Millions of television viewers recognize Ric Mixter as a shipwreck researcher, diving over 100 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, including the Edmund Fitzgerald. Most recently appearing on National Geographic Explorer, Mixter has produced over 30 programs for PBS and the Outdoor Channel, and shared expertise on the History and Discovery Channels. Raising tens of thousands of dollars for Detroit Public Broadcasting during their fundraisers, he has shown that history can be engaging and entertaining in both documentaries and live stage presentations.
Ric’s books include “Tattletale Sounds: The Edmund Fitzgerald Investigations,” “The Wheelsmen” and “Bottled Goodbyes,” the latter telling stories of messages in bottles from Titanic and the Great Lakes. His stories appear in magazines (including Michigan History Magazine) and in radio and TV news programs. Mixter’s YouTube videos have over five million views, covering shipwrecks in four of the Great Lakes and adventures in several foreign lands.
Ric started diving in 1991, and served as SCUBA cameraman on underwater expeditions to the Great Lakes largest shipwrecks, the Edmund Fitzgerald and Carl D. Bradley. He has interviewed dozens of shipwreck survivors over the past 15 years, including two from the 1913 Storm, two from the 1940 Armistice Day Storm and survivors from the largest shipwrecks in lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie.
With over 30 years of stories on historical preservation, Ric was awarded the C. Patrick Labadie Special Acknowledgment Award by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society in 2022, and the 2009 Award for Historic Interpretation by the Association for Great Lakes Maritime Historians. In 2011 he was elected to their board of directors, serving a full ten years before his term ran out. Ric is also a board member for the prestigious Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, which runs one of the most popular shipwreck museums in the country. The Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association elected Ric as their third president, serving two terms. Ric’s unique maritime podcasts feature interviews from survivors and rescuers and can be found at www.shipwreckpodcast.com
Performer Bio:
Shane Nelson is a singer-songwriter from Superior, Wisconsin, whose music blends heartfelt storytelling with versatile guitar work. Influenced early on by the sounds of the pioneers of rock ’n’ roll, Shane’s connection to music began in childhood and has grown into a lifelong pursuit. A staple of the Twin Ports music scene, he’s performed across nearly every local stage, earned recognition through multiple songwriting and band contests, and continues to share songs that reflect both personal history and regional spirit. Whether through fingerstyle playing on the acoustic guitar or full-band arrangements, Shane’s work resonates with authenticity and emotional depth.
