RIP: Mack Rice, “Mustang Sally” Songwriter

Detroit soul singer and songwriter Mack Rice passed away at age 82 on Sunday, June 27, 2016, from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease. Rice was most well-known for penning the song “Mustang Sally.” He was the first to release it in 1965 when it charted on the R&B chart at No. 15. Here is a video with Mack Rice talking about where the idea for the song came from and also performing it.

One of the best-known facts about “Mustang Sally,” (Rice talks about it in the video), was that he originally called the song “Mustang Mama.” Aretha Franklin suggested that he change the title to “Mustang Sally” because he kept singing that name. The rest, as they say, is history.

In 1966, the song became forever associated with soul singer Wilson Pickett when his 1966 cover made the Top 10 on the R&B chart and crossed over to the Top 25 on the Pop Chart. Rice and Pickett (who passed away in 2006) were both members of a Detroit group called the Falcons before Pickett went solo and Rice went on to mainly write songs. Rice also wrote the 1971 Staples Singers hit “Respect Yourself.”

For complete coverage, see the Detroit Free Press