Nathaniel Mayer

Nathaniel Mayer (February 10, 1944 – November 1, 2008)

Career Mayer started his career at Fortune Records, a Detroit record label owned by Jack and Devora Brown. There he became label-mates with fellow Fortune stars Nolan Strong and Andre Williams. Mayer would stay with the label for six years, recording a handful of records.

When Mayer was 18 years old he scored a Top 40 hit record in 1962 with "Village of Love," credited to Nathaniel Mayer and The Fabulous Twilights.

Post Fortune Records After Mayer's Fortune Records days, his whereabouts were practically unknown and only ever confirmed by rumors for several decades. Though he did surface in 1980 to record the "Raise the Curtain High" single. It would be the only release from Mayer between 1966 and 2002. Disappearing into the ghettos of East Detroit for the next two decades, rumors abounded. However, after Norton Records released "I Don't Want No Bald-Headed Woman Telling Me What to Do" in 2002 (a never before released recording from 1968), Mayer was inspired to record and perform again.

Mayer staged a full-fledged musical comeback in 2002. His once-sweet soul scream had deepened to a rasping growl, giving his latter albums a whole new feel. He played clubs and festivals, gaining a new generation of fans with his exciting live shows.

Mayer's last sessions were released across two albums, 2007's Why Don't You Give It To Me? and 2009's Why Won't You Let Me Black?, both on Alive Records and featuring Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Matthew Smith of Outrageous Cherry, Troy Gregory of The Dirtbombs, and Dave Shettler of SSM and The Sights. Why Don't You Give It To Me? was Julian Cope's Album of the Month on his Head Heritage site in May 2008. While "Leave Me Alone" was covered by The Hard Feelings in 2001. Eve Monsees, The Exiles and the Gibson Brothers have all recorded "I Had A Dream."

In 2014, Nathaniel Mayer was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.

Death Within a year after completing his first European tour, Mayer suffered multiple strokes. After months of hospitalization, Nathaniel Mayer died on November 1, 2008, in Detroit, Michigan. In 2017 the Killer Blues Headstone Project placed the headstone for Nathaniel Mayer at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.

Discography Albums Going Back To...The Village of Love (1963, Fortune Records; CD is a 1996 compilation with 11 bonus tracks, Gold Dust Records, Italian bootleg import) I Want Love and Affection (Not the House of Correction) (1966, Fortune; re-released on Vampi Soul in 2011) I Just Want to Be Held (2004, Fat Possum Records) Anthology: I Want Love and Affection [2xLP / CD digipack] (2006, Vampi Soul) Why Don't You Give It To Me? (2007, Alive-Naturalsound Records) Why Won't You Let Me Be Black? (2009, Alive-Naturalsound Records)

Singles "My Last Dance With You" / "My Little Darling" (1961) Fortune 542 "Village of Love" / "I Want a Woman" (1962) Fortune 545; United Artists 449 "Hurting Love" / "Leave Me Alone" (1962) Fortune 547; United Artists 487 "Mr. Santa Claus (Bring Me My Baby)" / "Well, I've Got News (For You)" (1962) Fortune 550 "Well, I've Got News (For You)" / "Work It Out" (1963) Fortune 550 "I Had a Dream" / "I'm Not Gonna Cry" (1963) Fortune 554 "Going Back To The Village of Love" / "My Last Dance With You" [re-make] (1964) Fortune 557 "A Place I Know" / "Don't Come Back" (1964) Fortune 562 "I Want Love and Affection (Not the House of Correction)" / "From Now On" (1966) Fortune 567 "Raise the Curtain High" / "Super Boogie" (1980) Love Dog 101 "I Don't Want No Bald Headed Woman Telling Me What To Do" / "I Don't Want No Bald Headed Woman Telling Me What To Do" (instrumental) (2002; recorded 1968) Norton 107 "Ride In My 225" / "Mister Santa Claus" [live] (2005) Norton 126 "I Found Out" (2006) Stardumb Records