Welcome to the Greater Michigan Musicians Almanac. Technically speaking it is actually a listing, but the word ‘almanac’ has a certain ‘ring’ to it for me. The purpose of this endeavor is to give honorable  mention to MANY artists who contributed to MUSIC throughout different regions in the state of Michigan. The focus of this document has expanded from my original geographic boundaries because I already know that over time it will include artists from the Upper and Lower Michigan peninsulas. It doesn’t matter where the artists are originally from. Any time spent in the various Michigan regions is worthy of inclusion.

What that means is this: I view this listing as a living document in motion over the years as more names are added gradually. The viewer will notice that descriptions of genres such as jazz, blues, rock, gospel, etc. are not present. The reason for this is to treat the music in a non-polarized, wholistic manner of commonalities—not differences. The music industry has done much damage in that regard.  

You will also notice that alphabetizing the name of musicians from A to Z is used. However, within each listing of a person’s last name I have chosen not to adhere to a strict alphabetical rule. For example, for the artists with last names ending in “A”, Jack Ashford’s name is listed first, but Jimmy Allen’s name is listed under Jack’s which is not in a “true” order. However, with countless numbers of names to be listed over the years I opted to take a less time-consuming approach.

For vocal groups I have attempted to identify all group members pertaining to each group. The one exception is The Temptations (LOTS of members over the years), so I’ll list the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd versions which involved one member change each. All are alphabetized but not listed according to genre. The same thing applies to bands or instrumental groups. There have been some groups who feature singing as a minor addition to their mostly instrumental presentations. My suggestion is for ALL viewers to look at each entry on each page. The reason is to become familiar with roughly 98 percent of the names mentioned that never receive honorable mention in anyone’s media. Rather than look for the names you KNOW, view all of the names you DON’T KNOW, too.

Singular vocalists are also alphabetized without genre references. Many years ago comedians used to provide “audience warm up” sets before the headlining music performers would take the stage. This was an era before comedy clubs existed and the comedians and musicians were practical extensions of  each other in which some comedians also sang.

The ‘support’ category is for those who were promoters, booking agencies, venue owners, wholesale & retail music businesses. They were all dependent on the promotion men who traveled the U.S. placing the recordings in “friendly” regions which had performance venues and retail outlets, the music agencies who booked artists, and the jukebox men who placed phonograph recordings on jukeboxes in venues city-wide in an era when radio airplay was considered an elite playground for a limited number of artists.

Special thanks to pianist Charles Greene for contributing the names of many musicians to this project— many that I was not familiar with. Other very helpful references were issues of the Michigan Musician, an excellent publication that existed during the latter half of the 1970’s, ‘Grit Noise and Revolution: The Birth of Detroit Rock ‘N’ Roll’ by David A. Garson, ‘Before Motown’ by Lars Bjorn with Jim Gallert,  ‘Groovesville USA: The Detroit Soul & R&B Index by Keith Rylatt, “Detroit Country Music” by Craig Maki with Keith Cady, and numerous internet sources.

Yours truly, Dr. Prof. Leonard King, has remained connected to my hometown Detroit MI even when I lived in another city and state for 10 years. Some bonds are just not broken. For more information about me view my autobiography at www.visgerroadplayground.com.

Lastly, as I mentioned earlier this is a living document which will be consistently expanded over time. There are many among you who are aware of more artists worthy of inclusion. Contact me at leonard@leonardkingdrums.com Give the full names and the instruments played for each artist. For groups list the group name and individual names within each group.

Leonard Clyde King Jr.
Copyright © 2021-2022

Get Started
ABC

A

CHUCK ADAMS--GUITAR
PARK "PEPPER" ADAMS-SAXOPHONE
DWIGHT ADAMS--TRUMPET 
BENJAMIN ADKINS—BASS 
GERALDINE "GERI" ALLEN
JIMMY ALLEN—BASS
JIMMY ALLEN—DRUMS
RICHARD "PISTOL" ALLEN--DRUMS 
JOHN "JOHNNY" ALLEN—PIANO/ARRANGER 
AUDREY ALLISON--PERCUSSION 
ROBERT "BOB" ALLISON—VIBRAPHONE
DAVID ALVAREZ—DRUMS
JACK ASHFORD—PERCUSSION & VIBRAPHONE
TIMOTHY TICORAY ALLISON—TRUMPET
WILLIAM ALBERTS--PIANO

B

BOB BABBITT (birth name Robert Andrew Kreinar) - BASS
BEN BABER—ORGAN
DENNIS BALENGER—DRUMS
CHARLES BANNISTER—DRUMS
KEN BANNON JR.—PATRON
ROBERT BARNES—SAXOPHONE
LOUIS BARNETT—TENOR SAXOPHONE
JOHN BARRON—BASS
RICHARD BEAMON—DRUMS
GEORGE BEDARD—GUITAR/VOCALS
KASAN BELGRAVE—SAXOPHONE
MARCUS BELGRAVE—TRUMPET
NORMA JEAN BELL—SAXOPHONE
ALLEN BEUTLER—SAXOPHONE
FARUK Z. BEY—SAXOPHONE
DOMINIC BIERENGA—SAXOPHONE
RAYSE BIGGS—TRUMPET
TRAVIS BIGGS—VIOLIN
STEPHEN BOEGEHELD—DRUMS
STANLEY "CHIEF" BOOKER—PIANO
VINCENT BOWENS—SAXOPHONE
THOMAS "BEANS" BOWLES—SAXOPHONE/FLUTE
DONOVAN BOXEY—SAXOPHONE
FELTON BRADLEY—BASS
DAVID BRANDON—DRUMS
MILLER BRISKER—SAXOPHONE
RONALD BROOKS—BASS
ALEX BROOKS—DRUMS
ROY BROOKS—DRUMS/CARPENTERS SAW/PIANO/MARIMBA
CALVIN BROOKS—GUITAR
ANDRE BROOKS—PIANO
NATHAN BROWN—BASS
NATHAN BROWN—BASS
JAMES BROWN—DRUMS
LORENZO "SPOONS" BROWN—PERCUSSION
FREDDIE BUTLER—GUITAR/VOCALS
HINDAL BUTTS—DRUMS
DR. DONALDSON BYRD—TRUMPET/EDUCATOR

C

BILL CAIRO—DRUMS
GORDON CAMP—TRUMPET
JEFF CANADY—DRUMS
CHARLES CARRINGTON—BASS
LOWELL CAUFFIEL—GUITAR
VAN CEPHUS—KEYBOARDS
RODERICK "PEANUT" CHANDLER—BASS
GARY CHANDLER—TRUMPET
GARY CHRISTA—PIANO
JOHNNY CLAPTON—SAXOPHONE
GERALD CLEAVER--DRUMS
JOHN CLEAVER—DRUMS
STANLEY CLEVELAND—TRUMPET
BOBBY CLIFF—DRUMS
CHRISTIAN CODISH—ORGAN/PIANO
GREGORY COLES—BASS
ALEX COLISTA—SAXOPHONE
LOUIS "MR. BO" COLLINS—GUITAR/VOCALS
GREGORY COOK—BASS
SAMUEL COPPERMAN—BASS
MAX COSTER—BASS
DAVE "ROCK BOTTOM" COX - BASS, DRUM SET
KENNETH L. COX II - PIANO
JAMES "HERISHIMO" COX—PIANO/ORGAN
HUBERT CRAWFORD—BASS
ROBERT "BOB" CUSAR—TROMBONE/DRUMS

 

DEF

D


DARREN DaCOSTA—BASS
KEVIN DaCOSTA—PIANO
IKE DANEY—DRUMS
GEORGE DAVIDSON—DRUMS
DON DeANDRE—PIANO
JOSEF DEAS—BASS
JASON DIDIA—SAXOPHONE
MARCUS DOUGLAS—DRUMS
JOHN DOUGLAS—TRUMPET
WILLIAM "BILL" DOWDY--DRUMS
JACK DRYDEN—BASS
ALBERT DUNCAN—TROMBONE/PIANO
DARRYL DUNCAN—TRUMPET
JOSEPH DUNLAP—TRUMPET/BASS

 

E

PAUL EMORY--TRUMPET
RONALD ENGLISH--GUITAR
NORMAN ENGLISH—GUITAR
WILLIAM ERSKINE—DRUMS
DEON ESTES—BASS
CHARLES EUBANKS—PIANO
JOHN "SHOWTIME" EVANS
WILLIAM "PILL" EVANS—PIANO

 

F

SAM FERRANTE—CONGA
ANTHONY FICHERA—GUITAR
THOMAS "BUBS" FIDDLER—BASS
JOSEPH "AMP" FIDDLER—KEYBOARD/VOCAL
REGINALD "SHOO-BE-DOO" FIELDS—BASS
BUDDY FOLKS—HARMONICA/GUITAR/VOCAL
CURTIS FORD—ORGAN
ROBERT "BOB" FOSTER—BASS
T.J. FOWLER—PIANO
PAUL FRANKLIN
JOEL FRYER—DRUMS

GHI

G

MICHAEL GABRIEL—GUITAR
JASON GADDIS—DRUMS
FRANK GARCIA JR.—BASS
JUAN GARTRELL—GUITAR
MARK GEDDES—BASS
RANDY GELESPIE—DRUMS
GERARD GIBBS—ORGAN/PIANO
ANDREW GIBSON—DRUMS
ROBERT GILLESPIE—GUITAR
KENNETH GILMORE—DRUMS
KEITH GLASS—DRUMS
JERRY GLASSELL—GUITAR
JAMES GLASS—GUITAR
DEDRICK GLOVER—BASS
JOHN GLOVER-GUITAR
EDWARD GOOCH—TROMBONE
ANDY GOODRICH—SAXOPHONE
RICHARD GOULD—DRUMS
VASSAL GRADINGTON III a/k/a DJ—KEYBOARDS
CHARLES GREENE—KEYBOARDS
GEORGE GREEN—GUITAR
KENNETH GREEN--PIANO
MELVIN GRIFFIN—SAXOPHONE/KEYBOARDS
MIGUEL GUTIERREZ—DRUMS

 

H

THOMAS HALE—SAXOPHONE
VICTOR HALL—PIANO
JEFF HALL—SAXOPHONE
DAVE HAMILTON—GUITAR/VIBRAPHONE
MICHAEL HAMILTON—PIANO
LAMONT HAMILTON—SAXOPHONE
WILLIE HAMPTON—GUITAR
DONALD "HANK" HANKINS—SAXOPHONE
ALEX HARDING—SAXOPHONE
ALFORD HARRELL A/K/A CHICAGO PETE—BASS/VOCAL
MONZOLA "COOKEY" HARRELL—FLUTE/SAXOPHONE
THEODORE HARRIS JR.—PIANO/SAXOPHONE
WENDELL HARRISON—SAXOPHONE
BARRIS HARRIS—PIANO
EUGENE "GENE" HARRIS—PIANO
TRENT HARRIS—SAXOPHONE
BUTTER HAWKINS—DRUMS
ANDRE HAWKINS—DRUMS
ANDRE HAWKINS—DRUMS
MICHAEL HENDERSON—BASS/VOCAL
LEON HENDERSON—SAXOPHONE
PIERRE HENDRIX—TRUMPET
"WILLIAM PAYTON HENSLEY A/K/A WASHBOARD WILLIE—DRUMS/HARMONICA/PERCUSSION "
CHARLES "LITTLE CHARLIE" HERNDON—GUITAR
RODERICK HICKS—BASS
RANDALL HICKS—DRUMS
WILLIAM "BILL" HIGGINS—DRUMS
ADELPHIA HILL—TRUMPET
MARVIN "DOC" HOLIDAY—SAXOPHONE
BRIAN HOLLAND—DRUMS
ROBERT "BOB" HOPKINS—TRUMPET
WILLIAM "BILLY" HORNER—TRUMPET
CARL D. HORN—TROMBONE
BARBARA HUBY—PERCUSSION
JAMES HUGHES—SAXOPHONE
TERRY "THUNDER" HUGHLEY—DRUMS/VOCAL
MARCUS HUNTER—DRUMS
STEVE HUNTER—TROMBONE
ROBERT HURST—BASS
FREDERICK HUTSON—BASS
PAMELA WISE HARRISON—PIANO

I

TAKASHI IIO—BASS

JKL

J

MANLEY JACKSON—DRUMS
ALVIN JACKSON—BASS
ALI JACKSON SR.—BASS/PIANO/VOCAL
ALI JACKSON JR.—DRUMS/PIANO
RONALD JOHNSON—DRUMS
FLIP JACKSON—SAXOPHONE
MARQUIS JOHNSON—DRUMS
RONALD JACKSON—DRUMS
RONALD JACKSON—TRUMPET
BENJAMIN JONES JR.—BASS
MELVIN “SKULL” JACKSON—BASS
WILLIAM “BILLY” JOHNSON—TRUMPET
MCKINLEY JACKSON—TROMBONE/ARRANGER/VOCALS
MICHAEL JOHNSON—GUITAR
ANDREW JONES—DRUMS
CORNELIOUS “JUJU” JOHNSON—SAXOPHONE
MILTON JACKSON—VIBRAPHONE
URIEL JONES—DRUMS
RALPH “BUZZY” JONES—SAXOPHONE
FELTON JONES—TRUMPET
IBRAHIM JONES—BASS
RICHARD JACOBI—GUITAR
LORI JACOBS—GUITAR/VOCALS
JOHN “BOBO” JENKINS—GUITAR/VOCALS
TED JACKSON JR.—PIANO
DICKY JOHNSON—ORGAN

 

K

LEONARD C. KING JR.—DRUMS/VOCAL
GREGORY KING—SAXOPHONE
ATIBA KING—TRUMPET
KENNETH KELLETT—BASS
ALEX KALLAO—PIANO
PHILLIP KELLY—PIANO
KRIS KURZAWA—GUITAR
MARK KING—BASS
KEITH KAMINSKI—SAXOPHONE
RONALD KISCHUK—TROMBONE
CRAIG KOWALSKY—BASS
MIKE KULL—PIANO

L

PHILLIP LASLEY—SAXOPHONE
NIMROD LUMPKIN—ORGAN
ROBERT LOWE—GUITAR
JAMES “LOU” LEWIS—TROMBONE
LOPEZ LEON—BASS
ANTHONY LANGFORD—DRUMS
LEONARD LUCAS—BASS
LARRY LEE—BASS
WENDELL LUCAS—BASS
RICHARD LAWSON—DRUMS
JEROME LEDUFF-CONGA DRUMS/PERCUSSION
GWENDOLYN “MUFFY” LASTER—VIOLIN
JEROME LASTER--BASS

MNO

M

CLIFFORD MACK—DRUMS
VANCE MATLOCK—BASS
CHARLES MILES—CONGA DRUMS/SAXOPHONE
MARTINEZ MONTGOMERY—SAXOPHONE
CHARLES “DAGWOOD” MOORE—BASS/TUBA
DARRYL MOORE—BASS
DEZIE MCCULLERS—TRUMPET/SAXOPHONE
WILLIAM McCOY—PIANO
POSEY McKUEN—DRUMS
REGINALD MCBRIDE—BASS
DONALD MAYBERRY—BASS
BYRON MILLER—BASS
RICHARD MARGITZA—SAXOPHONE
ROSS MARGITZA—PIANO
ART MARDIGIAN—DRUMS
FRITZ MOORE—SAXOPHONE
ROBERT “BOB” MITCHELL—GUITAR
GLYNIS MARTIN—BASS
CLARENCE McCLOUD—ORGAN
DIEGO MELENDEZ—BONGO DRUMS/VOCALS
HAROLD McKINNEY—PIANO/VOCALS
RAYMOND McKINNEY—BASS/CELLO
CARLOS McKINNEY—PIANO
MAHINDI MASAI—PERCUSSION
CHARLES MOORE—TRUMPET
CHARLES VICTOR MOORE—TRUMPET
ROBERT McCORKLE—PIANO
JEROME “JERRY” McKENZIE—DRUMS
MICHAEL “MIKE” MARSHALL-BASS
MARVIN MARSHALL—GUITAR
DANIEL MEINECKE—PIANO/ORGAN
STEVEN MORSE—PERCUSSION
RUSSELL MILLER—SAXOPHONE/FLUTE
JIMMY MURIAH—GUITAR
JACK McKUTCHEON—DRUMS
PETE MOCK—TROMBONE
JOHN MASON—BASS
BILL MENDENHALL—DRUMS
JORDAN McCREE—BASS
FLOYD MORELAND—SAXOPHONE

 

N

ALBERTO NACIF--PERCUSSION
VIVIAN NASH—DRUMS
STEVE NARDELLA—GUITAR/HARMONICA/VOCALS
ANTHONY “TONY” NEWTON—BASS
LAWRENCE “LARRY” NOZERO—SAXOPHONE/FLUTE
JAMES “JIMMY” NASH—TRUMPET
EDWARD NELSON—DRUMS
OLIVER NEVELS - GUITAR

O

GLENN OLIVER—BASS
NORMAN O’GARA—TROMBONE
OSCAR OSBORN—ORGAN

PQR

P

WILBERT PEAGLER—PIANO
LENORE PAXTON—PIANO
JOHN “T-BONE’’ PAXTON—TROMBONE/VOCALS
DARRYL PIERCE—DRUMS
SEAN PEARLMUTTER—DRUMS
WARREN PHINIZEE—BASS
EDWARD PICKENS—BASS
TERRY JEAN POLLARD—PIANO
JERRY PAUL—PERCUSSION
PATRICK PROUTY--BASS
DICK POULTON—GUITAR
FRANK PARKER ORCHESTRA
KENNY PINSON—SAXOPHONE
BILL PAPINEAU—TRUMPET

 

Q

GARY QWEK--SAXOPHONE

R

RUDOLPH “RUDY” ROBINSON—ORGAN/PIANO
RICK ROUSE—GUITAR
JESSE REEVES—BASS
RIP REYNOLDS—ORGAN/TROMBONE
REGINALD “REGGIE” ROBERTS—ORGAN
KARRIEM RIGGINS—DRUMS
STEVE RICHKO—DRUMS
RYAN ROSE—DRUMS
RUDOLPH “RUDY’ RUTHERFORD—SAXOPHONE/CLARINET
LEON “GRITS” RICE—DRUMS
KENNETH “SPIDER” RICE—DRUMS
MARLENE RICE—VIOLIN
DUANE “DU-ROB” ROBINSON—BASS
THOMAS SMITH—KEYBOARDS
PETER “MADCAT” RUTH—HARMONICA/GUITAR/VOCALS
CLAY CLARENCE ROBINSON—KEYBOARDS/TRUMPET
RICK ROE—PIANO
RODNEY REDDICK--SAXOPHONE
BOB RUSTON—TRUMPET
RAY ROBERSON—PIANO

 

STU

S

RONALD “RONNIE” SANDLIN—ORGAN/KEYBOARDS
JOSHUA SEABROOKS—ORGAN
R.J. SPANGLER—PERCUSSION
JESSE STARKS—BASS
ERNEST “ERNIE” SWAN—PIANO
LARRY SMITH—SAXOPHONE
ALMA SMITH—PIANO/VIBRAPHONE
GARY SCHUNK—PIANO
JEROME SPEARMAN—DRUMS
JAMES SIMONSON—BASS
DARRYL SMITH—BASS
BUBBA SCALES—BASS
VINCENT SHANDOR—PIANO
RONALD “SKEETER” SHANDOR—GUITAR
CHRISTOPHER SLEPSKY—DRUMS
FREEMAN SPELLS—BASS
TOM STARR—DRUMS
PHILLIP SIADI—GUITAR
JUAN SERRANO—GUITAR
MARK SPEIGHTS—GUITAR
CHRISTOPHER SMITH—TROMBONE
ANTHONY STANCO—TRUMPET
KENNETH SCOTT--DRUMS
DENNY SMITH—DRUMS
LENNY SMITH—SAXOPHONE
JIM SEAY--BASS
BOB STROUP—TROMBONE

T

JOSEPH “JOE” THURMAN—SAXOPHONE
GREGORY TOLSTON—DRUMS
WILLIAM “BILLY” TURNER—DRUMS
JEFFREY “JEFF” TRUDELL—DRUMS
JOHN “JOHNNY” TRUDELL—TRUMPET
THEODORE “TED” THOMAS—DRUMS
RAYMOND TRAMMELL—DRUMS
ANTHONY TOLSON—BASS
ROBERT TYE—GUITAR
GEORGE TROIA—TROMBONE
DAVE TAYLOR—DRUMS
DONALD TOWNES—TRUMPET
WILLIAM TOWNLEY--TROMBONE

U

REUBEN UPCHURCH--DRUMS

VWX

V

LAWRENCE “LARRY” VEEDER—GUITAR
JESSE VIRDEN—TRUMPET/PIANO
SKEETO VALDEZ--DRUMS
NOEL VALENTINE

 

W

WAYNE WARDLOW—GUITAR
RICHARD WHITE—SAXOPHONE
ROBERT “CRICKET” WELCH—DRUMS
ROBERT WRIGHT—ORGAN/PIANO
KICKER WOMACK—ORGAN
TRENITA WOMACK—CONGA DRUMS/VOCALS
WILLIAM WOOTEN—KEYBOARDS
HENRY “HANK” WARREN—DRUMS
RAYNEL WINEGLASS—TROMBONE
VIRGIL “FLASH BEAVER” WEST—TERPSICORIAN/HOOFER
ANDRE WRIGHT-DRUMS
ERIC WILHELM—DRUMS
NATHANIEL “NATE” WINN—DRUMS
KEITH “BUBBY” WEBB—DRUMS
W.T. WILLIAMS—DRUMS
ROBERT “BOB” WHITE—DRUMS
ALEX WHITE—DRUMS
BRANDON WILLIAMS—DRUMS
JAMES “JIM” WHITE—SAXOPHONE
DONALD WHITE—TROMBONE
GREGORY “VIBRATIONS” WILLIAMS—DRUMS/HUBCAP
DONALD WASHINGTON—SAXOPHONE
FAYE WASHINGTON—SAXOPHONE/VOCALS
KEVIN WASHINGTON—DRUMS/PIANO
DONALD WALDEN—SAXOPHONE
WILLIE D. WARREN—GUITAR/VOCALS

X

 

YZ

Y

VINCENT YORK—SAXOPHONE/CLARINET
BEVERLY YANCY—BASS
JAMES YOUNGBLOOD—DRUMS

 

Z

 

 

BANDS/ENSEMBLES

 

In the compiling of ensembles from duos to orchestras there’s a built-in dilemma for some in attempting to recall ALL of the members who were once associated with these groups. For example, if there are any surviving members of the Don Pablo Orchestra they are age 100 or more. In this case the primary purpose is to give this orchestra honorable mention with all of the other names contained in this listing. Hopefully individual members names can be included later to those entries only listing an ensemble strictly instrumental groups AND “self-contained” groups who play musical instruments and sing.

A

ARMENIAN JAZZ SEXTET
Eddie Arvanigian Aram Monougian Arthur Melkonian Berge & Tom Minisian Cory Tosoian

AUSTIN-MORO BIG BAND
Emil Moro Lanny Austin Chuck Feger George Benson Jose Mallare Leo Harrison Al Winters Eldrid Baird Bill Lane Maurice Davis Mike Skrynski Jr. David Bartlett Bob Mojica Gary Schunk Robert Troy Ron English Don Lewandowski Joe Chila Leslie David George Troia Jr.

AIR CONDO
Paul Kingery Paul Laginess Wayne Wayne Pancho Turner Max Kirk Jeff Cowden

MERLE ALVEY AND HIS DIXIELAND BAND

B

BRAINSTORM
Chuck Overton Renell Gonzalves William Wooten Belita Woods Trenita Womack Lamont Johnson Jeryl Bright Larry Sims

BLISS
Vince Ciavarelli Al Carmichael Drew Blair Rick Page Ron Course

BROWNSVILLE STATION
Cub Coda Michael Lutz Henry “H-Bomb” Weck Bruce “Beezer” Nazarian

BEARTRAP
Stuart Lyons Jeffry Cuny David Dunham Tristan Cappel Jason Didia

BLUES DISCIPLES
RJ Spangler Camille Price Kurt Begoun Johnny Evans Bob Conner Paul Carey Leonard King

BUZZTONES
Lamont Zodiac Brian White Ron Pangborn

CHARLES BOLES QUARTET
Charles Boles Ron English John Dana Renell Gonzalves

BLUES INSURGIENTS
RJ Spangler Johnnie Bassett Chris Codish Keith Kaminski

BLANCHE

C

CREATIVE PROFILE
Marcus Belgrave Samuel Sanders Harold McKinney Edward Pickens Jimmy Allen

CROWD PLEASERS
Del Payne Donald Payne Craig Moreland Earl Davis Al Carey Mike Roberts

CIRRUS
Angelo Lafata Tom Curcuru Bob Eastman Doug Brown

CASEY CLARK AND THE LAZY RANCH BOYS

CONTEMPORARY JAZZ QUINTET
Kenny Cox Charles Moore Leon Henderson Danny Spencer Ron Brooks Ron English Bud Spangler

D

DEVIATES 
John Watts Rick Burlingame Artie Wolff Bob Mulrooney Lee Turner

DETROIT WALDHORN ENSEMBLE

DESTINY
Jim Schweds Bob Patterson Gary Galloway Jim Tucker Al Hayes

E

ENERGY
Ben Adkins Opelton Parker Gwen Laster Marlene

EUPHORIA
Jim Jones Greg Southwell Cindy Carmody Mark Watson Pat Burrows Dennis Harrison

RON ENGLISH QUARTET
Ron English Gary Schunk Don Mayberry Jerome Spearman Duke Billingsley George Davidson Keith Vreeland John Dana

EVERLIFE
Dwayne “Butch” Lomax Roderick Williams Larry Johnson Lloyd Collier Rob Reed Charles Green Atiba King Lee Sanders Joan Lemons

F

FABULOUS COUNTS
Mose Davis Demetrius Cates Leroy Emmanuel Raoul Mangrum Andrew Gibson James White

FUN COMPANY
Andrew Jones Don Hatcher Billy Hatcher Rudy Robinson

FISHSTICKS
Mike Belitsos Jim Damberg Greg Koss Jim Banner David Stoll Larry Lamb

G

CHARLES GREEN TRIO
Charles Green Don Mayberry Robert Welch

GARFIELD BLUES BAND
Garfield Angove Paul Carey Leonard Moon John Fraga Will Leonard Leonard King

H

HOME
Jerry Brown Mike Roush Larry Cook Bill McKinney

JAMES HUGHES/JIMMY SMITH QUINTET
James Hughes Jimmy Smith Phil Kelly Takashi Iio Nate Winn

I

IMPACT
Pete Wenger Walt Szymanski Gary Haverkate Mike Bacile George Goldsmith

J

McKINLEY JACKSON AND THE POLITICIANS
McKinley Jackson Roderick “Peanut” Chandler Melvin Griffin Clay Robinson Zachary Slater Charlie Heardon Stanley Cleveland

K

LEONARD KING AND THE SOUL MESSENGERS
Leonard King Jr. Gregory King Atiba King Charles Eubanks George Rountree Adelphia Hill Darryl Moore Frank Garcia Jr. Jimmy Nash William Wooten Ralph Todd Timothy Allison Warren Phinizee

DR. PROF. LEONARD KING ORCHESTRA
Dr. Prof. Leonard King John Douglas Donovan Boxey Gary Kwek Ryan Freitas Jimmy Smith Steve Hunter John Raleeh Matt Martinez Davey Lazar Dominic Bierenga Keith Kaminski Gregory King Christopher Tabacynzski Johnny Evans Jason Didia Mark Kieme Nathan Zaporski Rick Steiger Chris Codish Zen Zadravec Gerard Gibbs Ron English James Simonson Craig Kowalsky Sam Copperman Jerry LeDuff Diego Melendez Miguel Gutierrez Mahindi Masai

L

TONY LEE BAND

LIGHTNIN’
Al Jacquez Jeff Jones Mark Gougeon Tim McCoy Dave Morgan

LIFE
Gene Dunlap Jr. John Lawson Carl Small Mark Geddes Gory Maslowski

BILLY LEE AND THE RIVIERAS/MITCH RYDER AND THE DETROIT WHEELS
William Levise Jr. Johnny “Bee” Badanjek Jim McCarty Earl Elliott Joe Kubert

ROBERT LOWE GROUP
Robert Lowe Robert Barnes Robert Wright Robert Welch Victor Hall Byron Miller

M

MARTINI
Marty Montgomery Tom Smith Marsha Johnson Darryl Robinson Tony Fichera Leonard King Jr.

JIMMY McKEE AND THE UPSETTERS
Jimmy McKee Preacher Rowe Monty Jefferson Johnny Clapton Gordon Camp Carl Graves

BRENT MAJORS QUINTET
Brent Majors John Hammer Sheila Landis Mark Soverensky Mike West

MILLIONAIRES
Bob Conner Doug Deming Pete Kahn Mark Berger Davey “Bones” Ron English John Slitti Dave Marcaccio Dr. Prof. Leonard King

MICHIGAN OPERA THEATER

MOVING MIND ORCHESTRA
Dominic Bierenga Donovan Boxey John Douglas John Raleeh Andy Wade Rocco Popielarski Zen Zadravec Tom Bartlemay Henry Blackson-Pakela Allen Dennard Jason Didia

WHITEY MORGAN AND THE 78’S
Whitey Morgan (Eric Allen) Brett Robinson Joey Spina Alex Lyon Eric Savage Tony Martinez

N

NORTHWOODS IMPROVISERS
Mike Johnston Nick Ashton Mike Gilmore Faruk Z. Bey Skeeter Shelton Mike Cary Donovan Boxey Dominic Bierenga

O

ORANGE LAKE DRIVE
Cliff Gracey Andy Combs Ross Pooley Bob Cote Kenny Burch

P

PIONEER JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Christopher Pitts Sam Sanders Steve Wood Dan McAlister Mike Blanchard Ed Pickens Scott Peterson

DON PABLO ORCHESTRA (Pablo Mireles)

PRISMATIC BAND

Q

R

RIOT
Wade Washington Cornelious “Juju” Johnson Haroun El-Nil Michael Weeks James Brock Hrant Hratchian Charles Hawkins Rosalyn Reid (Roz Ryan) Leslie Seridge Coleen Beaton

RUDY ROBINSON AND THE HUNGRY FIVE featuring TOBI LARK

ROCKETS
Jim McCarty Johnny “Bee” Badanjek Wayne Robbins John Fraga Dave Gilbert

S

SOUL EXPLOSION BAND

DAN SCHAFER GROUP
Dan Schafer Michael Murphy Phil Turkington Bill Vigelius

SILK
Shaun Murphy Al Pino Nolan Mendenhall Daryl Bybka Ray Goodman

SACK FULL OF DREAMS
Rocky Tatarelli Jim Banner Dennis Wezalis (Leonard Moon) Ron Pangborn Shahida Nurullah

SALT CREEK
Dan Tripp Bernie Nelson Kathy Ford Chris Amos Billy Clark Mike Busch Dave Giegrich

SAGA
Art Rottenburg Scott Pritchard Bob Cicotte Roger Race

SALEM WITCHCRAFT
Arlen Vieceli Morris O’Shaunessy Jim Duffy Dave Hall

SUGARFOOT
George Friend James Simonson Chris Codish Terry “Thunder” Hughley

STRAIGHT AHEAD
Eileen M. Orr (Alina Morr) Marian Heyden Gayelynn McKinney Kymberli Wright

LENNY SCHICK QUARTET
Lenny Schick Larry Meloche Don Varella Lou Lacey

T

II-V-I ORCHESTRA

MIKE TAYLOR AND MORE
Mike Taylor Steve Cowart Dan Rafferty Robert McFarlane Perry Palmer

TANTRUM
Mike Sneed James Barry John Heason Steve Dalton

TWISTIN’ TARANTULAS
“Pistol” Pete Midtgard Nick “Macho” Marocco Carl Bradychok

U

URBATIONS
David Swain Dan Mulholland Andy Boller Peter Klavier Martin Gross Johnny Evans Ian Vatet

V

W

JIMMY WILKINS ORCHESTRA

LYMAN WOODARD TRIO
Lyman Woodard Dennis Coffey Ron English Melvin Davis Leonard King Jr.

LYMAN WOODARD ORGANIZATION
Lyman Woodard Ron English Leonard King Jr. Norma Bell George Davidson Renell Gonzalves Kenny Garrett Ron Jackson Allan Barnes Robert Lowe Regina Carter Royce Lytle Trenita Womack Diego Melendez Marlene Rice Sabrina Lamarr Larry Smith Jeribu Shahid Rick Rouse

X

Y

Z

ALEX ZONJIC TRIO/ALEXANDER ZONJIC AND FRIENDS

 

VOCAL GROUPS

 

Members for some of the vocal groups posted here are currently unknown. As more information becomes available their names will be included. Also, since this is a “living document” other groups will also be added at different intervals. The definition of “vocal group” means singers who don’t play musical instruments as opposed to a “self-contained group” which does both.

A

ADELE ADDISON AND THE JUBILEE SINGERS

ADORABLES
Jackie & Betty Winston Diane & Pat Lewis

ANDANTES
Louvain Demps Jackie Hicks Marlene Barrow Ann Bogan

B

BRANDYE
Donna Davis Pamela Vincent Cynthia Douglas

JOHNNY BRISTOL & JACKEY BEAVERS (JOHNNY & JACKEY)

BARONS
Tyrone Douglas Jesse Greer Roger Craton

C

CLARK SISTERS
Albertina Clark Denise Clark Dorinda Clark Jackie Clark Karen Clark

C.J. & COMPANY
Cornelius Brown Jr. Joni Tolbert Connie & Curtis Durden Charles Clark

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD
General Johnson Danny Woods Harrison Kennedy Eddie Custis

CHICO & BUDDY
Thelmer “Chico” Jones William “Buddy” Farrow

COMMISSIONED
Fred Hammond Jr., Keith Staten Marvin Sapp Mitchell Jones Karl Reid Michael Williams Michael Brooks

D

DRAMATICS
Ron Banks Willie Ford Larry Reed Rob Davis Lawrence Dempsey William Howard Lenny Mayes Craig Jones Steve Barnett

DEVOTIONS
Regina Wood Rosemary Green Bobbie Hemmitt

DISTANTS
Richard Street Paul Williams Melvin Franklin a/k/a David English Eddie Kendricks Kell Osbourne

DETROIT EMERALDS
Abrim Tillman Cleophus Tillman Ivory Tillman Raymond Tillman

DEBONAIRES
Elsie Baker Dorothy Garland Joyce Vincent Diane Hogan

DAWN
Telma Hopkins Joyce Vincent Wilson

E

ELGINS
Norbert McClean Robert Lee Fleming John Virgil Sandra Mallett

EMBRACEABLES
Wyline Ivey Gladys Scott Evelyn Green Pearl Jones

ENCHANTMENT

F

FABULOUS PEPS
Joe Harris Tom Hester a/k/a Tom Storm Ronnie Abner

FIVE PEARLS
Howard Guyton Max Wood Rosko King Don Revels

G

GAYLORDS/GAYLORD & HOLIDAY
Ronald Fredianelli Bonaldo “Burt” Bonaldi Don Rea Bill Christ

H

AL HUDSON AND THE SOUL PARTNERS

EDWARD HAMILTON AND THE ARABIANS
Edward Hamilton Clarence McClean George Goodman Charles Laird Robert Tutt

HALO GOSPEL SINGERS FEATURING J.J. BARNES

WILL HAYNES AND THE OZARK VALLEY BOYS

HOLIDAYS
Eddie Anderson Maurice Tony Gray Willie Jackson Robert Johnson

HONEY CONE
Edna Wright Shellie Clark Carolyn Willis

HUNGRY FIVE
Rudy Robinson Roderick “Peanut” Chandler Sam Wicher Andrew Smith Johnny Clapton Gordon Camp

HUNT’S DETERMINATION
Bernard Brown Charles Horne Johnny Brown Danny Redeemar Edward Haygood Cornelius Jordan Joseph Washington

I

IMPERIALS (Detroit group)
Milton Harris Robert Adams Lee Goodwin Ben Knigh

J

JOHNSON’S SPIRITUAL SINGERS

JONES GIRLS
Shirley Jones Brenda Jones Valerie Jone

K

LARRY KNIGHT AND THE UPSETTER

L

LARADOS
Ron Morris Tommy Hust Bob Broadrick Bernie Turnbull Don Davenport

LAMP SISTERS

LEMON INSPIRATIONAL SINGERS

LOLLIPOPS

M

MAGICTONES
Calvin “Doc” Stephenson Tyrone Barkley Tyrone Douglas Paul Willis

MASQUERADERS
Robert Wrightsil Charles Moore Lee Jones Harold Thomas David Sanders

MEDITATIONS
Ernestine Rundless Delloreese Patricia Early Maria Waters Lillian Mitchell

MORNING ECHOES
Willie Ayers Willie Yearby Jerry Woods James Ligon Johnny Davis

N

O

ORIGINALS
Walter Gaines C.P. Spencer Tyrone Hunter Freddie Gorman

P

PARAGONS
Dee Edwards Albert Edwards Freddy Martin Tommy Martin

PEPPERMINTS
Roger Lee Cayton Duke Browner Jesse Greer Tyrone Douglas

PRECISIONS
Arthur Ashford Mike Morgan Dennis Gilmore Billy Prince

PROFESSIONALS

Q

R

ROYAL HOLIDAYS
Vernon Williams Bobby Jones Robert Gibson Damon Rockland Norman Worthy

RONNIE & ROBYN
Bobby Arquette Robyn Casey

REFLECTIONS
Tony Micale John Dean Phil Castrodale Dan Bennie Ray Steinberg

RIDGEWAY SISTERS
Gloria Ridgeway Esther Ridgeway Gracie Ridgeway

S

NOLAN STRONG AND THE DIABLOS
Nolan Strong Juan Gutierrez Willie Hunter Quentin Eubanks Bob “Chico” Edwards

SPINNERS
Billy Henderson Bobby Smith Henry Fambrough Pervis Jackson George Dixon

SHADES OF BLUE
Nick Maranelli Bob Kerr Ernie Dernai Linda Steinberg

T

TAURUS & LEO (MELVIN DUKES & EDDIE WOODS)

TEEGARDEN & VAN WINKLE
(Dave Teegarden David Van Winkle Skip Snape

THOMPSON COMMUNITY SINGERS

THRILLERS
Joe Murphy Charles Wright Lawrence Payton John Dorsey Roquel “Billy” Davis

TOKAYS
Thelmer Jones Billy Allen Herbert Brown Gene Gates William Farrow Richard Herdon

TORNADOS
Stanley Mitchell Ben Knight William Weatherspoon Alonzo Tucker Charles Sutton

U

UNDISPUTED TRUTH
Joe Harris Brenda Joyce Evans Billie Rae Calvin

UTOPIAS
David Lesley Julie Leslie Joan Hughes

V

VELVELETTES
Mildred Gill Carolyn Gill Bertha Barbee Norma Barbee

VIOLINAIRES

VOLUMES
Ernest Newsome Elijah Davis Larry Wright Joe Travillion Edward Union Gerald Mathis

W

WINANS
Marvin Winans Carvin Winans Michael Winans Ronald Winans

WAYSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH COMBINED CHOIR

WATSON FAMILY OF DETROIT

WESTPOINT BAPTIST CHURCH SENIOR CHOIR & GOSPEL CHORUS

WONDERETTES

X

Y

Z

ZELLTONES

ZION HARMONAIRES

 

VOCALISTS

A

ALBERTA ADAMS
VANESSA BELL ARMSTRONG
PETE ANDERSON

B

CODY BLACK
OPHELIA BLACK
ORTHEIA BARNES
J.J. BARNES
BONNIE BRISKER
ROSE BATISTE
MICHE BRADEN
FRANKIE BALLARD
RANDY BARLOW
HANK BALLARD
HARRY BOWENS

C

CONDIDO
CARL CARLTON
LOUIS CURRY
LORRAINE CHANDLER (birth name Ermastine Lewis)
CAROLYN/CAROLINE CRAWFORD
AUSTIN CROMER
BETTY CARTER (birth name Lillie Mae Jones)
NIKKI CORVETTE (birth name Dominique Lorenz)
STEPHAN COCHRAN
MATTIE MOSS CLARK
ANITA COCHRAN (birth name Anita Renee Cockerham)

D

JIMMY DELPHS
BONITA DRAKE
LEROY DRUMM

E

DEE EDWARDS (birth name Doris Jean Harrell)

F

JO ANNE FLEMING
MIKKI FARROW
BARBARA FOX

G

JOSH GRACIN
AMOS GARRETT

H

KIMME HORN
KENNETH “PANCHO” HAGOOD
HARLAN HOWARD
TESSIE HILL

I

GLORIA IRVING

J

MIA JOHNSON
ROYCE JOVAN
SHEILA JORDAN
SANDRA JOHNSON
TAMIKO JONES (birth name Barbara Tamiko Ferguson)

K

KATHY KOSINS
JANA KRAMER
BILL KIRCHEN (birth name William Knight Kirchen)

L

TOBI LARK/TOBI LEGEND/BESSIE WATSON (birth name Bessie Gupton)
BETTYE LAVETTE
LAURA LEE (LAURA RUNDLESS)
PAT LEWIS
EMMANUEL LASKEY

M

ROBERT McCARTHER
JOHNNIE MAE MATTHEWS
BARBARA MERCER
JUANITA McCRAY
DORIS “DEE DEE” McNEIL
TEGAN MARIE


N

SHAHIDA NURULLAH
VELMA “CHUBBY” NEWSOME

O

GWEN OWENS
ONE STRING SAM

P

GENO PARKS (PURIFOY)
KRIS PETERSON
HARI PARIS
BUNNY PAUL
FREDA PAYNE
SCHERRIE PAYNE
JOHNNY POWERS (birth name John Pavlik)

Q

R

DENNIS ROWLAND
SANDRA RICHARDSON/SANDRA FEVA
EDWARD “EDDIE’ ROBINSON
MACK RICE
LEE ROGERS (birth name Roger Lee Cayton)
GIP “SANDMAN” ROBERTS (birth Robert Gibson)
L.J. REYNOLDS
DELLA REESE (birth name Delloreese Patricia Early)
DAVIS “DAVID” RUFFIN
JIMMY RUFFIN

S

EDWIN STARR (birth name Charles Hatcher)
ANGE SMITH
KITTY STEVENSON
ROBERT ST. THOMAS
NAIME SHAMBORGUER
J.D. SOUTHER

T

NORMAN THRASHER
TERI THORTON (birth name Shirley Enid Avery)
HARVEY THOMPSON

U

UNCLE KRACKER (birth name Matthew Schafer)

V

MILDRED VANEY/MILLIE SCOTT

W

SPANKY WILSON (birth name Louella Wilson)
“SINGIN” SAMMY WARD
DANNY WOODS
URSULA WALKER
BARBARA WARE
MARY WELLS
KIM WESTON (birth name Agatha Nathalia Weston)
JUNE WEBB
JOY WILLIAMS

X

Y

Z

 

SUPPORT

For many years continuing to the present day, the usual emphasis pertaining to music is placed on the artists who perform the music. However, there are many other people in professional capacities who have been instrumental in projecting and promoting music to the general public in ways and methods that the public may not be aware of. Record and concert promoters, jukebox proprietors, wholesale and retail record stores, television and radio programs, graphic artists, and others have contributed, in their own ways, to the visibility of music as it relates to public consumption.

LC KING jukebox business owner
TONY VANCE jukebox business owner
ARTHUR DREW jukebox business owner
DAVE CLARK national records promotion
“FRANTIC ERNIE DURHAM radio host/promotion
“JOLTIN” JOE HOWARD radio host/promotion
ED LOVE radio host/promotion
LINDA YOHN radio host/promotion
FRANK BROWN concert presentations/promotion
PETER MAUPIN concert presentations/promotion
JOE “ZIGGY” JOHNSON concert presentations/dance school proprietor
LACLAIRE KNOX concert presentations/dance school proprietor
QUINTON PERRY & RANDOLPH REDLEY concert presentations
CLARENCE EDDINS nightclub proprietor
CORNELIOUS WATT nightclub proprietor
MARTHA JEAN “THE QUEEN” STEINBERG radio host/promotion
BILL KABBUSH & MARTY EISNER 20 Grand Entertainment Complex proprietors
MORRIS WASSERMAN Flame Show Bar owner/proprietor
ED MCKENZIE radio & television host/promotion
ROBIN SEYMOUR radio & television host/promotion
LEE ALAN radio & television host/concert promotion
FAMOUS COACHMAN retail records proprietor
WHITE’S RECORD SHOP retail records proprietor
ROBERT CANADY/MONROE MUSIC retail records proprietor