Charles Jacobsbusinessman, Olympic pole vaulter and yacht racer1908 Olympic bronze medalist in the pole vault who became a Detroit-area auto-parts manufacturer and one of the region's champion yacht racers.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
- 8 fields
Hungarian ties 31 Detroiters with Hungarian ties →
Origin and citizenship
Field
Connection
Born in
A–Z (family name)
11 people
Clear filtersCharles Jacobsbusinessman, Olympic pole vaulter and yacht racer1908 Olympic bronze medalist in the pole vault who became a Detroit-area auto-parts manufacturer and one of the region's champion yacht racers.
Greg Johnsonice hockey centreSkilled centre who spent parts of four seasons with the Red Wings in the 1990s, later returned to Detroit as a free agent, and made the city his home until his death there in 2019.
Film & TV · 1900–1988Julanne Johnstonsilent film actress, dancerSilent-screen actress, the princess opposite Douglas Fairbanks in The Thief of Bagdad, who left Hollywood, married and lived out her life in Detroit and Grosse Pointe.
Music · 1918–1979Eddie Jeffersonjazz singer, lyricistPioneer of vocalese, the art of setting lyrics to jazz solos, who was shot and killed outside Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit in 1979.
Music · 1934–2009Uriel JonesdrummerFunk Brothers drummer who played on "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "The Tracks of My Tears".
Military · 1921–2022Alexander JeffersonTuskegee Airman, prisoner of war, teacherDetroit-born Tuskegee Airman who was shot down over France in 1944, survived a German POW camp, then taught science in Detroit public schools for decades; he lived to 100.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.
Music · 1938–2008Pervis Jacksonbass singerFounding bass singer and spokesman of the Spinners, famous for the "12:45" line in "Games People Play".
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.
Civil rights & activism · 1931–2011Eleanor 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.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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