The band had a number of top twenty hits in the mid-1960s before lead singer Ryder was enticed away by Bob Crewe with offers of a solo career, after which the group quickly dissolved.

Two of its former members, Jim McCarty and Johnny "Bee" Badanjek, later reunited to establish the nucleus of a new band called The Rockets, after McCarty found some fame with the hard rock outfit Cactus.

After Ryder's solo effort failed, he formed a "spin-off" called The Band Detroit, which had one album with a cult following.

At this time, a young white singer by the name of William Levise, Jr., who was singing at a black soul club called The Village, met a rock & roll group which included McCarty, bassist Earl Elliot, and Badanjek.

After attracting attention from producer Bob Crewe while working as a support act to The Dave Clark Five, the group moved to New York to start recording.

[1] The group's live performances are said to have had an "explosive quality" and their style has been described as "revved up...R&B".

[2] Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels had their first big hit in 1965 with "Jenny Take a Ride",[1] which reached No.

1 on the R&B chart – the first time a self-contained rock group had achieved the latter distinction.

[4] Crewe had originally planned to release the track as a B-side, but changed his mind after seeing the reactions of Brian Jones and Keith Richards, of The Rolling Stones, who were in the Stei-Philips studio in New York City as it was being recorded.

Ryder and the Detroit Wheels followed up with another top twenty hit, "Little Latin Lupe Lu," which peaked at No.

Around this period they also recorded a number of albums, largely composed of reworked R&B classics, along with a smattering of original compositions.

Crewe then persuaded Ryder to quit the group and embark on a solo career.

[1] After Ryder's departure, Badanjek fronted a short-lived band of the same name which recorded several tracks, most notably "Linda Sue Dixon",[5] a song glorifying the illicit hallucinogenic drug LSD,[3] which charted worldwide in 1968.

[3] Detroit's follow-up tour to the album, however, met with little success, after which Ryder departed once again and the band broke up.

The final lineup of the band featured harmonica player and powerhouse singer Rusty Day, who Ryder chose to replace him in 1972, and also featured pre-Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Steve "Crawdaddy" Gaines, guitarist Bill Hodgson of Shadowfax, drummer Ted "T-Mel" Smith of The Spinners, bassist Nathaniel Peterson of Twin Dragons, and keyboardist Terry Emery of the Moxie Band Atlanta.

Steve Gaines died on Skynyrd's plane crash October 20, 1977.

Also killed in the crash were Gaines's older sister Cassie, and Skynyrd founder and lead singer Ronnie VanZant.

Rusty Day was murdered on June 3, 1982, at his home in Longwood, Florida.

Terry Emery joined the Moxie Band Atlanta in 1997, which he's remained in ever since.

In 1972, Badanjek and former Wheels guitarist McCarty reunited to form the nucleus of a new group called The Rockets, which recorded a number of albums through the 1970s and 1980s.

McCarty continues to perform today with his group, Mystery Train.

McCarty also played with Rusty Day, Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice in the group Cactus.

Ruby Baby & Peaches On A Cherry Tree Re-released on the Sundazed Music label, ASIN B000003GX6.

Baby I Need Your Loving/Theme For Mitch (bonus track) Re-released on the Sundazed Music label, ASIN B000003GXU.