Lee Rogers Craton

Lee Rogers Craton (1942-1990) - Born Rogers Craton, December 15, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, LEE ROGERS known as "The Prince Of Detroit" is one of the founding songwriters, musicians and artists of the new Sound of Detroit in the 1950's and 1960's. Recorded as a member of the Peppermints (aka the Barrons); "Willow Weep For Me" on HOB Records owned by Carmen C. Murphy. Murphy brought in one Michael Anthony Hanks, a young piano player, whose job was to help collect the money from the distributors and the small mom and pop record shop between Detroit and Toledo, Ohio, who later started MAH's Records and D-Town Records with Rogers as the only artist for several years.

Rogers' biggest Billboard hit included "I Want You To Have Everything" in 1965 on D-Town. Other major jukebox hits included "I'm A Practical Guy","Love For A Love","Love Can Really Hurt You Deep","Go Go Girl", to name a few. By the end of 1971, Rogers left Detroit for San Francisco. Rogers’ first hit record came in 1972, with Loadstone Records. “Love Bandit” smashed its way to the top of the R&B charts and stayed there for several months. Loadstone’s recording roster featured only two acts – Lee Rogers and an obscure new group named Sly & the Family Stone who found their way to Columbia Records.

Lee moved on to Hollywood, where he formed a songwriting partnership with Jimmy Holliday. Holliday was already riding high as the co-writer with Jackie DeShannon for her Number #1 hit single “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” (for Imperial Records, owned by Liberty Records, which is owned by EMI-Capitol Records today).

Rogers continued to record but devoted most of his time to promotions. Rogers signed a recording contract with Motown in 1974. By the end of 1976, Rogers wanted to control more of his own destiny, devoting his time in promotion for Frank Slay's Claridge Records, where he pushed the Sugarloaf single "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" to the top of Billboard's charts. Rogers new Hollywood, California company Platinum Sound, SoulNRock Records and then the 1978 revival of D-Town Records included Merrell Fankhauser and Cardella DiMilo among the artists at D-Town Records.