Sports / Music
Lem Barney
born 1945 · American football cornerback and return specialist
Hall of Fame Lions cornerback of 1967–1977 who, with teammate Mel Farr, can be heard on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On".
- Born
Gulfport, Mississippi
age 81- Birth name
- Lemuel Jackson Barney
- Detroit years
- 1967–present
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
The Lions drafted Barney out of Jackson State in the second round in 1967, and he made an immediate impact, intercepting a pass in his first game and winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. For eleven seasons he was one of the league's most dangerous cornerbacks and return men, playing in seven Pro Bowls and scoring touchdowns on interceptions, punts, kickoffs and fumbles. Off the field he became part of Detroit's music history: friendly with Marvin Gaye, he and teammate Mel Farr were invited to Motown's Studio B in 1970, where they added the party chatter that opens "What's Going On", later voted the greatest Detroit song of all time. Barney retired in 1977 and remained in the Detroit area. In 1997 the Detroit Free Press called him the best cornerback in NFL history, and in 2004 the Lions retired No. 20 in honor of Barney, Billy Sims and Barry Sanders.
Highlights
- 1967 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Seven Pro Bowls with the Lions, 1967–1977
- Voices in the background of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" (1971)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1992
- No. 20 retired by the Lions in 2004, shared with Sims and Sanders
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 3
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1967–1974
Tiger Stadium (site)
Demolished · 1912–1999
The Lions' home for most of his career (the team moved to the Pontiac Silverdome in 1975); demolished in 2008–2009.
Played here · 1975–1977
Pontiac Silverdome
Demolished · 1975–2013
The Lions' domed home from 1975; closed in 2013 and demolished in 2017–2018.
Recorded here · 1970
Motown Studio B
Status being checked
Motown's second Detroit studio, where he and Mel Farr added the vocal chatter to "What's Going On".