Washboard Willieblues washboard player, singer, bandleaderWashboard specialist who led the Super Suds of Rhythm in Detroit bars for three decades and toured Europe with fellow bluesmen in 1973.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 · 35/37 page
Clear filtersWashboard Willieblues washboard player, singer, bandleaderWashboard specialist who led the Super Suds of Rhythm in Detroit bars for three decades and toured Europe with fellow bluesmen in 1973.
Auto industry · 1878–1940C. Harold Willsengineer and metallurgist, chief contributor to the Model T, founder of Wills Sainte ClaireDetroit-raised toolmaker who was Henry Ford's first key engineer, shaped the Model T and its vanadium steel, and later built the Wills Sainte Claire car.Lyman Woodardjazz organist, bandleaderDetroit-based Hammond organist, Martha and the Vandellas' musical director, whose Lyman Woodard Organization made the 1975 jazz-funk cult album Saturday Night Special.Shirley Woodsonpainter, art educatorDetroit painter and teacher whose vivid figurative work on African American history spans six decades; named Kresge Eminent Artist in 2021.Kym Worthyprosecutor, judgeWayne County prosecutor since 2004, the first Black woman county prosecutor in Michigan, who charged Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in 2008 and led the testing of 11,000 abandoned Detroit rape kits.Richard "Popcorn" Wyliepianist, bandleader, songwriter, producerDetroit pianist whose high-school band Popcorn and the Mohawks fed Motown's studio, who played on "Shop Around" and later produced northern soul classics.Charles Gilchrist AdamsBaptist pastor and preacherDetroit-born preacher who led Hartford Memorial Baptist Church for 50 years (1969–2019) and later taught at Harvard Divinity School.Barney Alesrecord executiveDetroit-born son of a Sicilian barber who, as Motown's sales and promotion chief, got its records onto pop radio; later Motown's president.Johnny “Bee” Badanjekdrummer, singer, songwriter, painterDetroit drummer whose break on Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels' “Devil with a Blue Dress On” is legendary, later co-founder of the Rockets and a drummer on Alice Cooper's Detroit Stories.Harry Balkrecord producer, A&R executive, label founderDetroit-born producer who discovered Little Willie John and Rodriguez, co-produced Del Shannon's “Runaway,” and created Motown's rock label Rare Earth.Mark Bassrecord producer, label ownerDetroit producer who discovered Eminem on local radio in 1992, invited him into the studio and, with brother Jeff, released his first album.
Politics
Bill Bazzipolitician, engineer, diplomatLebanese-born Marine veteran and Ford engineer who became mayor of Dearborn Heights in 2021 and was later appointed US ambassador to Tunisia.Bernard Besmanrecord producer, distributor, bandleaderDetroit record distributor who founded Sensation Records and in 1948 produced John Lee Hooker's first session, which yielded "Boogie Chillen'".
Music · born 1937Joe BillingsleasingerHamtramck-born founder of the Contours, whose "Do You Love Me" (1962) was the Gordy label's first million seller.George Blahasports broadcasterDetroit-born play-by-play voice of the Detroit Pistons since 1976, the longest-serving broadcaster in the team's history.Gil Bridgessaxophonist, flutist, singerDetroit-born founder of Rare Earth, the first all-white band signed to Motown, whose 1970 version of "Get Ready" reached No. 4 on the Hot 100.Jerry Buckleyradio commentatorCorktown-born radio commentator who crusaded against crime and corruption and was shot dead in the LaSalle Hotel lobby hours after Detroit recalled its mayor in 1930.
Business & brands · 1810–1894Christian H. Buhlindustrialist, banker, mayor of DetroitHatter and fur trader who became one of Detroit's leading industrialists and bankers and served as mayor at the outbreak of the Civil War (1860–1861).
Business & brands · 1806–1890Frederick Buhlfurrier, businessman, mayor of DetroitHatter-turned-fur-trader who with his brother Christian built one of Detroit's great fortunes and served as mayor in 1848.
Business & brands · 1855–1937Hamilton Carharttclothing manufacturer, founder of CarharttFounder of the workwear brand Carhartt, started in Detroit in 1889 to make tough overalls for railroad workers.
Business & brands · 1842–1923Marvin H. Chamberlainliquor and tobacco merchant, inventor, mayor of DetroitMichigan-born schoolteacher turned liquor and tobacco merchant, council president and Democratic mayor (1886–1887), who later ran Detroit's garbage-reduction plant.
Civil rights & activism · 1938–1989Kenneth Cockrel Sr.radical lawyer, community organizer, city councilmanMarxist lawyer and co-founder of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers who won landmark courtroom battles for poor Detroiters and sat on the City Council (1978–1982).Sheila Cockrelactivist, city councilwoman, consultantRadical organizer, widow of Ken Cockrel Sr. and stepmother of Ken Cockrel Jr., who served on the Detroit City Council for fifteen years (1994–2009).Ken Collierclub DJBlack, gay Detroit DJ who bridged Motown-era soul and disco with house and techno and mentored a generation from the decks of Todd's and Club Heaven.Nikki CorvettesingerDetroit punk and power-pop singer who fronted Nikki and the Corvettes from 1977 to 1981, a rare woman leading a rock band in the city's first punk wave.Mort Crimtelevision news anchor, author, commentatorLongtime anchor of WDIV Channel 4 news (1978–1997), radio commentator and the voice that opens the White Stripes' Little Acorns.William T. CunninghamCatholic priest, co-founder of Focus: HOPEDetroit priest who, after the 1967 uprising, co-founded Focus: HOPE with Eleanor Josaitis to fight racism and poverty through food aid and job training.George DeBaptisteUnderground Railroad conductor, entrepreneurBarber, caterer and steamboat owner who led Detroit's Underground Railroad from 1846, ferrying freedom seekers across the river to Canada.Warren Defevermusician, producer, mastering engineerLivonia-born leader of the shape-shifting band His Name Is Alive, a 4AD act recorded in his parents' basement, who now masters records at Third Man Records in Detroit.Brazeal Dennardchoral director, singer, arranger, educatorDetroit choral director and music educator who founded the Brazeal Dennard Chorale in 1972 and carried the African American spiritual onto the concert stage.Terrence Dixontechno producer, DJReclusive Detroit minimal-techno producer, also known as Population One, whose stark, groove-based records appeared on Tresor and Metroplex.Forest Dewey DodrillsurgeonHarper Hospital surgeon who in 1952 performed the first successful open-heart operation using a mechanical heart pump, built with General Motors engineers.
Politics · 1813–1855James A. Van Dykelawyer, fire chief, mayor of DetroitEloquent Whig lawyer and fire-department president who was Detroit's 21st mayor (1847) and later the Michigan Central Railroad's attorney.
City history · 1786–1866Lisette Denison Forthformerly enslaved landowner and philanthropistBorn enslaved near Detroit, she won her freedom, became one of the region's first Black property owners and left her savings to build a church on Grosse Ile.James Frazierconductor, composerDetroit-born conductor, the son of a city sanitation worker, who won Italy's Cantelli Award in 1969 and composed a King Requiem premiered in Detroit.Charlie Gabrieljazz saxophonist, clarinetistNew Orleans-born reed player who built his career in Detroit, playing with Lionel Hampton and Aretha Franklin, before returning home to lead the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.Russ Gibbconcert promoter, disc jockey, teacherDearborn schoolteacher and DJ who opened the Grande Ballroom in 1966, turning a faded dance hall into the Midwest's most important rock stage.Johnny Gingertelevision host, comedianToledo-born comic who, as Johnny Ginger, hosted WXYZ's Curtain Time Theater (1957–1960) and helped create Detroit's golden age of children's television.
Business & brands · 1834–1894Stephen Benedict Grummondshipowner, marine industrialist, mayor of DetroitSt. Clair River sailor who built a Great Lakes shipping empire from Detroit, including the largest tug and wrecking business on the lakes, and was mayor in 1884–1885.David Hackneyguitarist, songwriterGuitarist and visionary of Death, the east side Detroit trio of brothers now hailed as one of the first punk bands, and the first all-Black one.francine j. harrispoetDetroit-born poet whose Here Is the Sweet Hand won the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award and whose debut, allegiance, came out from Wayne State University Press.Erma Hendersoncivil rights activist, city council presidentBlack Bottom-raised social worker and civil rights leader who became the first Black woman on the Detroit City Council and its first Black president (1977–1989), and led the fight against redlining.Jerry Hodaktelevision meteorologist, news anchorDetroit-born TV weatherman who forecast for Detroiters for 45 years on WJBK and WXYZ, retiring as WXYZ's chief meteorologist in 2010.Jean Hoxietennis coachHamtramck tennis coach who turned the children of Polish immigrant autoworkers into state and national champions, producing more than 300 national titlists.
Politics · 1786–1826Henry I. Huntmerchant, mayor of DetroitEarly Detroit merchant and officeholder who became mayor in 1826 and died in office that September; uncle of the Civil War artillery chief of the same name.Blade IcewoodrapperCharismatic leader of the Street Lord'z whose 2004 hit “Boy Would You (Boss Up)” launched the “Blade Dance”; he was shot and killed on Seven Mile in 2005.
Music · 1941–1981Hubert JohnsonsingerOriginal bass singer of the Contours and cousin of Jackie Wilson, whose connection helped the group sign with Motown.
Politics · 1787–1846De Garmo Jonesbusinessman, mayor of Detroit, state senatorHard-driving Detroit entrepreneur, railroad director and builder of Michigan's first capitol, who served as mayor in 1839.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 ↗