampso...

06/11/2026

Rick Stevers, Part 2 of 2!

Going back to the mid-'60s, who would have thought that Allen Park had a music scene that would flesh out one of the finest groups to hit the charts in the Michigan music scene? Rick Stevers is a founding member of the mighty Frijid Pink, who continues to tell the story from behind the drum kit. Ste...

06/10/2026

This Thursday on the MMHP in the 989:

The Part 2 follow up with Rick Stevers from Frijid Pink! The drum maestro took us into the depth of the Frijid business and onto the road in part one. Here in part two, he digs deep with sorrow over his father’s management of the group, his struggle to remain with the bands name, as well as more deep road stories, day jobs, and the continuing path of recording (while occasionally playing) new music as Frijid Pink. This is a deep episode! Do not miss it tomorrow!

06/07/2026

Gary’s Michigan Song of the Week for the MMHP989 podcast is “15 Seconds” by Roxie Williams. The song was released in 1961 on the Lucky 11 label out of Flint, Michigan. The label was formed in1959 by Otis Ellis and Chuck Slaughter, and it was named after Ellis’ Lucky 11 nightclub in Flint. Roxie Williams performed regularly at the club, and Slaughter was a member of Buddy Ray and the Shamrocks who provided the solid, hip-shaking backing to Roxie’s sassy vocals. Female rockabilly doesn’t get any better than this, and Roxie rocks as hard as Wanda Jackson on “15 Seconds,” a cool tune guaranteed to get people on the dance floor. Lucky 11 was primarily a country music label for its first six years, but achieved greater success in the mid-60s by recording Michigan rock bands, including Terry Knight & The Pack, The Bossmen, and The Jayhawkers.

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06/06/2026

Fred's pick of the week, from one of his books, is a tune by Sir Mack Rice; "I Gotta Have My Baby's Love," co-written by Booker T & the MGs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4SIAxEVX0A&list=RDc4SIAxEVX0A&start_radio=1 This tune came out in 1967. For more info on Mack's life, it would be in my 2nd book. www.fredreif.com Please check out the Michigan Music History Podcast.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.