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 XIT (4), a Native American band from Albuquerque, New Mexico to a contract.Berry Gordy 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.