Before his high school years, he moved from his birthplace of Clarksdale, Miss. Today, he runs an asphalt business. The years in between are legendary, however. His interest in music was developed by a teacher at Northern High School, on Woodward Avenue in Detroit.

In 1956, Rice became a member of the soul quartet, the Falcons, along with Eddie Floyd, Wilson Pickett and Joe Stubbs. The group recorded the soul classic You're So Fine, among others. Many cognoscenti of Detroit soul music contend that You're So Fine was the first song of the genre.

Rice has been "Sir Mack" ever since. While he continued to perform and record as a solo artist, he became involved with Stax Records of Memphis, Tenn. as a songwriter, producer and arranger in 1969. Through the years, his songs have also been recorded by Ike & Tina Turner, Albert King, Eddie Floyd, Bruce Willis, the Blues Brothers, Buddy Guy and the Commitments.

If Rice is hurting these days, it is in spirit. Royalties from his numerous hits at Stax and asphalt contracts keep the lights turned on. His own Mustang Sally Records label featuring soul singer Cody Black, keeps the fire in his belly.

One release, entitled Singin’ Cody Black, had at least one attention-grabbing number called Viagra Man. You can't say that Sir Mack isn’t up-to-date. Still, he struggles with today's music industry politics to overcome his meteoric past and re-establish his relevance in modern times.

In May, last year, he was invited to perform the original version of Mustang Sally at the Ford World Headquarters Mustang Cruise-in. When first penned, the song was titled “Mustang Mama,” until Aretha Franklin recommended he change the title. "I cannot explain how the music lasted like it's doing," Rice said.

The reason? Likely because the song is as iconic as the car itself.

You can download your own copy (MP3 format) of Sir Mack Rice's six-minute version of Mustang Sally here.