Mel Kanar was the supplier. He knew the bands, the songs, the CEO and the DJ's. What music fans don't know is how large of a roll he played on charting early rock and roll on radio throughout suburban Detroit and beyond. The sounds you heard, you favored, you loved, smash or trashed, Mel was the delivery man and the polisher for the companies that …

Mark Farner is releasing his brand new album this Friday, Nov. 8, titled Closer To My Home. It's a musical celebration that brings the familiar sound of Grand Funk closer to the ears of Mark's crowd than ever before. Recorded with special guests and Co-Produced with Mark Slaughter (vocalist of the band Slaughter), Farner gets track by track with th…

Mel Kanar was the supplier. He knew the bands, the songs, the CEO and the DJ's. What music fans don't know is how large of a roll he played on charting early rock and roll on radio throughout suburban Detroit and beyond. The sounds you heard, you favored, you loved, smash or trashed, Mel was the delivery man and the polisher for the companies that …

Sanford, MI/Midland, MI world music master, teacher, student, tone-enthusiast, and forebearer of touch and musical invitation, Bryan Rombalski is ahead of everyone else when it comes to the musical curves. Guitar teacher, former classic rocker, '80s sound designer, and jazz/fusion projecting, speaking many musical languages, Rombalski has laid more…

Steve Swart was on the bandstand and in college at CMU just in time to see owner Harvey Vanier turn The Foolery into Rubbles. Mt. Pleasant has always been at the dead center of the state of Michigan when it comes to cross-over touring due to WCMU and the college music market. One quick look north from Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Lansing, all …

The Michigan Music History Podcast Special Edition 2024 Hell's Half Mile Music Line-up and Film Rundown: Hell's Half Mile music organizer Don Hessell returns for the third-annual MMHP HHM Special, along with his new assistant Spencer Biery. Also this year, past music organizer and HHM alum Jay Glysz, offers past stories and details from the origins…

On Episode 1 of this season, we headed over to the Juke Joint and got Robert Barclay's back story on the past 39 years of the show. Robert gave his background, college history, photography interest, and ultimately the keys to the club as we got to go backstage with the Duke of Juke. For Episode 2, Robert goes into his passion for Tom Waits, venues …

WOW! Five seasons into the MMHP in the 989 and we couldn't be more thankful for our listeners! As our show grows, the grass roots word of mouth continues to ramp and bring us better numbers and more guests. We couldn't get there without you! On Episode 1 of this season, we head over to the Juke Joint and get Robert Barclay's back story on the past …

Michiganders Keith Hlavacs and Marlin Wilson belong in their own music collection time zone. Hlavacs not only collects artifacts of early music from 78s/cylinders/diamond discs and phonographs, but he touches upon some of the most sought after music from the earliest days of recordings--with some rare Michigan Music thrown in for good measure. Wils…

Mad Dog--a 1970's independent touring machine, known for crossing the state and region, fuzzed out and throttling headliners like Bob Seger, has gone on to have their much-sought-after debut album '617' amongst the finest crate dig finds in many vinyl collectors realms. Straight out of Bay City, Mad Dog's '617' continues to be a highlight in the mu…

Mad Dog--a 1970's independent touring machine, known for crossing the state and region, fuzzed out and throttling headliners like Bob Seger, has gone on to have their much-sought-after debut album '617' amongst the finest in vinyl collectors realms. Straight out of Bay City, Mad Dog's '617' continues to be a highlight in the murky power-rock/stoner…

Sadly, the Musical Mitten Podcast recently closed its podcast doors. It started up as a radio show at WOCR of the University of Olivet, hosts Maggie Brener of Bay City (now Detroit) and Breanne Wilder of Vicksburg ( now Charlotte) had put together a bevy of Michigan Musical discussion and guests that leveled up the playing field of current artists …

"In 2016 it was the biggest rock and roll story in some time," noted MMHP and Michigan Rock Legend Hall Of Fame CEO Gary 'Dr. J' Johnson, on the Fake Zombies story ran in Rolling Stone Magazine ripped straight out of M15 in Bay City and the historic chronicles of the late '60s. Digging for gold, Podcaster/Bartender Daniel Ralston--in Los Angeles--u…

Mark Sanders has been there and done that. From the '60 to his current output, Sanders has never given up on songs, creation, and finding the right tones to formulate excellent songs. Some of his first big stage tastes were opening for Ramblin Jack Elliot and The Blues Magoos after winning Battle of the bands at Daniels Den in Saginaw while in The …

The Flint Music Scene was once his stomping grounds. Then came the rest of Michigan, from Saginaw to Detroit, to Canada and into the entire mid-west. Nothing could stop Lafayette Yarbrough as he briefly dominated AM Radio and was the talk of the town during his Lafayette and the LaSabres era. Weeks and sometimes months, playing up to seven nights a…

If you haven't had a chance to listen to our Season 1 Episode 8 with Mike, covering record stores, free jazz, his radio show Destination Out, or his long time ensemble, Northwoods Improvisers, please start there. Then head right back here. After all, that was the first episode of the MMHP that catapulted us around the world with our Michigan Music …

Somewhere in Ann Arbor, across to Detroit, the folklore of the '60s planted seeds in south Michigan. One of the front-runners to this soapbox congregation was Andy Cohen. Spending years crafting and honoring tradition, Cohen happened upon Andrew Rogers in Ann Arbor and the 'rest is history' as has been repeated. Here is a reunion, alive with song, …

Musician Michelle Coltrane, daughter of Alice, step-daughter of John, offers backstory on Alice's time growing up in Detroit through Michelle's own growing up time between California, New York, and visits to Detroit. Michelle has proclaimed, 'The Year of Alice Coltrane' here in 2024 (with a centennial celebration of John coming soon as well!). This…

Heads up Michigan Music Fans: It’s been a year since I did my last Mid-Mitten ‘15’ From Harvest Canteen as a bonus episode for the MMHP—and while you patiently await Part 2 this Thursday for Zydeco Ziggy, I am prepping a one-on-one phone conversation with the one and only Mary Lee Kortes. 100% Portland, Michigan, by way of Brooklyn, New York (since…

Mid Mitten 15 From Harvest Canteen: Special One-On-One Discussions with Michigan Music Artists. MM15HC listeners: Tuesday Ep:2 debuts with Hemlock Americana musician Billy Shane Young! Our interview will put you in the driver seat of one of the most unique writers Michigan has to offer. 20 plus years of solo shows and albums (such as his band Burde…

More bang for the earbuds—On top of our bi-weekly podcasts (Available on all our podcast outlets pinned top post here), the Dr. J & Sir Fred Weekend Michigan Music Selections (Facebook Fans Exclusive), Mr. Mike’s periodic Michigan Comes Live Friday Video Blog (Facebook Fans Exclusive), Scott is adding a periodic show for Tuesday’s (Also Facebook Su…

Somewhere in Ann Arbor, across to Detroit, the folklore of the '60s planted seeds in south Michigan. One of the front-runners to this soapbox congregation was Andy Cohen. Spending years crafting and honoring tradition, Cohen happened upon Andrew Rogers in Ann Arbor and the 'rest is history' as has been repeated. Here is their reunion, alive with so…

Loren Kranz (Ragbirds, Barbarossa Bros, Solo, +) and Sean Drysdale (Banana Convention, CDF Band, Solo) are new lighthouses on the edge of the Michigan Rock and Roll Peninsula. Both hail from the Mid-Michigan area, both uber-creative types that make every band or project they involve themselves in 200% better, just because of what they bring to the …

From his beginnings following his family's roots to Michigan, Steve Lyman found his way to befriending the Quackenbush family, helping found The Fugitives. That result would catapult him into early Michigan rock and roll history within the band Scot Richard Case, later to be familiarized as SRC. The band became one of the first major label players …

From his beginnings following his family's roots to Michigan, Steve Lyman found his way to befriending the Quackenbush family, helping found The Fugitives. That result would catapult him into early Michigan rock and roll history within the band Scot Richard Case, later to be familiarized as SRC. The band became one of the first major label players …

Known to roll the Cajun off his tongue so fluently, you would think he was from Louisiana. Don 'Ziggy' Zeitler strolls around the country brandishing a multi-instrumentalist pedigree with a bluesman's heart. Zig has been a mainstay from the Saginaw area. Growing up in Hemlock, Zig caught the bug early on. Now doing just exactly what he wants to do …

Known to roll the Cajun off his tongue so fluently, you would think he was from Louisiana, Don 'Ziggy' Zeitler strolls around the country brandishing a multi-instrumentalist pedigree with a bluesman's heart. Zig has been a mainstay from the Saginaw area. Growing up in Hemlock, Zig caught the bug early on. Now doing just exactly what he wants to do …

While Review was kicked off in 1979, under three different names, Bob Martin has manned the helm since its inception. Blending Mid-Michigan's music scene (stretching all north, over to Mt. Pleasant, down to Lansing and Flint, and into the thumb), Martin has blended political content with the arts longer than any current journalist in the area. Best…

Born the son of a 3-year-old drum prodigy, Marty Kempf was no slouch himself as a drummer and all around musician. Taking over the family business of Whitehead Music, which opened in 1919, Big Bands were the name of the game and Vaudeville-style touring was part of the job. Kempf takes us through the era's of music, unions, played and print-notatio…

Pollinators play a vital role in our food systems and are crucial to preserving the areas across the world being threatened by climate change and industrialization, but it takes more than just planting flowers to protect our pollinators. In this episode, Dr. Michelle Fearon will walk us through the basics of pollination and pollinator health, forme…

Mary Gilbert was there singing with her Uncle's Big Band when she was a child. Part of the Jessup genes have been past on to Mary, who along with husband Brent Gilbert have managed to secure a place in Mid-Michigan's jazz scene, with the likes of Easy Street & Co., Second Time Around, and their own duo, He Said She Said. Between Brent's lush guitar…

Daniel Bernard O'Connell is a die cast original purebred Michigan rock bassist. From being in the first band to play at the Grande Ballroom opening for the MC5 and taking The Wha? for a strut, or being courted by Alto Reed's duo mid-70s, opening for Seger and Van Halen while in Barooga Bandit (at Bay City at Central High as a landmark) and, sharing…

Sometimes scientists must go to the ends of the earth, and even deep underground, to see the unseen! Join us and meet two charismatic researchers from the U-M Department of Physics who do just that. Bjoern Penning studies dark matter a mile underground in the former Homestake gold mine in Lead, South Dakota, using Lux-Zeplin, the world's most sensi…

Daniel Bernard O'Connell is a die cast original purebred Michigan rock bassist. From being in the first band to play at the Grande Ballroom opening for the MC5 and taking The Wha? for a strut, or being courted by Alto Reed's duo mid-70s, opening for Seger and Van Halen while in Barooga Bandit (at Bay City at Central High as a landmark) and, sharing…

From his teen rock beginnings in the '60's, John Hebert was tuned into the Michigan music scenes. He had gone from playing the stages and festivals of Michigan Lore to tackling the blues in Ann Arbor into the '70s. A Tri-City boy, Hebert has spent every decade since the '60s keeping his guitar chops up to par, being part of epic bands along the way…

From across the corn fields where the woods got heavy, Johnny Winter sounds possessed Michael 'Hooker Man' Brand. His acoustic country beginnings became electrified rock blues that elevated him across the state. Sharron 'Levi Rose' Brand was a gifted songwriter, no-rules wild child, that made her way to Mid-Michigan via Boulder, CO. When Levi & Hoo…

Current Band=CDF (Cashman/Drysdale/Furlo). Forever a Saginaw music maven, Mick Furlo began a string of musical excellence that dates back to the early '80s. His band was the farm-team for many of the rock greats to leave the area, particularly two members of The Verve Pipe. A former club owner, Furlo's golden pipes have become a mid-Michigan touchs…

Current Band=CDF (Cashman/Drysdale/Furlo). Forever a Saginaw music maven, Mick Furlo began a string of musical excellence that dates back to the early '80s. His band was the farm-team for many of the rock greats to leave the area, particularly two members of The Verve Pipe. A former club owner, Furlo's golden pipes have become a mid-Michigan touchs…

We were blessed to finally land one of the greatest DJ/Michigan Music History LEGENDS to our show. After two attempts, Ric made a visit to our new MMHP digs at the Michigan Rock Legends Hall of Fame in Bay City, this past July 3, 2023. Sadly, we lost Ric to a stroke on Sept. 5, 2023. Ric shared his music passion with us, as he did many others via b…

Taking a step back and reflecting on three years of the MMHP989, Hosts Dr. J, Sir Fred, and Mr. Mike wanted to kick of Season 4 with the backstory on Scott's new concept album Purpose, relased this past April. The players, the reason it took two and a half years, the sounds, production, the Michigan Rock elements, the concept album elements, and ev…

Highlighting the entertainment coming to Hell's Half Mile Film and Music Fest here in Bay City, MI in 2023! This special edition brings back HHM Music Curator Don Hessell for an announcement on the music coming to the state, as well as a wrap up of last year. Make sure to catch the aftershow for more future outlook ideas and discussion...…

Part 2 of 2 with the drummer behind The Bossmen, Popcorn Blizzard, a stint with ? and The Mysterians, and all around Michigan rock notable from the original scene that started it all in the '60s. Pete takes us into the workings of all the bands, the behind the scenes with Dick Wagner, Warren Keith, Lanny Roenicke, Susie Woodman, Meatloaf, Rick Bozz…

Part 1 of 2 with the drummer behind The Bossmen, Popcorn Blizzard, a stint with ? and The Mysterians, and all around Michigan rock notable from the original scene that started it all in the '60s. Pete takes us into the workings of all the bands, the behind the scenes with Dick Wagner, Warren Keith, Lanny Roenicke, Susie Woodman, Meatloaf, Rick Bozz…

Original Michigan keyboardist Susie Woodman takes us from her love of the Michigan Rock Sound in the '60s to the stage as a musician and manager during a time when the sound was brand new. Responsible for bringing Meatloaf to Freeland, Michigan and helping jumpstart his career, Susie was then married to ex-Bossmen drummer Pete Woodman and found suc…

Original Michigan keyboardist Susie Woodman takes us from her love of the Michigan Rock Sound in the '60s to the stage as a musician and manager during a time when the sound was brand new. Responisble for bringing Meatloaf to Freeland, Michigan and helping jumpstart his career, Susie was then married to ex-Bossmen drummer Pete Woodman and found suc…

How can renewables such as wind and solar energy produce power for use when the sun isn't shining or the wind ebbs? How can we capture the carbon dioxide that is already in the atmosphere? Join Charles McCrory of the U-M Department of Chemistry and David Kwabi of the U-M Department of Mechanical Engineering to discuss new research on renewable ener…

Homespun has been broadcast since the mid '80s out of WCMU, put together by Tom T. Ball. Known for his Americana and roots show, Ball also is the bassist in Crazy Chestur, a Mid-Michigan Roots Rock Supergroup. Ball takes us from his early days in Cadillac and paints a portrait of a sponge, soaking in Americana music coming from a rocker background.…

Homespun has been broadcast since the mid '80s out of WCMU, put together by Tom T. Ball. Known for his Americana and roots show, Ball also is the bassist in Crazy Chestur, a Mid-Michigan Roots Rock Supergroup. Ball takes us from his early days in Cadillac and paints a portrait of a sponge, soaking in Americana music coming from a rocker background.…

As an author, he's the final word on Hastings Street myth and lore--the blues, the blood, the boundaries bloated and bemused. When it comes to what Hollywood says, they refer to his books and then twist it up with some glamor that never happened to sell tickets. Cohassey calls their bullshit and bluffs. He talked to those that knew John Lee Hooker,…

As an author, he's the final word on Hastings Street myth and lore--the blues, the blood, the boundaries bloated and bemused. When it comes to what Hollywood says, they refer to his books and then twist it up with some glamor that never happened to sell tickets. Cohassey calls their bullshit and bluffs. He talked to those that knew John Lee Hooker,…