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