Mitch Ryder
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Mitch Ryder (born 26 February 1945) is an American musician born in Hamtramck, Michigan as William S. Levise Jr.. He is noted for his gruff, wailing singing style, much influenced by Little Richard, and his dynamic stage performances, influenced by James Brown.
He first appeared with his band, the Detroit Wheels during the mid-1960s Since the early 1970s, Ryder's musical endeavors have not met with the same success that they did before. Ryder himself has blamed his lack of subsequent hits on his unsuccessful aim at the Tom Jones-type cabaret/nightclub audience just as the counterculture was becoming dominant in 1967 and 1968. His last successful release was Mitch Ryder's Detroit in 1971, which featured the other members of the Detroit Wheels, now called Detroit, updating his soul-influenced sound to the 1970s hard rock era.
He has continued to record and tour but comebacks have eluded him.
Some of Ryder's music include:
- Sock It To Me-Baby!
- Jenny Take A Ride!
- Little Latin Lupe Lu
- Devil With A Blue Dress On
- Rock and Roll (written by Lou Reed)
Ryder's influence is felt in the music of Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen among others.
Quotation
- "I didn't know James Brown wore knee pads when he did those stage slides." — Mitch Ryder