DETROIT / A living lexicon / ¼
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.
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Civil rights & activism · 1931–2011
Eleanor Josaitiscivil rights activist, co-founder of Focus: HOPESuburban homemaker who co-founded Focus: HOPE in 1968 and led it for four decades, called Detroit's Mother Teresa for her work against racism and poverty.
Civil rights & activism · 1817–1890William Lambertabolitionist, Underground Railroad leaderFree-born tailor and abolitionist who for half a century helped lead Detroit's Underground Railroad and its Black community.
Business & brands · 1833–1909George C. Langdonbrewer, maltster, mayor of DetroitBookkeeper turned brewer and maltster who was Detroit's 38th mayor (1878–1879) and later, after losing his fortune, worked as a clerk at City Hall.William Lavintenor, voice teacherTenor raised in Detroit who returned after an international career to teach at the Michigan Conservatory and sing as soloist at Fort Street Presbyterian Church for two decades.Josephine Harreld Loveconcert pianist, musicologist, museum founderConcert pianist and musicologist who moved to Detroit in 1941 and in 1969 co-founded Your Heritage House, a fine arts museum and studio for the city's children.Neal Vernon Lovingaviator, aircraft designer, aeronautical engineerDetroit aviator and designer, the first African American and the first double amputee licensed as a racing pilot, who co-founded Michigan's first Black-owned aircraft company.Ted Lucassinger-songwriter, guitarist, sitaristDetroit folk guitarist of Greek descent, co-founder of the Spike Drivers and Motown session sitarist, whose private-press 1975 album became a cult classic after his death.Harold McKinneyjazz pianist, composer, bandleader, educatorDetroit pianist, composer and teacher, a committed bebopper who played with visiting giants and co-founded both Tribe and the Rebirth jazz-education organization.Paul McPharlinpuppeteer, puppet maker, historian of puppetryDetroit puppeteer who staged some twenty productions in the city (1928–1937), founded the Marionette Fellowship of Detroit and co-founded the Puppeteers of America.
Music · born 1966Alton Millerhouse DJ, producer, singerDetroit house pioneer who co-founded the Music Institute in 1988 and later worked for KMS and Transmat before an international career.
Business & brands · 1819–1882Merrill I. Millsfur trader, tobacco and stove manufacturer, mayor of DetroitConnecticut gunpowder heir who stayed in Detroit by accident in 1845, built tobacco and stove companies and was the city's Democratic mayor in 1866–1867.
MusicDJ MinxDJ, producer, label founderDetroit house and techno DJ who founded the Women on Wax collective, played the first DEMF in 2000 and is honored with a mural in Highland Park.
MusicKaren NewmansingerSinger known as “the voice” of the Detroit Red Wings for more than 30 years of national anthems, and for the local holiday favorite “Christmas Eve on Woodward Avenue.”
John Nicholspolice commissioner, sheriffSon of Detroit's southwest-side Hungarian community who rose to Detroit police commissioner and narrowly lost the 1973 mayoral race to Coleman Young.
Press & broadcasting · born 1948Harvey Ovshinskyjournalist, broadcaster, documentary producer, teacherDetroit storyteller who founded the underground newspaper Fifth Estate at 17 in 1965, then chronicled the city for decades on radio and television.
Politics · 1822–1900John Pattoncarriage maker, mayor of DetroitIrish-born carriage maker and popular fire-company leader who served as Detroit's mayor in 1858–1859, the first two-year term under a new charter.
Sports · 1885–1941Bruce Petwaybaseball catcher and managerStrong-armed Negro-league catcher who played for and managed the Detroit Stars from 1919 to 1925 and scouted Turkey Stearnes for them.Sylvester Pottssinger, songwriterDetroit singer and songwriter who recorded for Fortune Records with the Hi-Fidelities and was a longtime member of the Contours.Michael Quatrokeyboardist, songwriter, promoterDetroit keyboard prodigy and eldest brother of Suzi and Patti Quatro, who mixed Bach with rock, promoted festivals and managed his sisters' band Cradle.Fannie M. Richardsteacher, desegregation pioneerDetroit's first Black public school teacher, who fought school segregation, started Michigan's first kindergarten program and taught in the city for decades.Paul Riserarranger, trombonistCass Tech-trained trombonist who became one of Motown's key arrangers, scoring "My Girl", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".Peter Riverasinger, drummerDetroit-born lead singer and drummer of Rare Earth, Motown's rock band, whose voice carried “Get Ready” and “I Just Want to Celebrate.”
Music · born 1933Carol Rosenbergerclassical pianistDetroit-born pianist who overcame paralytic polio to build a recording career of more than thirty albums for the Delos label.
MusicHouse Shoeship-hop DJ and producerThe Detroit hip-hop scene's signature DJ, resident at Saint Andrew's Hall from 1994 to 2004, champion of J Dilla and producer for Elzhi, Phat Kat and Danny Brown.C. P. Spencersinger, songwriter, producerDetroit tenor who was an original member of the Spinners and the Voice Masters and later lead tenor of Motown's Originals.Gordon Staplesviolinist, concertmasterDetroit Symphony concertmaster who from 1964 to 1972 led the orchestra's string players on hundreds of Motown hits, from My Girl to What's Going On.
Business & brands · 1854–1924Frederick K. Stearnspharmaceutical manufacturer, owner of the Detroit Wolverines, DSO founderPresident of Detroit's Frederick Stearns & Company who owned the 1887 champion Detroit Wolverines and organized what became the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.Robert Hudson Tannahillart collector, benefactorDetroit-born heir to the Hudson's department store fortune who became one of the Detroit Institute of Arts' greatest benefactors.Ty Tysonradio sports announcerWWJ announcer who called the first Detroit Tigers radio broadcast in 1927 and became the city's first great sports voice.James Vernorpharmacist, creator of Vernors ginger aleDetroit druggist whose barrel-aged Vernors ginger ale, sold from a Woodward Avenue soda fountain, became one of America's oldest surviving soft drinks.Pop Winansgospel singer, preacher, managerDetroit patriarch of the Winans gospel family, father of ten including CeCe and BeBe, who managed the Winans and recorded as half of Mom & Pop Winans.Ed Wingaterecord label owner, entrepreneurDetroit entrepreneur who co-founded Golden World and Ric-Tic Records with Joanne Bratton, for a time Motown's strongest local rival.Marv Wonrapper, battle rapper, producerDetroit battle-rap veteran from the Lush Lounge open mics who battled Eminem on screen in 8 Mile and co-founded the Fat Killahz.Rance Allengospel singer, songwriter, bishopMonroe, Michigan-born gospel singer with a huge vocal range, who founded the Rance Allen Group in Detroit in 1969 and was signed by Stax after a Detroit talent contest.BaatinrapperSlum Village co-founder whose playful, spiritual verses helped define the group's sound alongside J Dilla and T3 in the 1990s.Rita Belltelevision host, singerDetroit-born host of WXYZ-TV's weekday-morning Prize Movie (1960–1977), billed as the first woman television broadcaster in Michigan.Lawrence Burdentechno producer, live electronic musicianDetroit producer and co-founder of Octave One, the family act that took techno from a Transmat debut in 1989 to world stages with “Blackwater”.Lenny Burdentechno producer, live electronic musicianCo-founder of Octave One, the Detroit brothers' act behind the techno anthem “Blackwater” and the 430 West label.Clare Cummingsmagician, television clownDetroit-area magician who became Milky the Clown, the Twin Pines Dairy's TV mascot, on Detroit television from 1950 to 1964.Toby Davidradio and television host, comedianDetroit-raised broadcaster who, as Captain Jolly on CKLW-TV's Popeye and Pals (1958–1964), drew an estimated million young viewers a week.Clarence Eddinsnightclub ownerOwner of the Blue Bird Inn on Tireman Avenue, who with his wife Mary ran Detroit's legendary west-side bebop club and booked Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Art Blakey.
Auto industry · 1888–1961Lawrence P. Fisherpresident of Cadillac, Fisher Body co-ownerThe Fisher brother who ran Cadillac and discovered designer Harley Earl, bringing him to Detroit to style the 1927 LaSalle.George Fraynepianist, singer, bandleader, painterAs Commander Cody, the University of Michigan art student founded the Lost Planet Airmen in Ann Arbor in 1967, pioneering boogie-woogie country rock and the hit “Hot Rod Lincoln.”Weston Galesconductor, organistBoston church organist hired in 1914 as the first music director of the refounded Detroit Symphony Orchestra, which he led until 1917–1918.Paul Gansonbassoonist, preservationist, orchestra historianDetroit-born DSO bassoonist who in 1970 founded Save Orchestra Hall and led the 20-year campaign that rescued the 1919 hall from demolition.Payroll GiovannirapperWest-side Detroit rapper and standout of Doughboyz Cashout, the flashy crew that shaped the city's street rap after 2007, later known for the Big Bossin' series with Cardo.
MusicDJ GodfatherDJ, producer, label owner, nightclub ownerOne of the founding DJs of Detroit ghettotech, head of the Databass label and a fixture of the city's club scene for more than three decades.Berry Gordy Sr.businessman, patriarch of the Gordy family"Pops" Gordy, the Georgia-born businessman who moved his family to Detroit in 1922 and whose children built Motown.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 ↗