Legendary Concert Promoter Russ Gibb Dies

Gibb is best known as the founder of the Grande Ballroom, which was the epicenter of Detroit’s counterculture music scene in the 60s.

Click the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

Detroiters are mourning the passing of Russ Gibb.

Gibb is best known as the founder of the Grande Ballroom, which was the epicenter of Detroit’s counterculture music scene in the 60s.

He’s also credited with starting the ‘Paul is Dead’ rumor that perpetuates the false death of the Beatles’ Paul McCartney in 1966.

Gibb was also a beloved teacher at Dearborn High School.

WDET’s Amanda LeClaire spoke with poet and author M.L. Liebler about how a uniquely visionary person like Russ Gibb could only have come from Detroit. 

Click on the audio player above to hear the conversation and listen to CultureShift weekdays at noon on 101.9 WDET Detroit’s NPR Station. 

 

Author

  • Amanda LeClaire is an award-winning host and producer of CultureShift on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. She’s a founding producer of WDET’s flagship news talk show Detroit Today, and a former host/reporter for Arizona Public Media. Amanda is also an artist, certified intuitive and energy healer, and professional tarot reader.