received Monday, Feb. 17 from the Saginaw city council on behalf of mayor Floyd Kloc.
The proclamation is in recognition of the band’s contribution to popular music.
(Michael Piwowarski/News Director)
By Michael Piwowarski
SAGINAW – American garage band Question Mark and the Mysterians – stylized as “? and the Mysterians” – received recognition from the Saginaw city council on behalf of mayor Floyd Kloc on Monday, Feb. 17.
This honor comes just two years short of the band’s 60th anniversary.
“I […] hereby urge all citizens of Saginaw to recognize, honor and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of ? and the Mysterians,” Kloc wrote in his proclamation.
The Mysterians were formed in 1962 by a trio of Saginaw and Bay City natives: Larry Borjas, Robert Martinez and Bobby Balderrama. Martinez’s brother Rudy joined in 1964 and took the “Question Mark” stage name.
The Collegiate spoke with Robert Martinez, original drummer for the Mysterians, who attended the meeting with his bandmates. He had no words to express how honored he is to receive the recognition.
“It’s been a struggle, but then […] it’s been satisfying,” says Martinez, looking back on his career as a musician. “I’m really glad I’m still here to keep playing. And we’re still playing.”
The Mysterians were well-known for their electric organ-driven rock ‘n’ roll sound. Their most successful hit song, “96 Tears,” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 1966. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single “Gold” in November of that year.
In 2004, “96 Tears” was featured at #210 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list from 2004.
In 2014, Christopher Shannon, then-mayor of Bay City, declared “96 Tears” as the official rock and roll song of Bay City.
With the band’s national success in the 1960s, The Mysterians have continued to perform and tour across the country since then. However, the band members still call mid-Michigan home, with all but one of them residing in Bay City.
“It’s always nothing like home,” says Martinez. “But I mean, I love travelling, I love seeing new places, different faces.”
Frontman Rudy Martinez, wearing his signature hat and sunglasses, shook hands with the councilmembers before addressing the packed chamber.
“No matter what happens in your life, just rock ‘n’ roll, baby,” Martinez says to the crowd. “You know why? Because we go round and round like the grooves on a 45. You keep on going; not in a straight line, but round and round. And when it’s time for you to go to the other side, somebody’s gonna pick up that handle and you’re on your way to the other side.”
The band also took that opportunity to announce that they would be getting together for a tour with fellow Michigan group Grand Funk Railroad later this year. However, no dates have been announced yet.
