Michigan Music History Podcast

10/18/2026

Dr. J’s Michigan Song of the Week for the MMHP989 podcast is “Little Latin Lupe Lu” by Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels. The band’s high energy follow-up to “Jenny Take A Ride!” reached # 17 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in the spring of 1966. The song was written by Bill Medley about his then-girlfriend, Lupe (Lupe Lu) Laguna, who loved to dance. The Righteous Brothers had their first charting record with the song in 1963, and The Kingsmen’s cover version the following year peaked at # 46. Opening with John Badanjek’s thundering drumbeat, Mitch builds expectations by asking the crowd if everybody’s ready and letting them know that the band’s intention is to rock the house; and things get hot as soon as Jim McCarty’s guitar hammers down the riff. Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels’ recording of “Little Latin Lupe Lu” works so well because it captures on vinyl the kinetic frenzy of the live performances that had been the group’s stock in trade since they first joined forces in Detroit early in 1964.

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

10/17/2026

Fred's pick of the week, is a tune by Sharrie Williams, who recently was named to the Michigan Rock & Roll Legends Hall of Fame. The song is; "Glory Train," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxlVdZdwvuE&list=RDOxlVdZdwvuE&start_radio=1 - written by James Owens, Marco Franco, (both bandmates and from Saginaw); & Sharrie Williams. Her story is in my 2nd book, and for more info, go to www.fredreif.com Please check out the Michigan Music History Podcast.

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesThe Glory Train · S...

10/17/2026

"Mr. Mike’s Local Music Live Series" ... a periodic video series featuring local musicians, this week featuring (Fresh... the camera is still hot) ... The Mick Furlo Band @ Whites – October 16, 2026 ...

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10/16/2026

MMHP in the final rounds! Keep the votes coming in…thank you…..

Will Scott Baker be a guest on an episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, win $25,000, and lead a podcast produced by iHeartRadio?

10/15/2026

Part 2 of 2 with Rich Tupica:

   Rich Tupica cut his teeth on all styles of Michigan music. When his heart headed into journalism, Rich took courses in Mid-Michigan at Delta College, eventually landing at the Lansing City Pulse. Becoming a music archeologist, heading into old headlines at the library, backed with Micro...

10/13/2026

This Thursday on the MMHP in the 989:
Part 2 of 2 with Michigan music historian Mr. Rich Tupica! We wrap up our series with him as he dives into Seger collecting, Fortune Records, the late-great Michigan photographer Ken Settle, Andre Williams, Timmothy Ward, Bob Edmunds, Dr. Ross and so much more!
We are grateful to have him stop by! Those of you who wish to look up more on Rich, he has been published in national and international publications, including UNCUT, Record Collector, American Songwriter and Ugly Things Magazine. He is also co-host of “Inzane Michigan” on NTS Radio and of course author of There Was a Light: The Cosmic History of Chris Bell and the Rise of Big Star—which we spent a lot of Part 1 discussing. Locally, Tupica has worked for multiple Michigan newspapers, reporting on both entertainment and hard news stories.

Jump back into the stream first thing Thursday and wrap up the Rich Tupica episode! Thank you to all those who have provided such fantastic, episode loving feedback for this one!

10/11/2026

Dr. J’s Michigan Song of the week for the MMHP989 podcast is “Rock and Roll Grandpap” by Don Rader. Don Rader grew up and started playing guitar in Hazel Park, Michigan. According to Mind Over Matter, the outstanding book on Fortune Records, the teenaged Rader wrote “Rock and Roll Grandpap” while sitting in his 1947 Packard after a gig. He recorded the song in 1958, and his parents put up the money for a Fortune custom printing of several hundred copies. With Bill English on rhythm guitar, Billy Cooper on steel, Freddie Bach on piano, and Ted Wilson on drums, Rader’s storming “Rock and Roll Grandpap” became an instant rockabilly classic and one of the most sought-after Fortune singles.

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

10/10/2026

Raw & Uncut @ Michigan Music History Podcast...
Rich Tupica is a Michigan-based journalist and music and Ugly Things Magazine. Tupica is also author of "There Was A Light: The Cosmic History of Chris Bell and the Rise of Big Star," an acclaimed oral-history on the influential '70s band. Locally, he has worked for multiple Michigan newspapers, reporting both entertainment and hard news…

@ Historical Museum of Bay County podcast - Rich Tupica

10/10/2026

Fred's pick of the week, from one of his books, is a polka by the Steve Drzewicki Band, from Bay City, Michigan. Steve took over the Stan Drzewicki Band, that will be included in my upcoming book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_M2F2U5c_c For more info go to www.fredreif.com Also, please check out the Michigan Music History Podcast.

Pulaski Hall threw a farewell party Thursday, April 30, capping off...

10/08/2026

On Saturday, October 10th at 1:00 PM, The Historical Museum of Bay County’s Second Saturday will celebrate the 60th anniversary of “96 Tears,” the only song recorded in Bay City to reach # 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The multi-media presentation will include rare photos, great music, along with video performances from the 1960s and the memories of Bobby Balderrama, one of the founding members of the band. Bobby will reveal the early history of ? and The Mysterians, his thoughts on important events from 1966, and the inside story of the band’s most famous recording. Admission is free for all Bay County residents. You can reserve a seat by calling the museum at 989-893-5733 or e-mail at [email protected].