Jelly Roll has been together since 1981. Yes.. we are pretty much that same band you saw in Boyne City at the Sportsman. We played there over 20 years... It was a great gig. It was different back then. "Up North" was more rustic. We never moved our equipment and we played Weds-Sat. It was really the only party within 100 miles other than Union Station in Traverse City or Leggs inn..(It was the only party up north when we played there too).
Formally known as the Jelly Roll Blues Band, and more formally the Jelly Roll Morton Memorial Blues Band, Jelly Roll grew organically out of “lively” open mic nights at the City Park Grill (at the time called Park Garden Café) in the late 70’s. Today, we are still playing and celebrated as shaping Northern Michigan’s live music scene.
Maybe you did catch us in the 80’s and 90s when we were the house band at the Sportsman in Boyne City, or at the Snowflake Lounge at Boyne Mountain, or Highlands… or maybe you caught us during the 30 plus years we played Sunday nights out at Legs Inn in Cross Village? ... Let’s not forget Horns Bar during the yacht races on Mackinac! So many gigs we can’t remember.
Currently, original members include Johnny Storm (guitar) and Bob Crosser (bass). Bill Riesenbeck (Drummer) replaced Gram Fineout in the 80’s. So Bill's been with the band going on 30 years... Kenny Mustang replaced Craig Stadtmiller on piano/organ. The newest member is Tony Sasso (singer/congas) who played with Johnny Storm for 7 years in a band prior to Jelly Roll.
Other members during that formidable time in the early 80s include Marty Ward, Newt Cole, and Patty McPeak. After Craig’s retirement, the band performed for 5 years or so as a 3 piece before bringing in Kenny Mustang on Keys (Incidentally, Kenny took piano lessons from Stadtmiller in the 80’s).
