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DETROIT BLUES JAZZ

RJ SPANGLER

cover photo by Chuck Andersen

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RJ Spangler

RJ Spangler

drummer

Drummer RJ Spangler has been on the Detroit music scene for many years. In fact, he earned his first Motor City Music Award in 1982 with a band he co-founded called the Sun Messengers. After 15 years as a Messenger, RJ went on to running the band for Detroit blues guitar master Johnnie Bassett. With Johnnie, RJ made his way coast to coast in both the US and Canada as well as many European tours.

His résumé includes blues and R&B gigs with Eddie Kirkland, The Drifters, Earl King, Wanda Rouzan, James "Thunderbird" Davis, Big Jay McNeely, Larry McCray, Francine Reed, Tad Robinson, Shawn Pittman, Sir Mack Rice/the Falcons with Eddie Floyd, Johnny Adams, Bob Schultz, Eddie Bo, Andre Williams, Nathaniel Mayer, Robert Penn, Eddie & Jimmy Burns, Pinetop Perkins, Ron Levy, Shirley King, James Montgomery, Martha & the Vandellas, Catfish Hodge, Hamonica Shah, Mr. Bo, Willie D. Warren, Michael Ray & the Cosmic Krewe, Thornetta Davis, Jos'lyn B, Geno Parks, the Griswald Brothers as well as jazz gigs with James Carter, Faruq Z. Bey, Bill Heid, Leon Thomas, Marcus Belgrave and Roy Brooks.

Today he is a WC Handy nominated drummer, producer of CDs & live events & guiding force behind the Planet D Nonet in addition to leading a very busy organ trio.

RJ is on over 70 nationally available CDs.

View RJ's Full Discography

Projects / Bands

Planet D Nonet, RJ Spangler Trio...and more

Gigs/Calendar

Untitled Document

2026

  • Friday, January 30, the Paxton/Spangler Band at Gumbo's in Mt Clemens. New Orleans food and music! https://gumbosmountclemens.com/
  • Saturday, January 31, the RJ Spangler Band w/ James O'Donnell at the Salem-South-Lyon District Library, brought to you by the Jazz Foundation of America. 2pm https://ssldl.info/?q=node%2F15
  • Friday, February 13, the Paxton Spangler Band at Totem Books in Flint. https://www.totembooksflint.com/
  • Saturday, February 14, the Paxton Spangler band at the Bay Theater in Sutton's Bay, MI. https://thebaytheatre.com/
  • Monday, Feb 16, The Paxton Spangler Band, Lundi Gras: Celebrating the Day Before Mardi Gras at Albion Malleable Brewing, https://www.albionmalleable.com/
  • Tuesday, Feb 17, RJ Spangler's Deluxe 11 pc Mardi Gras Band at Rochester Mills on FAT TUESDAY! Over 20 years! https://www.beercos.com/
  • Thursday, Feb 19  Two Stones presents the Paxton/Spangler Band in Detroit, Marrow in Eastern Market, first show at 6pm, 2nd set at 8:30pm https://www.marrowinthemarket.com/
  • Saturday, February 21, the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Fed in Clarkston, MI. 6 pm. https://www.thefedcommunity.com/
  • Friday, March 27, the Paxton/Spangler Band at Gumbo's in Mt Clemens. New Orleans food and music! https://gumbosmountclemens.com/
  • Saturday, March 28, the Paxton/Spangler Band at  Marge's Bar in GPP
  • Saturday,  April 4, the Paxton/Spangler Band at Lucille's Jazz Lounge in Toledo, Ohio. https://lucillesjazzlounge.com/
  • Wednesday, April 8, Commerce Twp Library, 7pm - https://commercetwp.com/library
  • Friday, April 10, Paxton/Spangler Band at Bowlero in Royal Oak - https://bowlerodetroit.com/
  • Monday, April 13, Paxton/Spangler Band at Harrison Speakeasy, Harrison Twp. 6pm - http://harrisonsspeakeasy.com/
  • Friday, April 24, the Paxton/Spangler Band at Gumbo's in Mt Clemens. New Orleans food and music! https://gumbosmountclemens.com/

Planet D Nonet

Untitled Document

2026


Spangler Jazz & Blues Productions represents:  Airey B & her Blues Boys & T-Bone Paxton.

To book the Planet D Nonet contact Amanda Stanger-Read at Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates: glpaaoffice@gmail.com greatlakespaa.org

store

Store

Recordings are available for purchase in both CD and downloadable formats.

Record Labels

Find recordings from RJ Spangler at these record labels:
Detroit Music Factory Eastlawn Records

Contact Info

Booking:

RJ Spangler
rjspd9@gmail.com 
rj@rjspangler.com

Social Media:

 

E-mail:

rj@rjspangler.com

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