DETROIT BLUES JAZZ
RJ SPANGLER
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RJ Spangler
drummer
Drummer RJ Spangler has been on the Detroit music scene for many years. In fact, he earned his first Motor City Music Award in 1982 with a band he co-founded called the Sun Messengers. After 15 years as a Messenger, RJ went on to running the band for Detroit blues guitar master Johnnie Bassett. With Johnnie, RJ made his way coast to coast in both the US and Canada as well as many European tours.
His résumé includes blues and R&B gigs with Eddie Kirkland, The Drifters, Earl King, Wanda Rouzan, James "Thunderbird" Davis, Big Jay McNeely, Larry McCray, Francine Reed, Tad Robinson, Shawn Pittman, Sir Mack Rice/the Falcons with Eddie Floyd, Johnny Adams, Bob Schultz, Eddie Bo, Andre Williams, Nathaniel Mayer, Robert Penn, Eddie & Jimmy Burns, Pinetop Perkins, Ron Levy, Shirley King, James Montgomery, Martha & the Vandellas, Catfish Hodge, Hamonica Shah, Mr. Bo, Willie D. Warren, Michael Ray & the Cosmic Krewe, Thornetta Davis, Jos'lyn B, Geno Parks, the Griswald Brothers as well as jazz gigs with James Carter, Faruq Z. Bey, Bill Heid, Leon Thomas, Marcus Belgrave and Roy Brooks.
Today he is a WC Handy nominated drummer, producer of CDs & live events & guiding force behind the Planet D Nonet in addition to leading a very busy organ trio.
RJ is on over 70 nationally available CDs.
Projects / Bands
Planet D Nonet, RJ Spangler Trio...and more
Planet D Nonet (PD9)
The Planet D Nonet is Detroit's award winning swing band founded in 2007 by RJ Spangler and James O’Donnell
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Tbone Paxton/RJ Spangler Septet
Plays the music of Abdullah Ibrahim
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Airey B & and her Blues Troupe
Invoking the spirit of the first ladies of the blues!
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RJ and TBone
Classic blues, swing and world jazz.
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RJ Spangler's Tribute to Louis Jordan
Hit That Jive Jack, Choo-Choo Ch'Boogie and all that fabulous Louis Jordan stuff
View moreGigs/Calendar
2026
- Friday, June 26, Gumbo's, the RJ Spangler Band at Gumbo's in Mt Clemens. New Orleans food and music! Special guest Colton Weatherston on guitar & vocals. https://gumbosmountclemens.com/
- Saturday, June 27, the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Royal Oak Art Fair 1 pm to 3 pm, https://royaloakarts.com/2023-royal-oak-outdoor-art-fair/
- Sunday, June 28, the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Royal Oak Art Fair 1 pm to 3 pm, https://royaloakarts.com/2023-royal-oak-outdoor-art-fair/
- Thursday, July 9, the RJ Spangler Band w/ James O'Donnell at the Grosse Pointe Central Library, brought to you by the Jazz Foundation of America. 6:30pm. Outdoor patio concert. https://grossepointelibrary.org/central-library
- Friday, July 10, the Paxton/Spangler band at the Trenton Jazz Society, 7 to 10pm.
- Sunday, July 12, the Paxton/Spangler Band at a PRIVATE EVENT
- Tuesday, July 14, the Paxton/Spangler Band at a PRIVATE EVENT
- Saturday, July 18, the Paxton/Spangler Band plays an afternoon concert at the Royal Oak Public Library at 2pm. https://www.ropl.org/
- Saturday, July 25, the Paxton Spangler at a PRIVATE EVENT
- Friday, July 31, the Paxton Spangler Band play the music of the South African masters at the Blue Llama in Ann Arbor. https://bluellamaclub.com/
Planet D Nonet
2026
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Sunday, June 28, Planet D Nonet at the Cadieux Cafe, 4 pm. 4300 Cadieux Rd, Detroit MI info@cadieuxcafe.com Use Resy to book your seats: https://resy.com/cities/detroit-mi/venues/cadieux-cafe?date=2026-01-25&seats=2 https://cadieuxcafe.com/
- Saturday, July 11, the Planet D Nonet w/ Camille Price at Shields for the Greater Detroit Jazz Society. 1pm. https://greaterdetroitjazzsociety.com/
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Wednesday, Jul 15, Planet D Nonet is scheduled to perform at 7:00 p.m. as part of the Canteen Concert Series at Camp Dearborn in Milford, MI
- Friday, July 17, Evening Dance Time: 8pm-Midnight Location: Concourse Hall Featuring live music from Planet D Nonet https://www.kissmeinannarbor.com/
- Monday, July 20, the Planet D Nonet will perform at an evening concert at Wahby Park in St Clair Shores at 7 p.m. https://www.scsmi.net/facilities/facility/details/Wahby-Park-9
- Sunday, July 26, Planet D Nonet at the Cadieux Cafe, 4 pm. 4300 Cadieux Rd, Detroit MI use Resy to book your seats: https://resy.com/cities/detroit-mi/venues/cadieux-cafe?date=2026-01-25&seats=2 https://cadieuxcafe.com/
Spangler Jazz & Blues Productions represents: Airey B & her Blues Boys & T-Bone Paxton.
To book the Planet D Nonet contact Amanda Stanger-Read at Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates: glpaaoffice@gmail.com greatlakespaa.org
Store
Recordings are available for purchase in both CD and downloadable formats.
Bands
Also available at:
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jeffdunn.com - Websites for Jazz Artists and more.