Hi everyone -
It's been interesting reading this board regarding the Dogman of Northwest Michigan, especially for me, since I created it. I work at WTCM radio in Traverse City, Michigan, and wrote the song that started it all back in 1987.
First, let me state that the whole thing began as an April Fools prank. The morning show host and I cooked up the idea in March, and it aired the first time April 1, 1987. The song became very popular, especiallly when we started getting phone calls from listeners who SWORE they had actually seen a dogman. Then in July, a cabin near the town of Luther (in Wexford County) was attacked by an animal, and the only tracks the Department of Natural Resources officers could find were those of a dog. This incident seemed to fulfill the song's prophecy that the creature would return in the seventh year of the decade (not every seven years, as posted here previously). The story was picked up by the Associated Press, appeared in newspapers all over the midwest, USA Today, and received a brief mention on Paul Harvey.
Then we heard from a reporter in Wisconsin (I believe she has posted here as 'lorelady") where similar sightings were taking place. Understand that Elkhorn, Wisconsin, is way outside of WTCM's listening area, which rules out mass hysteria, Suddenly our little joke had become real. Today, it has surpassed being a simple and spooky song, and become part of the local folklore.
I did an updated version of the song in 1997, and in the last 18 years, we've sold close to six thousand copies of "The Legend." The proceeds are all donated to local animal rescue groups; neither I or the station have made a dime from it.
In 2007, we plan to do a final version of the song, and offer it in a collectors edition CD, including a music video, scans of artwork from a contest we had in 1987, as well as many of the newspaper accounts that appeared.
Anyone interested in the subject should definitely read Linda Godfrey's book "The Beast of Bray Road," which details the Wisconsin sightings, has a superb history of werewolves, and includes a chapter on "The Legend." If you have any other questions about the song, feel free to post here, or drop me an e-mail.