Flint, Michigan – Flint’s musical history lives on the airwaves and in the record bins Pete “Fat Cat” Flanders still keeps stocked. For more than four decades, the East Side native has helped connect his hometown with the music and personalities that shaped its listening habits.
On Friday, that long relationship earned him a Key to the City. Mayor Sheldon Neeley presented his final key to Flanders, honoring a career that stretches from local radio stations to the Musical Memories record store on South Dort Highway.
For Flint listeners, Flanders’ story includes his years entertaining audiences at WAMM and WTAC. His time in the local radio market spans more than 40 years, making broadcasting a central part of his contributions to the community.
But the microphone tells only part of that story. Over the years, Flanders has worked as a DJ, concert performer and business owner, finding several ways to share his interest in music with Flint residents.
His career also brought personal connections with some of music’s best-known names, including James Brown, Jackie Wilson, The Temptations and The MC5. Among those connections was fellow Flint native Peter C. Cavanaugh, whose own broadcasting work included WTAC and WWCK.
Today, Flanders continues that musical work through Musical Memories. The store carries rare vinyl records, cassettes and CDs, giving customers a place to look for recordings across several formats. It also sells the equipment needed to play them.
The business extends beyond record sales. Musical Memories offers CD and DVD duplication and transfer services, adding another dimension to a store built around recorded music and media.
Friday’s presentation recognized those different chapters together: the broadcaster who entertained local listeners, the performer who connected with audiences and the shop owner who continues to share music through his business.
In celebrating Flanders, the city recognized both his decades of contributions and his place in Flint’s history. The honor brought a public thank-you to a hometown career that has moved between the airwaves, the stage and the record store, and continues on South Dort Highway.