The Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Website
Michigan Rock and Roll Legends is a website that was originally dedicated to the artists and music of the vinyl era, a period of time running from roughly 1950 through 1990. Making a record at a recording studio was an important event for an artist during those days, and the vinyl 45s, EPs, and LPs that were produced played an immense part in what is the state’s rich and diverse Rock and Roll legacy.
MRRL was created in 2004 to help promote and preserve this vital aspect of Michigan's cultural history and, in 2021, the site's Hall of Fame was opened to artists from the CD era. It is hoped that the site will not only give recognition to artists and songs that were important contributors to the Rock and Roll movement in the state, but will also help keep the spirit of Michigan music burning bright.
The voting for inclusion in the MRRL Internet Hall of Fame was originally done in the spring of 2005 by a large group of Rock and Roll lovers who participated in The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Trivia Show held twice yearly in Bay City. In 2007, the vote was expanded to include ballots sent via email by Michigan music fans who did not attend the trivia shows.
By 2008, the voting for the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Internet Hall of Fame and Legendary Michigan Songs was done completely online. The vote was open to anyone who is interested in Michigan Rock and Roll music. In 2012 an automated voting system was installed to tabulate the votes. The top 3 vote-getters among the eligible Michigan artists and the top 5 songs on the internet ballots gained induction each year.
Honorary inductions to the MRRL Internet Hall of Fame were started in 2008. The purpose of this type of induction was to give credit to the people behind-the-scenes who were significant in the history of Michigan Rock and Roll. These would include lesser known artists, photographers, label owners, music promoters, session musicians, publicity directors, songwriters, disc jockeys, and record producers who would generally not be household names to most Michigan music fans.
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Historical Inductions were introduced by the MRRL Hall of Fame in 2014. This designation honors Michigan artists each year who have released significant recordings, but have been overlooked by both the MRRL voting public and/or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Historical Inductions in the Legendary Michigan Song category began in 2017.
During the site's first twenty years, 129 artists and individuals have been inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame, and 160 recordings have been inducted as Legendary Michigan Songs. Because of continued issues with the online vote, the decision was made to discontinue the system following the 2020 results. Historical and Honorary inductions of both artists and songs are now under the direction of the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame and the Bay County Historical Society.
