One Mike Detroit | Detroit MI
Night of Nostalic Soul!
Let me tell you about a night that took me on a nostalgic ride and didn’t let me off until the wee hours! On October 5th, I hit up “The Classic Soul R&B Party” in Detroit, and it was EVERYTHING. Hosted by none other than the smooth voice of R&B history himself, Tyrone DuBose, the event went down at comedian Mike Epps’ spot, “One Mike Detroit,” right in the heart of downtown. Let me just say, when they called it a “party,” they meant it! This shindig lasted from 7:30 PM until 12:30 AM, and honestly, it felt like a soul music time warp I never wanted to leave.
Setting the Vibe: Tyrone DuBose as Host of this event. If you know him, you know he’s the human encyclopedia of R&B, known as the R&B Historian, and the man did not disappoint as the MC for the night. He kept us laughing, learning, and on our toes with music trivia that had every generation in the room nodding along. He knew how to hype us up between sets without missing a beat, keeping the energy sky-high all night.
Kicking the music off: Randy Hall took the stage. I’d never seen him live before, but you better believe I knew his vibe! He opened with “A New Way of Love,” and let me tell you—it’s a whole mood! Randy, dressed in sleek black and red, came out vocally smooth, effortlessly pulling us in. His 2013 track “I’ve Been Watching You” had me feeling some feel-good type of way, too. And let’s not forget the man can shred a guitar like nobody’s business. At one point, he jumped onto a chair mid-solo! Guitar. In the air. Smooth as ever.
Next Up: Raydio Bringing the Hits Then, Raydio hit the stage and had me feeling like I stepped back in time! Okay, so Ray Parker Jr. wasn’t there, but Arnell Carmichael, the remaining original member, and the rest of the crew more than held it down. They ran through all the classics: “A Woman Needs Love,” “You Can’t Change That,” “Jack and Jill,” and yes, they even dropped the Halloween anthem, “Ghostbusters.” Don’t even act like you didn’t sing along—because I sure did. That set had everybody in the crowd vibing like it was 1981 again.
The Headliner: SWITCH (And the Surprise of the Night) If you’ve been keeping up with me, you know this was my third time seeing them this year. But here’s where it gets good: for this show, original member Phil Ingram, who hadn’t been able to perform with them at the other concerts I attended, was there! I knew I was in for a treat, but this was the icing on an already amazing cake. They hit us with all the hits and harmonies that have made them legendary, and the crowd was living for every second. The energy in that room was electric!
No Breaks, Just Vibes. The coolest part? There wasn’t a single real break between sets. It was five hours of non-stop classic music that somehow flew by like it was only two. I was dancing (in my seat…LOL), singing, and soaking in the vibes. And the artists didn’t just disappear after their sets either—I was lucky enough to meet, chat with, and take photos with a few of the artists! That’s when you know it’s a special kind of night. Even after all the travel and the long day leading up to it, I was hyped beyond belief. If you weren’t there, you missed one of the best classic R&B parties of the year!
