Meet the Band

In 2002 guitarist/alto sax player Ben Mancell had a vision to put together a band of competent musicians that shared in his love for the pure sounds of Motown pop as well as the raw sounds of Stax/Volt records from the mid '60s.

With hard-hitting rhythms accompanied by a powerhouse horn section, and sultry female vocals, The Elevations have captured the essence of a lost Motor city art form. Yes, Detroit is now once again the home of sweet soul music. Inspired by the golden years of the 1960's, The Elevations have influences ranging from the gritty sound of Stax, to the pop sensibility of Motown, to the dance induced rhythms of Northern Soul. This is not your typical “revival” band that is often popularized by aging jazz musicians that are confined to playing obvious cover songs at weddings and casinos. Members of The Elevations come from a punk/garage background helping define the band's energy and attitude; similar to the sound that was captured on so many great soul 45's from the 1960's.

The Elevations was conceived by guitarist/saxophonist Ben Mancell, who found it hard to believe that Detroit did not have an authentic soul band to call its own. After much searching for like-minded musicians, Ben recruited a variety of players who shared his vision and are now making it happen. Members include a who's who of Detroit musicians from former bands, such as Rael Rean, Mondo Mod, Freddy and the Four-Gone Conclusions, and even an esQuire go-go dancer! This collection has proven to put the soul back into Detroit's music scene and once again reclaim the name of the "Sound of Young America"