“I learned how to stagehand, stage manage, do lights, sound…everything but costumes,” says Rollin, who was part of the Torch With a Twist Vaudeville Revue as well as the stage musicals “The Daedalus 2 Mission: A Space Opera” and “Yes Weed Can: The Musical,” as well as in the feature film “The Denny Dooley Story.” He is quite a catch in terms of what the band needed…It’s almost like God put him there for us.” I’m amazed we were able to find him in our backyard. Rollo is quite a package if you consider the fact he has to be a strong sax player and a strong flute player, he has to have good vocal ability and he has to be able to front a major rock band. “Something like this would normally require a national search, but here was Rollo, sitting right there in Commerce Township. “When times were rough, Gil knew how to grab the bull by the horns and keep the band going. “When Gil left us, there were a lot of shoes that needed to be filled,” says Mike Bruner, Rare Earth’s keyboardist since 1998 and now the band’s manager, noting Bridges’ combination of talent and “astute” business sensibility. Bridges died from COVID during late 2021. Rollin has the formidable task of stepping into the shoes of the late Gil Bridges, who co-founded Rare Earth - the most successful all-white band in Motown history - during 1960 as the Sunliners, becoming Rare Earth in 1968. It’s one of the greatest, craziest, best, hardest things I’ve done in my life.” For the past year, Commerce Township native and resident Rollo Michael Rollin has been living “a dream” as the new singer and saxophonist for Rare Earth. “Being part of a historical band that’s still playing is so incredible. He’ll be making his public debut on July 8 at Detroit’s Majestic Theater, Rare Earth’s first downtown Detroit show in nearly 20 years. “I don’t even know how to describe how this feels - I’m still pinching myself,” Rollin - at 47 the youngest member of the current Rare Earth lineup - says. But for the past year the Commerce Township native and resident has been living “a dream” as the new singer and saxophonist in Rare Earth, the groundbreaking Motown band known for its early 70s hit “I Just Want to Celebrate” and “Hey Big Brother,” as well as its Top 10 covers of the Temptations’ “Get Ready” and “(I Know) I’m Losing You.” Rollo Michael Rollin has established himself in the Detroit metro are as an actor and musician, as well as the Detroit Lions superfan known as the Reverend of Roar. As the song says, get ready ’cause here he comes…

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