Ray Street Park

The story of RSP begins just South of Detroit in 1997. Longtime friends Jeff Howey and Darrell Robertson found themselves in the midst of putting together a new music project and searching for a vocalist with a powerful and distinct voice. At just about the same time, longtime friend Rick Stafford returned to Detroit from several years in California, where he had honed his skills to become just the throat that Jeff and Darrell had in mind. The three had been friends as children, and now found themselves using that common bond as the starting point for something that would eventually become greater than each individual had ever dreamed. Taking on the name of a place in their hometown of Riverview, MI. where they all grew up and played as children, Ray Street Park went on to release their self-titled debut in 1999, which sold more than 5,000 copies. Performing steadily as both an original band and a four set a night cover outfit, the band had grown leaps and bounds by the end of 2001. Emerging from Pete Bankert's infamous Rock City Studios in the winter of 2002 with their sophomore release "Lubricated", Ray Street Park had finally become the mature, emotion-laden, power-packed ball of thunder that the three founding members had envisioned six years before. One change, the addition of bassist Terry Alan Martin, formerly of well-known Detroit band Vinyl, has cemented the outfit as a true force to be reckoned with when you talk about hard music in the Motor City. The band has gone on to again sell over 5,000 copies of the "Lubricated" cd on a completely word-of-mouth basis, shucking cds at a never-ending string of live shows to a constant flow of energetic fans and supporters.

Today, Ray Street Park is charging forward into the future led by vocalist Rick Stafford's masterful stage presence and powerful throat. He is the frontman's frontman, and leads an RSP audience with the same panache as a young David Lee Roth.

Guitarist Jeff Howey is a diverse and talented player with a flair for grinding crunch and incredible command of his sound. On guitar, Jeff can do it all, and as the heart of the RSP sound, he truly gets a chance to.

Veteran Detroit scenester Terry Alan Martin is a rare and unique bassist, borrowing at equal times from Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) and Flea (RHCP) to create a truly unique tone. His fit with the band is exceptional and he is right at home in the clay just above the bedrock of planet RSP.

That bedrock is drummer Darrell "Rockquake" Robertson, a man possessed by the need to punish drum heads and pummel senses with his rhythmic assault. Robertson is an extraordinarily powerful player with an uncanny knack for nuance. He is foundationally strong and, with stunning ease, lays down the deep groove that RSP has become known for.

Confident, mature and ready to take the next step, RSP brings an all-out assault to stages throughout Michigan and the Midwest. Look for the RSP live show to be one of power, conviction, energy and your basic unbridled sonic attack on the senses.

Quoting Doug Podell of Detroit's 101.1 FM WRIF, "These guys are setting the standard for what Detroit rock is all about".