We kick off the next few episodes dedicated to Patti’s extraordinarily talented brother Michael a.k.a. Mickey and Mike. He was the only boy in a family of four sisters, and was wildly creative, wickedly funny, perpetually pesky, and, yes, a child prodigy. By an early age his talents on the piano were noticed by many, including Mischa Kottler who played with the Detroit Symphony and had once been a child prodigy himself. Mickey studied under Kottler while still continuing to play with his dad and sister, Suzi, in their “da di da” band. At one of these shows, Mickey caught the eye of Mrs. Slocum – a high society lady who immediately recognized his talent. Mrs. Slocum suggested that Mickey audition for the Lawrence Welk show, one of the most popular T.V. entertainment shows of the period. Welk wanted to highlight young musicians from around the country in what he called a “Little Band.” Mickey auditioned and was immediately selected. Patti says of her brother, “He was the purist talent in the family,” and that he was “kissed by God” when it came to his playing. Many rock ‘n’ rollers know of Michael Quatro’s legacy as a pianist and concert promoter during the rise of Detroit rock city, and now we take a deep dive into his formative years to see how and where it all got started.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download