March 12, 2004

LANSING – In celebration of Bob Seger’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has proclaimed next Monday, March 15, "Bob Seger Day" in the state of Michigan.

"Bob Seger has established himself as a true American and Michigan classic," said Granholm. "He found his place in history, and it’s well deserved. Seger is the unmistakable voice of Michigan rock & roll and a treasure to our state."

Born in 1945 in Ann Arbor, Bob Seger grew up with a passion for rhythm & blues. He formed his first group, the Decibels, at the age of 16. In 1968, he became a statewide phenomenon with five Top Ten singles in the Detroit market. In 1969, the Bob Seger System recorded Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man, and the album’s title song reached the Top 20 on the national charts.

The late 70s and early 80s ushered in a series of albums that earned both commercial success and critical acclaim, including Night Moves, Stranger in Town, Against the Wind, Nine Tonight, The Distance, and Like a Rock, all of which were certified platinum.

Seger’s musical career has now spanned nearly 40 years, and he has sold close to 50 million albums worldwide. He won a Grammy in 1980 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category and was nominated for a Grammy in 1993 for Best Rock Vocal Performance Male.

He has two new tracks on his Greatest Hits 2 album, the first since 1995. Chevrolet’s use of his song Like a Rock to promote their trucks is one of the longest-running advertising campaigns in history.

Bob Seger will be the 18th Michigan native inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The last Michigan native to be inducted was Del Shannon in 1999.

Seger will be inducted by Kid Rock on Monday, March 15, at the 19th annual induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Other inductees this year include Jackson Browne, the Dells, George Harrison, Prince, Traffic, and ZZ Top. The edited version of the ceremony is scheduled to air on VH-1 on Sunday, March 21, at 8 p.m. EST.