<p><a href="http://www.mitchryder.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Mitch Ryder </a>is one of the most powerful and uncompromising voices in American rock and soul. </p><p>Born William Levise Jr. in Detroit, Michigan, he came of age in a city buzzing with rhythm and blues, gospel and early rock ’n’ roll. </p><p>That musical melting pot shaped Ryder’s unmistakable vocal style — raw, passionate and emotionally charged — setting him apart from his peers from the very beginning.</p><p>MItch burst onto the international scene in the mid-&#39;60s as frontman of Mitch Ryder &amp; The Detroit Wheels. The band delivered a string of explosive hits including <em>Devil With a Blue Dress On</em>, <em>Jenny Take a Ride!</em>, <em>Sock It to Me, Baby!</em> and <em>Little Latin Lupe Lu</em>. </p><p>These songs captured the grit and urgency of Detroit’s club scene and helped define the sound of American rock at its most visceral. Ryder’s relentless stage presence and full-throttle delivery quickly earned him a reputation as one of the era’s most electrifying performers.</p><p>Despite commercial success, Mitch found himself increasingly at odds with the music industry. By the late &#39;60s, he chose to step away from the mainstream spotlight rather than compromise his musical identity. </p><p>It was a bold decision that cost him chart success but ultimately preserved his artistic integrity. His journey would include personal struggles, creative reinvention and a long period outside the commercial pop machine — a path that shaped the depth and honesty of his later work.</p><p>Over the following decades, Mitch Ryder continued to write, record and perform, quietly building a catalogue rooted in soul, blues, folk and gospel traditions. </p><p>While no longer a fixture on radio playlists, he became a revered figure among musicians and critics. His influence has been acknowledged by artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger, who have cited Mitch&#39;s emotional intensity and fearless vocals as formative inspirations.</p><p>Mitch Ryder’s extraordinary life story is documented in his memoir, <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Devils-Blue-Dresses-Wild-Legend/dp/1935270141" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><em>Devil With a Blue Dress On: From the Mississippi Delta to the Streets of Detroit</em>. </a>The book offers an unfiltered account of fame, addiction, spiritual searching and survival. Praised for its honesty and lack of romanticism, the memoir reveals a man who lived hard, learned deeply and ultimately reclaimed his purpose through music.</p><p>In recent years, Mitch Ryder has experienced a creative resurgence. His latest album, <em>With Love</em>, stands as a powerful statement from an artist still fully engaged with his craft. </p><p>Released in his late seventies, the album blends rock, soul and blues with deeply personal songwriting, addressing themes of love, resilience, faith and reflection. His voice — weathered but unwavering — carries a gravity that only decades of lived experience can provide.</p><p>Today, Mitch Ryder is celebrated as a true American original. He is not simply a hitmaker from the &#39;60s, but a survivor, storyteller and artist who refused to fade quietly. </p><p>Still recording, still performing and still speaking his truth, Mitch Ryder’s legacy continues to grow — proof that authenticity, once earned, never goes out of style.</p><p>Mitch joins us today to share his story.</p>