The Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame Studio is located on the Historical Museum of Bay County’s second floor. The former office is now the home of the MMHP989 podcast. The initials stand for Michigan Music History Podcast, and the show has won Best Streaming Musical Series for three consecutive years at the annual Review Music Awards. The podcast also won the Best Live Production award at the 2024 ceremony.

 

The show is co-hosted by Scott Baker, Gary “Dr. J” Johnson, Fred Reif, and Mike Beattie; and its focus is on the wide variety of musical styles and genres that have contributed to Michigan’s rich musical legacy.Studio signMRRL HOF Studio

 

The studio uses audio equipment provided by Scott Baker, who also edits the podcast. Its colorful walls are decorated with a wide variety of posters, photos, flyers, tickets, and 45s donated by Barry Kane, Jim Render, and Gary Johnson.

 

All styles of Michigan music are welcome on the podcast. Past shows have highlighted musicians who specialize in Jazz (Mike Johnston and Mike Brush), Polka (Steve Drezwicki), Pop Standards (Kevin Cole), Gospel/R&B (Sharrie Williams), Tejano (Frank Lugo), Country (Butch Heath), Zydeco (Ziggy Zeitler), Blues (Greg Nagy), Punk Rock (David Prager), Reggae (Dave Asher), Folk Music (Peter “Madcat” Ruth) and Rock ‘N Roll (Lafayette Yarborough). Peter "Madcat" RuthPeter "Madcat" Ruth

 

Other music-related guests include record producer Andy Reed, local musicians Jeff Yantz and Butch Burden, Hell’s Half Mile music director Don Hessell, singer-songwriter Jen Cass, disc jockey Johnny Burke, record promoter Mel Kanar, blues radio host Robert Barclay, Mike Richards from Adaboy, Donny Brown from the Verve Pipe, “Fake Zombies” writer/podcaster Daniel Ralston, concert promoter Chad Cunningham, music collector Marlin Wilson, keyboardist Susie Woodman, and music book author Craig Maki. Sharrie WilliamsSharrie Williams

 

Many inductees to the MRRL HOF have been guests on the podcast as well. The list includes Larry McCray, Dennis Loren, Pete Woodman of The Bossmen, Al Jacquez of Savage Grace, Drew Abbott of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band, Clark Sullivan of The Excels, Steve Lyman of SRC, Bobby Balderrama of Question Mark and The Mysterians, Scott Causley of The Burdons, Ross Helco of Sunday Funnies, and Bob Charlebois, Joe Charlebois, and Don Langenburg of Mad Dog.

 

Past and current episodes of the MMHP989 podcast can be found at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mmhp989

 

 

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Michigan Rock and Roll Legends is a totally independent and proudly non-commerical website that is primarily a tribute to the artists and songs of Michigan's first vinyl records era.