RJ Spangler

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Born: November 23, 1956 Primary Instrument: Drums

Drummer RJ Spangler has been on the Detroit music seen for many years, in fact he earned his first Motor City Music Award in 1982 with a band he co-founded called the Sun Messengers. After 17 years as a Messenger, RJ went on to running the band for Detroit blues master Johnnie Bassett. With Johnnie RJ made his way across America and Europe many times.

RJ has also played with Martha & the Van Dellas, The Drifters, Earl King, Wanda Rouzan, James “Thunderbird” Davis, Big Jay McNeely, Larry McCray, Francine Reed, Tad Robinson, Shawn Pittman, Sir Mack Rice/the Falcons with Eddie Floyd, Johnny Adams, Eddie Bo, Andre Williams, Nathaniel Mayer, Robert Penn, Eddie & Jimmy Burns, Pinetop Perkins, Ron Levy, Shirley King, James Montgomery, Catfish Hodge, Harmonica Shah, Mr. Bo, Willie D. Warren, Michael Ray & the Cosmic Krewe, Thornetta Davis, Jos'lyn B, The Griswalds as well as James Carter, Bill Heid, Leon Thomas, Marcus Belgrave in addition to studies with the late great Roy Brooks.

Today he is a WC Handy award nominated drummer, a record producer and manager/drummer for Alberta Adams, Joe Weaver, the Motor City R&B Pioneers and the Odessa Harris Group. RJ is on over 30 nationally available CDs.

RJ's latest projest is an organ jazz group called the RJ Spangler Trio that features Keith Kaminski on sax and Duncan McMillan on organ. Frequent guests at their regular Tuesday night gig at the Buzz Bar in downtown Detroit include Bluesman Johnnie Bassett, trumpet great Dwight Adams and others. RJ is also forming a tentette with trumpeter James O'Donnell, playing the music of Duke Ellington to Sun Ra.

Awards

Nominee - Best Drummer - WC Handy Blues Awards (Memphis) (2001)

WDET's 300 most important persons in Detroit music (2001)

Best Locally Produced CD (Sun Sounds Orchestra) - Metro Times Music Awards (1991)

Last Updated: November 21, 2012

Erich Goebel Eastside Soul No Cover Records 2006 Alberta Adams Detroit's Queen of the Blues Eastlawn 2005 RJ's Rhythm Rockers Live at the Menu No Cover 2003 Odessa Harris The Easy Life Eastlawn (2003) Geno Parks Live on the Air Eastlawn (2003) Michael Ray and The Cosmic Krewe Live at Jimmy's Base Camp (2003) Joe Weaver & RJ's Rhythm Rockers Uncut Detroit Volume 3 (compilation) Venture (2003) Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers Bluesuit (2002) Joe Weaver featuring J. Bassett Baby I Love You So Black Magic (2000) Alberta Adams I'm On The Move Eastlawn (2003) Alberta Adams Live AA Eastlawn (2002) Alberta Adams, featuring J. Bassett Say Baby Say: Lifes Trials & Tribulations according to Miss Alberta Adams Cannonball (2000) Alberta Adams with R.J's Blues... Uncut Detroit Volume 2 (compilation) Venture (1999) Alberta Adams, featuring J. Bassett Born with the Blues Cannonball (1998) Alberta Adams, featuring J. Bassett Blues From the Heart Volume 3 (compilation) Way/Sac (1994) Bill Heid/Johnnie Bassett The Heid-Bassett Blues Insurgents Eastlawn (2005) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Blues Foundation presents the WC Handy Nominees, volume 1 (compilation) Music Blitz (2001) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Roadtrip Blues (compilation) HOB (2000) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents That Lonely Feeling Called The Blues (compilation) High Note (2000) Bill Heid & the Detroit Blues Masters featuring J. Bassett We play the Blues Black Magic (2000) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Party My Blues Away Cannonball (1999) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents The Power of Jazz/Ford Montreaux Detroit Jazz Live (compilation) DTE Energy (1999) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Witchcraft (CD compilation) Black Magic (1999) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Cadillac Blues Cannonball (1998) Johnnie Bassett & Bill Heid Trio Bassett Hound Fedora (1997) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents I Gave My Life to the Blues Black Magic (1997) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Uncut Detroit Volume 1 (compilation) Venture (1997) Johnnie Bassett & Albert Adams Blues Across America: Detroit Scene (compilation) Cannonball (1996) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Blues From the Heart: Detroit Blues Artists Gift to the Autism Society - Live at the Soup Kitchen (compilation) Way/Sac (1994) Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents Live at the Montreux-Detroit Jazz No Cover (1994) Sweet Claudette Ain't Gonna Wash Your Dirty Clothes Bee 4 Real (2001) Harmonica Shah Motor City Mojo Bluesuit (2000) The Griswalds Too Hot For Me (compilation) JSP (1997) The Griswalds All The Way Home JSP (1996) Oriental Spas The Telling Tree CD Overture 1993 Blues Disciples The Blues Disciples (Cassette) Eastlawn 1993 Steve Nardella Daddy Rollin' Stone Schoolkids 1993 Bugs Bedow U-Da Man CD Great Lakes Music 1991 Sun Sounds Orch. Open Up the Doors CD Eastlawn 1991 Sun Sounds Orch. CD Sampler Adventures in Music 1991 Sun Messengerrs Dream Catchers (CD compilation) Blue Yonder 1990 Sun Messengerrs X-Mas in Detroit (CD compilation) ? 1989 Sun Messengerrs X-Mas in Detroit (CD compilation) ? 1988 Sun Messengerrs Get On Up & Dance (cassette) Sun Sounds 1987 Sun Messengerrs X-Mas (cassette) Sun Sounds 1986 Sun Messengerrs Sun Mess (12" EP) Sun Sounds 1985 Sun Messengerrs Tiger Dynasty/Going to Tim's (45 rpm) Sun Sounds 1983 Sun Messengerrs New Waif Blues / Thimlela (45 rpm) Sun Sounds 1982

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