Michael Valvano

White Detroit teen Mike Valvano went to Motown in 1960 with his group the Modifiers, but became far more useful as a behind-the-scenes jack of all trades – studio hand, engineer, acetate cutter, tape op, audition panelist, and eventually a producer and writer. He cut two of his own singles as an artist for Motown, one credited to “Mike & The Modifiers”, the other to “the Hornets”, but ironically his best-known contribution on the fun side of the mic was his foot-stomping on the breakthrough million-seller [m100568]. After Motown relocated to Los Angeles in the 70's, they were looking for new talent and different sounds. The company signed [a1344074], a Native American band from Albuquerque, New Mexico to a contract.[a229467] sent Mike Valvano to Albuquerque to oversee the new act. The group had an LP out on Rare Earth in April 1973. Whilst in Alberqurque, Valvano fell in love, married a local, and stayed in the city for 20 years. Mike passed on April 10th 2002 from a heart attack.