Business & brands · 1804–1870
Oliver Moulton Hydemanufacturer, mayor of DetroitHardware dealer turned maker of scales and steamboat engines who was elected Detroit's mayor three times (1854, 1856 and 1857).DETROIT / A living lexicon / ¼
Famous Detroiters
People who were born here, moved here or built their careers in Detroit: musicians, carmakers, athletes, writers, inventors, civil-rights leaders and a few notorious names. With their dates, their Detroit story and the places where they lived, worked and played, closed ones included.
- 1,949 famous people
- 516 Detroit places
- 22 fields
Hungarian ties 31 Detroiters with Hungarian ties →
Origin and citizenship
Field
Connection
Born in
A–Z (family name)
1747 people · 32/37 page
Clear filtersBusiness & brands · 1804–1870Oliver Moulton Hydemanufacturer, mayor of DetroitHardware dealer turned maker of scales and steamboat engines who was elected Detroit's mayor three times (1854, 1856 and 1857).Bobo Jenkinsblues guitarist, singer, songwriter, label ownerAlabama-born bluesman who worked 27 years at Chrysler, recorded "Democrat Blues" for Chess, ran his own Detroit label and launched the first Detroit Blues Festival.James Jewellradio director, producer, actorCorktown-raised WXYZ dramatic director who helped shape The Lone Ranger, chose its William Tell Overture theme and gave Tonto the word 'kemo sabe'.Lawrence Josephpoet, essayist, lawyer, law professorDetroit-born Lebanese-Syrian American poet and law professor whose poems about work, violence, law and money often return to the Detroit of his youth.Louis KamperarchitectGerman-born architect who remade Washington Boulevard for the Book brothers, designing the Book Tower, the Book-Cadillac Hotel and the Broderick Tower.
Politics · 1786–1859Jonathan Kearsleyarmy officer, federal land official, mayor of DetroitWar of 1812 veteran who lost a leg at Chippawa, came to Detroit in 1819 as the federal receiver of public money and was twice mayor (1826 and 1829).
Music · born 1944Betty KellysingerFormer Velvelette who replaced Annette Beard in Martha and the Vandellas in 1964 and sang in the lineup behind "Nowhere to Run" and "I'm Ready for Love".
Sports · born 1955Hilmer Kentyboxer, WBA lightweight championThe Kronk Gym's first world champion, who won the WBA lightweight title at Joe Louis Arena in 1980, Detroit's first world champion since Joe Louis.
Music · born 1948Bill Kirchenguitarist, singer, songwriterAnn Arbor–raised guitarist of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, whose twangy solo on “Hot Rod Lincoln” earned him the title “Titan of the Telecaster.”Semon Knudsenautomotive executive, head of Pontiac and Chevrolet, president of FordSon of GM president William Knudsen who turned stodgy Pontiac into a performance brand, ran Chevrolet, then had a stormy 19 months as Ford's president.Charlie LeDuffjournalist, author, TV reporter, podcasterPulitzer-winning reporter raised in Westland who came home to cover Detroit's collapse for The Detroit News and Fox 2, and wrote Detroit: An American Autopsy.
Politics · 1812–1880Henry Ledyarddiplomat, businessman, mayor of DetroitLewis Cass's son-in-law and diplomatic aide who managed Cass's Detroit property, promoted Elmwood Cemetery and Michigan's first plank road, and was mayor in 1855.Hughie Lee-Smithpainter, teacherAfrican American painter of haunting, surreal cityscapes who built his career in Detroit in the 1940s and 1950s and won top prizes at the DIA.
Law · 1897–1970Theodore Levinimmigration lawyer, federal judgeDetroit immigration lawyer and Jewish community leader who served as a federal judge (1946–1970) and whose name is on Detroit's federal courthouse; uncle of Carl and Sander Levin.
Politics · 1780–1854Andrew Macksea captain, customs collector, newspaper owner, mayor of DetroitGlobe-circling sailor and Ohio businessman who became Detroit's customs collector, co-owned the early Free Press and was elected mayor in a special election in 1834.
Politics · 1925–2006Maryann Mahaffeysocial work professor, city council presidentWayne State social work professor and democratic socialist who served on the Detroit City Council for 32 years (1974–2005), twice as its president, championing women's rights and the poor.
Politics · 1888–1928Joseph A. Martinpublic works commissioner, acting mayor of DetroitDetroit's commissioner of public works who served as acting mayor for two months in 1924 after Frank Doremus resigned, then lost the 1924 mayoral race.Johnnie Mae Matthewssinger, songwriter, producer, label owner"Godmother of Detroit Soul", the first African American woman to own and run a record label, whose Northern Recording Company launched the Distants and Bettye LaVette.Edward H. McNamaramayor of Livonia, Wayne County executiveLivonia mayor turned Wayne County executive (1987–2002) who mentored a generation of Detroit-area Democrats and built the airport terminal that bears his name.Ron Milnerplaywright, theatre directorDetroit playwright of the Black Arts Movement, raised on Hastings Street in Black Bottom, co-founder of Concept East Theatre and author of What the Wine-Sellers Buy and Checkmates.The Electrifying Mojoradio DJ and broadcasterGenre-blind Detroit radio DJ whose late-night shows mixed Prince, Parliament and Kraftwerk and inspired the young inventors of Detroit techno.
Literature · born 1971Jessica Care moorepoet, performer, playwright, publisherDetroit poet and performer who won Showtime at the Apollo five times, founded Moore Black Press and Black Women Rock!, and lives and works in downtown Detroit.
MusicTadd Mullinixelectronic producerAnn Arbor producer who made Ghostly International's first album and, as Dabrye, fused instrumental hip-hop with electronics, recording with J Dilla and Phat Kat.
Sports · 1871–1935Frank Navinpresident and owner of the Detroit TigersInsurance bookkeeper who became the Tigers' president for 27 years, signed Ty Cobb and built Navin Field at Michigan and Trumbull.
Music · born 1953Wally Palmarsinger, guitarist, songwriterHamtramck-born son of Ukrainian immigrants who founded and fronts the Romantics, the Detroit band behind “What I Like About You” and “Talking in Your Sleep.”Elizabeth Parcellscoloratura soprano, voice teacherDetroit-born coloratura soprano who built a twenty-year career in German and Swiss opera houses, sang with Michigan Opera Theatre and came home to teach.
Press & broadcasting · 1916–1974Van PatricksportscasterPlay-by-play voice of the Detroit Lions and Tigers in the 1950s and 1960s and a fixture of Detroit sports television.
Science & invention · 1797–1872Zina Pitcherphysician, botanist, mayor of DetroitArmy surgeon and botanist who settled in Detroit, served twice as mayor (1840–1841 and 1843), helped build the University of Michigan and presided over the American Medical Association.William Pottspolice officer, inventorDetroit police officer credited with inventing the modern three-color traffic light, first installed on Woodward Avenue in 1920.Johnny Powersrockabilly singer, guitarist, songwriter, producerDetroit rockabilly singer of “Long Blond Hair” who got his stage name at Fortune Records and became the first white male artist signed by Motown.
Law · 1858–1933Horace Rackhamlawyer, original Ford Motor Company shareholder, philanthropistDetroit lawyer who drew up Ford Motor Company's incorporation papers, bought 50 shares against his banker's advice, and gave his fortune to the zoo, a golf course and education.
Politics · 1882–1952Richard Readingcity clerk, mayor of DetroitLongtime Detroit city clerk and former semi-pro wrestler who was mayor in 1938–1940 and was later imprisoned for taking bribes to protect the numbers rackets.Boogie Woogie Redblues and boogie-woogie pianist, singerDetroit-raised boogie-woogie pianist who backed John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson as a teenager and later became a star of Ann Arbor's Blind Pig.
Music · born 1948Lois ReevessingerMartha Reeves's younger sister, who joined Martha and the Vandellas in 1967 and still lives and performs in Detroit.
Music · born 1975Karriem Rigginsjazz drummer, record producer, DJDetroit drummer and producer who went from Betty Carter's and Ray Brown's bands to producing hip-hop with J Dilla and Common, bridging Detroit jazz and beat culture.
Sports · 1910–1961Schoolboy Rowebaseball pitcherFolksy Arkansas right-hander who won 16 straight games for the 1934 Tigers and became one of Depression-era Detroit's favorite players.
Ruth Adler Schneetextile and interior designerGerman-born textile designer who fled the Nazis as a girl, studied at Cass Tech and Cranbrook, and brought post-war modernism to Detroit homes and offices.Harmonica Shahblues harmonica player, singerOakland-born harmonica player who moved to Detroit in 1967, worked at Ford and drove a cab, and became a leading voice of later Detroit blues.Leni Sinclairphotographer, activistGerman-born photographer who documented Detroit's jazz and rock underground from the 1960s, co-founded the Detroit Artists Workshop and the White Panther Party, and still lives in Detroit.
Sports · 1915–1977Mayo Smithbaseball managerManager of the 1968 world champion Tigers, remembered for his daring World Series move of center fielder Mickey Stanley to shortstop.Gilda Snowdenpainter, educatorDetroit abstract painter and beloved College for Creative Studies professor whose work drew on the city's streets, gardens and family history.Turkey Stearnesbaseball player, center fielderHall of Fame slugger of the Negro-league Detroit Stars who made Detroit his home for more than fifty years; Hamtramck Stadium's field bears his name.DJ StingrayDJ, electronic producerDetroit electro DJ and Urban Tribe founder who toured as Drexciya's masked DJ and became known for ultra-fast, futuristic sets.
Music · 1981–2022Trevor Strnadsinger, lyricistFrontman of the Black Dahlia Murder, the melodic death metal band from Waterford near Pontiac that became one of the most popular American extreme metal acts of the 2000s.Yale Stromviolinist, composer, filmmaker, writerDetroit-born violinist and klezmer revivalist whose field research among Jewish and Romani musicians in Eastern Europe since 1981 shaped the modern klezmer repertoire.
Architecture & design · 1905–1979Pipsan Saarinen Swansoninterior, textile and industrial designerFinnish-American designer, daughter of Eliel Saarinen, who spent her working life at Cranbrook and in Bloomfield Hills designing interiors, textiles and furniture.
Politics · 1860–1941William Barlum Thompsonmeat merchant, city treasurer, mayor of Detroit, developerDetroit-born meat merchant and longtime city treasurer who was twice mayor (1907–1908 and 1911–1912) and later co-developed the Barlum Tower on Cadillac Square.
Politics · 1842–1904William G. Thompsonlawyer, Union officer, mayor of Detroit, baseball club founderCivil War veteran and lawyer who was mayor of Detroit from 1880 to 1883 and founded the Detroit Wolverines, the city's first major-league baseball team, in 1881.The lexicon keeps growing. Every entry lists its sources at the bottom. Dates were checked against Wikidata and Wikipedia. The texts are our own. Famous people's places among the sights ↗