Mike Lenaburg
Inducted in 2013
Born in England in 1946, Mike spent 14 years in
Pasadena, CA. Inspired by older musician
friends such as Dewey Terry of Don & Dewey,
young Mike wanted nothing more then to be in the
music business. When his family moved to
Phoenix, AZ in 1960, the industrious youngster
befriended the DJs Sonny Knight and Ray
Ford. From them he learned the business.
In 1962, barely sixteen, Mike recorded The
Newlyweds. He ran promotions, put on live shows,
managed artists, recorded and produced. In
1967 Floyd Ramsey of Audio Recorders hired him
as staff producer. Mike recorded with Joe
Houston, Small Paul (whom he gave his name),
Oklahoma Zeke, Ronnie Whitehead, Soul Blenders,
Michael Liggins., Soulsations, The Exquisites,
The Exotics and more.
In the 70s and 80s Mike worked as DJ in various
clubs and on the road with Ike Turner, Lowell
Folsom and others.
When he returned to Phoenix in 1992, life on the
road had taken its toll and Mike's health was
not as good as it used to be. Mike passed
away on January 15, 2015. Prior to his
death, Mike was in good spirits, working on
reissuing some of his earlier recordings on
European and American labels.
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