The Mike Hanks Story
Introduction


 
Mike and just some of his music

The Motor City was no longer the world's premier recording center when Mike Hanks was gunned down outside the 20 Grand in 1970. Detroit's hit-making days of the 60's had gone, and Mike's tragic murder seemed to emphasize the fact.

Although he produced numerous recordings and had national hits with Lee Rogers and The Fantastic Four, Mike never got close to enjoying the kind of success that Motown garnered with their more refined brand of Detroit Soul. The reason could be that Mike's music was just too raw and spirited for the mass-market. Or that providence chose to look the other way. Or maybe that Detroit wasn't a totally level playing field for the city's recording businesses.

It's now over thirty years since Mike's death, yet there's been virtually nothing written about his significant work as a songwriter, producer and recording company boss. This tribute aims to give Mike his overdue props and attempts to de-mystify the man behind those legendary Detroit record labels: D-Town and Wheelsville USA. And also to highlight some of the affiliated recording artists and talented musicians that helped Mike create great music throughout that special decade: the Sixties.

Notes thanks to Graham Finch

 
 

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DESIGN AND GRAPHICS BY
LOWELL BOILEAU

 


DESIGN AND GRAPHICS BY
LOWELL BOILEAU

This website is dedicated to Detroit, Soul Music, 45 RPM, Northern Soul and the great Motown era of Detroit Musics. It covers Golden World, Tamla, Wheelsville, Robert West, Darrell Banks, Johnnie Mae Matthews, Rose Battiste, Tera Shirma, Fred Bridges, Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, Funk Brothers, Dennis Coffey, Bob Babbitt, James Jamerson, Twisted Wheel, Wiggan Casino and many more Detroit Souls topics.