New book “Handsome Victory” spotlights Detroit rockabilly

Ladies and gents, here ’tis, a blazing new read on Detroit music history: “Handsome Victory,” by Craig “Bones” Maki, featuring the rockabilly hit “I’m Gone.” Perfect for record hunting trips, or reading at the beach, this little pocketbook fits perfectly in the back pocket of your dungarees!

We begin with the story (a “remix,” and “extended take,” as some say in the music biz) of one of the least-known rockabilly 45s ever made in Detroit: Vic Gallon’s “I’m Gone.” Legendary guitarist Dennis Coffey — then known as “The Rock’n’Roll Kid,” who achieved his own No. 6 pop hit with the instrumental “Scorpio” in 1971 — said it was the first record he ever played on.

Here’s newly uncovered details about the studio where the record was made, and other artists who recorded there; rock’n’roll on Detroit radio in the 1950s; a survey of the waning years of Starday-King Records of Nashville; the early years of California country rock; surprising cameos by musicians who called Michigan home; and of course: what the heck happened to Vic Gallon! The book includes illustrations, scans of record labels, discographies, bibliography, index (a marvel of references), and suggested listening, including a playlist to go with the book, now available on YouTube here!

From the back cover:

Detroit, Michigan – 1957: A gifted young man’s basement recording studio, in a house on a quiet block in a northwest neighborhood, serves as ground zero for one of the most exciting — and elusive — rockabilly records ever made. With cool bearing, rock’n’roll singer Vic Gallon helps set teen-aged guitarist Dennis Coffey — a future member of the Motown Records “Funk Brothers” studio band — on a path toward greatness … and then disappears.

The story ends there, until you pick up this book!

How to get a-hold of your own copy of “Handsome Victory”

Thanks, and have a ball, everybody! — Craig Maki