28 | JANUARY 2 • 2020

B

efore Marshall Mandell
built a career in real
estate brokerage, he
established himself as a musi-
cian.
Between being raised in
Southfield and raising his own
children in Farmington Hills,
Mandell played drums and
other instruments profession-
ally in California. He appeared
with headlining groups such
as Red Hot Chili Peppers and
Los Lobos, joined studio musi-
cians for projects produced by
Motown Records and added
to the sounds of symphony
orchestras and film scores.
Now, semi-retired and divid-
ing his time between Michigan
and Florida, Mandell is tapping
into composing and instrumen-
tal skills by applying them to an
original rock opera. Working
with fellow composer and key-
boardist Mark Will, Mandell
has assembled musicians and
singers for a just-released
recording.
The work, 96, available on
the web and through CDs, tells
the story of the Hillsborough

Stadium disaster in England.
Massive rushing through the
gates of a soccer game (English
football) crushed 96 people to
death in 1989, and the con-
troversy surrounding fault has
continued in the courts through
this year.
“One day, about two years
ago, while watching ESPN, I
came across a documentary
about Hillsborough and found
it fascinating,
” recalls Mandell,
who throughout his real estate
career kept up with musical
interests by playing acoustic and
electronic instruments in his
home studio.
“I thought about coming
up with a song related to that
because I’
ve always come up
with songs to reflect my feel-
ings. I worked on the song and
played it for my British in-laws
because I wanted it to sound as
if it had the cultural tone of the
people involved.
“My in-laws approved of
what was to become the title
track, the description of that
fateful day.
”
Development of the 27

Arts&Life

music

Homegrown
Composer

Local musician and friend create a rock
opera depicting a true soccer tragedy.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

TOP: Mark Will and Marshall Mandell make up the
duo Good To Mention. ABOVE: Will and Mandell
perform in a Seattle studio while taping their first
video, “This is Christmas.”

PHOTOS BY ANTHONY EVANS