Soul Sauce News

Mr. Levi's MyTFine Soul Sauce featured in Capital City Market Lift Up Local series

Capital City Market – Lift Up Local Series • May 2, 2025

The Complete Origin Story: From Tennessee Pit Master to Detroit Soul Sauce

The most comprehensive profile of Mr. Levi and Soul Sauce published to date. Written by Pamela Patton, this feature documents the complete journey: from grandfather Ottway Clemons’s Tennessee pit master legacy to trunk sales between music sets, from Belle Isle demonstrations to Eastern Market’s communal kitchen, to 90+ retail locations. The piece reveals Mr. Levi’s multiple talents — painter, kalimba player (like Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire), mechanic-turned-sauce-maker — and explains why it’s called “Soul Sauce” instead of barbecue sauce: because it works on morning omelets, fish, shrimp, turkey chili, and meatloaf.

Mr. Levi's MyTFine Soul Sauce on Fox 2 Detroit Cooking School

Fox 2 Detroit – Cooking School • May 23, 2025

Six Dishes, One Sauce: Showcasing Versatility from Sliders to Bloody Marys

Mr. Levi returned to Fox 2 to demonstrate how MyTFine Soul Sauce moves seamlessly across six dishes: Sloppy Soul Sliders, Soul Beans, Pulled Pork Tacos, Beer Can Chicken Breast, Bloody Mary, and salmon with the upcoming dry rub. The segment proved the “everything sauce” positioning — appetizers to entrees to drinks — and teased the dry rub product line launching soon. Mr. Levi also shared his participation in Meijer’s Grow Academy program for emerging brands.

Three generations cook with MyTFine Soul Sauce on WDIV Local 4

WDIV Local 4 – Click On Detroit • July 6, 2024

Three Generations on Set: Family Legacy Behind the Sauce

Vice President T.J. King and her son Brandon joined WDIV to showcase the family legacy behind MyTFine Soul Sauce. The spread included smoked salmon salad, pulled pork tacos, barbecue chicken legs, turkey sliders, soul hummus, habanero cornbread, and a Bloody Mary — all built around the sauce. T.J. emphasized versatility: “It takes everything to a different level” because of the seasoning depth. Brandon, carrying on his great-grandfather Ottway Clemons’s Tennessee pit master recipe, called the soul sliders his favorite.

MyTFine Soul Sauce featured as Detroit Lions tailgate favorite on WDIV Local 4

WDIV Local 4 • January 28, 2024

Lions Playoff Tailgate Essential: From Trunk Sales to Detroit Icon

Perfect timing for Lions playoff season — WDIV featured MyTFine Soul Sauce as a tailgate essential, complete with the American Coney Island “Soul Dog” partnership. The segment showcased wings tossed in mild and habanero, sloppy soul sliders, barbecue chicken Cobb salad, and soul hummus with roasted cauliflower. Levi shared the trunk-to-stores origin story and unexpected uses: chili, spaghetti, soul pizza, meatloaf, even as a steak sauce. The message: throw out the ketchup — this is your new condiment with soul.

Career change sparks creation of MyTFine Soul Sauce - CBS Detroit morning show

CBS Detroit • August 14, 2023

Career Change Sparks Tennessee Family Recipe Turned Detroit Brand

Levi Johnson appeared on CBS Detroit’s morning show to share the origin story behind MyTFine Soul Sauce — born from a career shift, built on his grandfather’s Tennessee pit master recipe. The segment featured live tastings of all three varieties (mild, spicy, habanero) on ribs, meatloaf, and beer can chicken, plus the Bloody Mary recipe that proves this sauce works beyond the grill. The appearance showcased the brand’s growing distribution across Michigan’s independent retailers and major grocery chains.

Levi Johnson - My T Fine Soul Sauce on Under the Radar Michigan

Under the Radar Michigan • January 13, 2022

Renaissance Man: Artist, Musician, and Soul Sauce Creator

UTR Michigan profiles Levi Johnson as a “renaissance man” — accomplished philosopher, musician, artist, writer, and creator of MyTFine Soul Sauce. Filmed at Trenton Theater, the feature showcases Levi’s found-object artwork, live performance with Pearl Handle Necktie, and the Tennessee pit master heritage behind the sauce. Host Tom Daldin calls him “one of the kindest and coolest cats you will ever encounter.”

Levi Johnson Jr. receiving Legacy and Entrepreneurship Award of Excellence at Polo Classic

Beautiful Machine Magazine Polo Classic • August 5, 2021

Legacy and Entrepreneurship Award of Excellence

Levi Johnson Jr. was honored with the Legacy and Entrepreneurship Award of Excellence, presented by Senator Marshall Bullock at the Polo Classic hosted by Beautiful Machine magazine. The award recognized Mr. Levi’s entrepreneurial journey — from Tennessee pit master family tradition to building MyTFine Soul Sauce into a Detroit brand available across Michigan.

Mr. Levi holding all three flavors of MyTFine Soul Sauce outside Capital City Market

Launch Detroit Entrepreneur Marketplace

Featured in Detroit’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

MyTFine Soul Sauce is featured in Launch Detroit’s Entrepreneur Marketplace — a directory connecting Detroit entrepreneurs with resources and visibility. The profile documents the origin story: Levi Johnson Jr. grew up watching his grandfather Ottway Clemons, a Tennessee pit master sought after for his barbecue and special sauce, then added his own tweaks to create something new. No high fructose corn syrup, no preservatives — just natural ingredients that work as shrimp sauce, spaghetti sauce, Bloody Mary mix, meatloaf topping, and more.