Mick Collinssinger, guitarist, songwriter, radio hostDetroit garage-rock pioneer who co-founded the Gories in 1986 and leads the Dirtbombs, a direct forerunner of the White Stripes-era scene.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)
1379 people · 23/29 page
Clear filtersMick Collinssinger, guitarist, songwriter, radio hostDetroit garage-rock pioneer who co-founded the Gories in 1986 and leads the Dirtbombs, a direct forerunner of the White Stripes-era scene.Monica Conyersteacher, school administrator, city council president pro temWest Detroit-raised teacher and school administrator, wife of Congressman John Conyers, whose Detroit City Council career (2006–2009) ended in a bribery conviction in the Synagro sludge-contract scandal.
Politics · 1902–1950Frank Couzensbuilding contractor, mayor of Detroit, bankerSon of Ford partner and mayor James Couzens who was himself Detroit's mayor in the depths of the Depression (1933–1938) and later founded the Wabeek Bank.Juanita CowartsingerOriginal Marvelette from Inkster who sang on "Please Mr. Postman" and left the group in 1963; the last surviving member of the group.
Music · 1938–2024Henry FambroughsingerFounding baritone of the Spinners, who sang with the group for 69 years, from its 1954 start in Ferndale until 2023.
Andy FarkasAmerican football fullbackHungarian-American fullback who came of age at University of Detroit Jesuit and the University of Detroit, starred for Washington and finished his NFL career with the Detroit Lions.Eugene Farkasautomotive engineer, Model T and Fordson tractor designerHungarian-born Ford engineer who helped tool up the Model T and was chief engineer of the Fordson tractor.
Business & brands · 1833–1907Dexter M. Ferryseed merchant, founder of D. M. Ferry & Co.Detroit merchant whose D. M. Ferry & Co. became the world's largest seed company, selling fresh seed in small paper packets across America.
Politics · born 1952Robert Ficanolawyer, Wayne County sheriff, county executiveDetroit-born lawyer who served twenty years as Wayne County sheriff (1983–2003) and twelve as county executive (2003–2015), a tenure ending amid scandals and the unfinished Gratiot jail project.Charles T. Fisherco-founder of Fisher Body, industrialist and bankerWith his older brother Fred he founded Fisher Body in Detroit in 1908; the seven Fisher brothers built the car bodies of GM and the Fisher Building.
Labor · 1908–1981Frank FitzsimmonsTeamsters president (1971–1981)Detroit truck driver and Jimmy Hoffa loyalist from Local 299 who ran the Teamsters while Hoffa was in prison and then kept the presidency.T. J. Fowlerpianist, organist, bandleaderDetroit-raised pianist whose jump-blues band recorded for Sensation, Savoy and States in the 1940s and 1950s, and who advised Berry Gordy's young Motown in 1959.
Religion · 1870–1948Leo M. FranklinReform rabbi of Temple Beth ElRabbi of Temple Beth El from 1899 to 1941 who built Detroit's leading Reform congregation and two Albert Kahn temples on Woodward Avenue.Calvin Frazierblues guitarist, singer, songwriterArkansas-born guitarist, a companion of Robert Johnson and Johnny Shines, whose 1938 Library of Congress recordings are early documents of Detroit blues.
Visual art · 1908–1998Marshall FrederickssculptorSculptor of The Spirit of Detroit, the city's best-loved statue, who lived and worked in the Birmingham area for more than sixty years.Robert Gordymusic publisher, songwriter, singerYoungest Gordy sibling, a singer as "Bob Kayli", who ran Motown's Jobete Music Publishing for more than two decades.
Visual art · born 1955Tyree GuytonartistDetroit artist who in 1986 turned his childhood street on the east side into the Heidelberg Project, one of the world's best-known outdoor art environments.
Music · 1867–1922E. Azalia Hackleyconcert soprano, choral director, educator, activistDetroit-raised concert soprano and 'race musical missionary' who promoted music education for Black Americans; Detroit Public Library's Hackley Collection bears her name.
Press & broadcasting · 1819–1888John H. Harmonprinter, newspaper publisher, mayor of DetroitPrinter who came to Detroit with the 1838 Patriot raiders, rose to own the Detroit Free Press and served as Democratic mayor in 1852–1853.Mike HuckabyDJ, producer, educatorBeloved Detroit deep-house and techno DJ who held residencies at the city's key clubs and taught music production to young Detroiters.Ivy Jo Huntersongwriter, producer, singer, keyboardistDetroit-raised Motown songwriter and producer who co-wrote "Dancing in the Street" and "Ask the Lonely".
Business & 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.”
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.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 ↗
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