GREAT LAKES, GREAT TIMES: Mike Madill and the Blue Water Rockers recently released their first CD. Members are Tim Tilbury, left, Jim Eccles, Mike Madill, Jim Panos and Wes Thompson.
THE ESSENTIALS
MIKE MADILL AND THE BLUE WATER ROCKERS
MEMBERS: Mike Madill, Bass, acoustic guitar, piano, vocals; Jim Eccles, guitar, vocals; Tim Tilbury, guitar, saxophone, harmonica, vocals; Jim Panos, lead guitar; Wes Thompson, drums.
STYLE: Classic rock, folk rock.
INFLUENCES: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC.
RECORDINGS: Welcome to Michigan (2004).
FUTURE HIT SONG: Michigan.
LYRICS: "I was born in Michigan; I hope to die in Michigan; God bless Michigan, my home sweet home."
CONTACT: Call Madill at (269) 623-6225 or send an e-mail to bluewaterrockers@hotmail.com.
ONLINE: www.bluewaterrising.com.
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Mike Madill doesn't just wear his love of Michigan on his sleeve, he drapes himself in it.
Check the title of his solo demo CD, Welcome to Michigan. Check the album art, which features Madill
hitchhiking under a "Welcome to Michigan" sign along U.S. Highway 131, playing guitar on the platform of the Kalamazoo train station, and standing in front of the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron. Check lyrics such as "God bless Michigan."
"I've got ... a lot of national and state pride," said Madill, a Michigan National Guard member who lives in Delton, near Kalamazoo.
The CD's three songs -- This is America, Michigan and My Gal Left Kalamazoo -- are tributes to his country, state and city.
Madill was born in Port Huron and lived here until he was 10 years old. He named his band Blue Water Rockers as a tribute to his hometown.
He finished the CD in March, but members of the band have been playing together since 2002. At its shows, the band mixes original songs with classic rock covers from the '50s and '60s.
My Gal Left Kalamazoo is a swinging rocker inspired by the classic Glen Miller song (I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo. For the recording, Madill had three Western Michigan University music students add trumpet, trombone and saxophone.
"They actually wrote the brass part for that song," he said. "It really put the icing on the cake on that tune."
Family friend Bonnie Wright of St. Clair Township has heard the band perform at weddings.
"He's got quite a nice band and he sings, too," Wright said.
Madill said he always has dreamed of having a Top 10 single. He admits that may be a little far-fetched at this point, but "it's good to chase the dream regardless," he said.
"It's the journey that counts, not the destination," he said. "We're having fun at it, I guess."
Originally published Thursday, July 22, 2004
Contact Bill Chapin at (810) 989-0741 or bchapin@gannett.com.
