MIKE GRANT

Mike Grant is a true Detroit dance music originator. From his beginnings as a DJ in the early 80s, Mike has been a part of many classic institutions while still managing to walk a unique path. Whether it was one of the first DJs to have their mixes played for dancers on TV (WGPR's The Scene), the first American DJ to secure a residency at the world-famous Tresor Club in Berlin, one of Detroit's first radio mix show DJs as part of the "Street Beat" crew or included in the Detroit Historical Museum's exhibit "Techno: Detroit's Gift to the World," the diversity and quality of his sounds allow him to stand out.

As founder of the legendary Moods & Grooves record label, Mike has released music from some of the biggest and best names in deep house while also breaking fresh young artists into the scene. Mike's music productions run the gamut of styles, making classic techno for Metroplex and his End-to-End label under the Black Noise moniker, and soulful deep house under his name. He also started the Cool Peepl project as a way for him to try his hand at orchestrating jam sessions between new and established Detroit musicians to create a more organic vibe. The results so far include a jazzy cover of the Detroit classic "Sharevari" and his original funky broken beat production "Free," with more to come.

Mike perfected his DJ skills in some of Detroit's significant club venues/events: The Downstairs Pub, Studio 54, Music Institute, L'uomo, Cheeks, Motor Lounge, and the inaugural Detroit Electronic Music Festival. But in 1985, he committed to join the Army, unaware of the doors that would eventually open. While in the military, Mike continued to DJ on the base and in Seattle, where he introduced the sounds of Detroit techno to the unsuspecting West Coast, garnering a well-earned new audience. He wanted to stay involved in music and did promotional work for Metroplex Records. Mike gave the record "Technicolor" to an associate of Sir Mix-a-Lot who sampled it for the huge hit "Baby Got Back." Additionally, Grant applied his technical talents in managing the Kandahar Gospel ministry while deployed for a year to Afghanistan, earning the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

While his work could easily take up a lifetime, Mike accomplished much while dedicating a large part of the 1980s and 90s to military service. Mike Grant's dedication to the art form and self-discipline has created quite a legacy, and he continues to push forward to keep enriching that legacy.