Although Nathaniel Mayer only managed one national Top 40 hit ("Village of Love" in the spring of 1962), the young R&B singer maintained a devoted following in his hometown of Detroit through the 1960s, particularly for his later, more aggressive and funk-oriented singles. After decades in retirement, Mayer began playing live in 2002, often backed by young Detroit-area musicians, including members of the Dirtbombs, the Sights, and Outrageous Cherry. His 2004 album I JUST WANT TO BE HELD was followed by 2007's WHY DON'T YOU GIVE IT TO ME?, which also featured the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.