MANITOBA THE MAN.... Richard "Handsome Dick" Manitoba (aka The Handsomest Man in
Rock n' Roll) (born Richard Blum in The Bronx, New York, January 29, 1954) is an
American musician and radio personality, best known for his 30-year stint as
lead singer of the proto-punk New York City band The Dictators.
Manitoba started out his music career as a roadie for The Dictators. He made his
"official stage debut" with The Dictators at Popeye's Spinach Factory in
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, in 1975. On their first major-label album, The
Dictators Go Girl Crazy! (Epic Records, 1975), he was listed as the "Secret
Weapon". This is because he sang some lead and some background, but was still
considered a "mascot" of the band.
He sang more lead on The Dictators' second
offering, Manifest Destiny, a 1977 release on the Asylum label. On
Bloodbrothers, the third and final Dictators studio recording from the 1970s
(also on Asylum, 1978), Manitoba sang lead on almost all the tunes.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?... Since February 2005, Manitoba has been
occasional lead singer with the MC5 (now called DKT/MC5), a legendary Detroit
pre-punk rock and roll band. Manitoba also has his own show, "The Handsome Dick
Manitoba Radio Program" in Little Steven Van Zandt's Underground Garage, on
Sirius - XM Satellite Radio(Ch. 25 Sirius, Ch. 59 XM), Mon.-Fri., 8pm-12am (ET)
In
November 2007, Manitoba, along with author Amy Wallace, put out The Official
Punk Rock Book of Lists on BackBeat Books, a book company owned by Hal Leonard
Publishing.Mr. Manitoba wrote the liner notes on a series of live cds called:
CBGB OMFUG Masters Series...The Bowery Collection.... released on MVD audio. |
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