Betty McGlownsingerDetroit singer and founding member of the Primettes, the girl group that became the Supremes.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)
957 people · 15/20 page
Clear filtersBetty McGlownsingerDetroit singer and founding member of the Primettes, the girl group that became the Supremes.
Science & invention · 1891–1962Robert R. McMathsolar astronomer, engineer, businessmanDetroit engineer and businessman turned solar astronomer, co-founder of the McMath–Hulbert Observatory at Lake Angelus, whose name lives on in the McMath–Pierce solar telescope.
Theatre & dance · 1898–1993Edith Meiseractress, playwright, radio writerDetroit-born actress and writer who brought Sherlock Holmes to American radio in 1930 and appeared in more than 20 Broadway shows.MoZellasongwriter, singerDetroit-raised songwriter who started out booking her own coffeehouse gigs at 15 and went on to co-write Miley Cyrus's No. 1 hit “Wrecking Ball.”Terry Pollardjazz pianist, vibraphonistDetroit pianist and vibraphonist of the Blue Bird Inn house band, discovered at Baker's by Terry Gibbs, who toured nationally in the 1950s before choosing family and local work.Omar Reganstand-up comedian, actor, former rapperDetroit-born, Highland Park-raised comedian who first did stand-up in Detroit clubs and became a leading voice of Muslim comedy and 'Halalywood' films.
Visual art · 1888–1964Betsy Graves Reyneauportrait painterPainter raised in Detroit whose portraits of prominent African Americans, including Detroit's Joe Louis, toured the nation from 1944 to 1954.
Film & TV · born 1962Shaun Robinsontelevision host, journalist, authorDetroit-born Cass Tech graduate who began her TV career at WGPR-TV before hosting Access Hollywood (1999–2015) and the 90 Day Fiancé tell-alls.DJ Rolandotechno DJ and producerMexicantown-raised Underground Resistance DJ whose “Knights of the Jaguar” became one of the most celebrated techno tracks of all time.
Music · 1947–2024Paul Schoenfieldcomposer, pianistDetroit-born composer and pianist who blended classical music with folk, Jewish and popular styles, best known for the piano trio Café Music.Anthony Shakirtechno producerUnderrecognized architect of early Detroit techno who worked on Metroplex records from the start and mentored the second wave.
Music · born 1960Karen Clark Sheardsinger, songwriterYoungest of the Clark Sisters, a Detroit gospel singer whose solo debut Finally Karen (1997) made her one of the genre's leading voices; Grammy winner for "Blessed & Highly Favored".
Business & brands · 1924–2015A. Alfred Taubmanshopping-mall developer, owner of Sotheby's, philanthropistPontiac-born developer who helped define the American indoor shopping mall, owned Sotheby's and gave large sums to Detroit-area art and education.
Visual art · 1905–2000Todd WebbphotographerDetroit-born documentary photographer of New York, Paris and the American West, who learned his craft at the Detroit Camera Club while working for Chrysler.
Labor · 1911–2001Leonard WoodcockUAW president (1970–1977), first US ambassador to the People's Republic of ChinaDetroit machine assembler who succeeded Walter Reuther as UAW president in 1970, then became the first US ambassador to Communist China.Herman Wrightjazz double bassistDetroit bassist who anchored Yusef Lateef's and Dorothy Ashby's bands in the late 1950s before moving to New York in 1960.Vanessa Bell Armstronggospel and R&B singerDetroit gospel singer whose debut Peace Be Still (1983), produced by Thomas Whitfield, launched a career of seven Grammy nominations.
Music · born 1977DJ AssaultDJ, electronic producerDetroit DJ and producer whose raunchy, high-speed “booty” tracks of the 1990s made him the best-known name of the ghettotech sound.
Music · 1949–2016Allan Barnesjazz saxophonist, flutist, composerDetroit saxophonist and flutist of Donald Byrd's Blackbyrds, heard on "Walking in Rhythm," who spent most of his career as a Detroit bandleader and educator.
Politics · 1893–1957Albert Cobobusinessman, city treasurer, mayor of DetroitBurroughs executive and city treasurer who as mayor (1950–1957) drove freeway building and urban renewal, blocked public housing in white neighborhoods and gave his name to Cobo Hall.Don Davisrecord producer, songwriter, guitarist, bankerDetroit guitarist and producer behind Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love" and "Disco Lady", owner of United Sound Systems and founder of Michigan's only Black-owned commercial bank.Thornetta Davisblues and R&B singer, songwriterDetroit blues and soul singer who came up through the city's club bands, recorded for Sub Pop, and has won a long list of Detroit Music Awards.
Music · 1956–2021Deon Estusbassist, singerDetroit-born bassist, taught by Motown's James Jamerson, who played with Wham! and George Michael and had a 1989 top-five hit with “Heaven Help Me.”
Music · 1958–2023Amp Fiddlerkeyboardist, singer, songwriter, producerDetroit keyboardist of Parliament-Funkadelic and mentor of J Dilla, who lent the young producer his MPC and introduced him to Q-Tip.
Civil rights & activism · 1866–1950Clara Bryant Fordphilanthropist, suffragist, wife of Henry FordHenry Ford's wife and first backer, whom he called 'the Believer', who shaped Fair Lane and championed gardening, nursing and women's suffrage.
Notorious figures · 1919–2001Anthony GiacaloneDetroit Mafia capo and street bossEast Side-born mobster known as Tony Jack, a Detroit Partnership leader whom Jimmy Hoffa expected to meet on the day he vanished in 1975.Fred Hammondgospel singer, bassist, producerDetroit gospel bassist, singer and producer who played bass for the Winans, co-founded Commissioned, and became one of contemporary gospel's best-selling artists.
Music · born 1953Derek St. Holmessinger, guitaristDownriver-born rock singer whose voice is on Ted Nugent's classic 1970s albums, including the original “Stranglehold.”Jerome Horwitzchemist, cancer researcherDetroit chemist who in 1964 first synthesized AZT, which two decades later became the first approved drug against HIV.
Music · 1927–2007Joe Hunterpianist, bandleader, arrangerFirst leader of the Funk Brothers (1959–1964), who recruited James Jamerson and played piano on "Shop Around", "Do You Love Me" and "Heat Wave".
Comedy · 1958–2022The Amazing Johnathancomedian, magicianDetroit-born 'Freddy Krueger of Comedy', a gory comedy-magic act that headlined in Las Vegas year-round from 2001 to 2014.
Peter Karmanos Jr.software entrepreneur, hockey ownerDetroit-born son of Greek immigrant restaurant owners who co-founded the software giant Compuware, built amateur hockey in Detroit and owned the Carolina Hurricanes.
Law · 1922–2019Damon Keithfederal judge, civil rights lawyerDetroit-born federal judge whose rulings desegregated Pontiac schools, struck down warrantless wiretaps and declared that 'democracies die behind closed doors'; he served on the bench for over 50 years.Cub Kodasinger, guitarist, songwriter, DJ, music writerDetroit-born rocker who wrote and sang Brownsville Station's 1973 hit "Smokin' in the Boys Room" and later became a respected blues writer and record compiler.Hugh Lawsonjazz pianistDetroit pianist who was Yusef Lateef's keyboard partner for more than a decade from 1957 and later toured with Charles Mingus.Laura Leesoul and gospel singer, songwriterDetroit-raised soul singer of "Women's Love Rights" and "Rip Off" on Hot Wax, who began in the Meditation Singers gospel group in Della Reese's place.
Sports · born 1948Ron LeFlorebaseball player, center fielderEast-side Detroiter who went from Jackson State Prison to center field at Tiger Stadium in 1974, a story told in the TV film One in a Million.
Politics · 1866–1923Oscar Marxoptical manufacturer, mayor of DetroitFarm boy from the edge of Detroit who built the Michigan Optical Company and was mayor through the 1913–1918 auto boom, appointing James Couzens police commissioner.
Architecture & design · 1856–1948George D. MasonarchitectLong-lived Detroit architect of the Masonic Temple and Mackinac's Grand Hotel, and the early employer of Albert Kahn and Wirt Rowland.
Music · born 1945Jim McCartyguitaristDetroit blues-rock guitarist of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Cactus and the Rockets, whom Ted Nugent calls his biggest early influence.
Sports · born 1962Milton McCroryboxer, WBC welterweight championDetroit-born Kronk fighter who won the WBC welterweight title in 1983, the first Detroit-born champion from Emanuel Steward's gym.Joe MessinaguitaristDetroit-born jazz guitarist who became one of the most prolific Funk Brothers, playing on "Dancing in the Street" and hundreds of other Motown records.Dominique Morisseauplaywright, actress, television writerDetroit-born playwright whose Detroit Project trilogy (Detroit '67, Paradise Blue, Skeleton Crew) puts the city's history on stage; MacArthur Fellow and Tony nominee.
Law · 1955–2020Benny Napoleonpolice chief, lawyer, Wayne County sheriffDetroit-born minister's son who rose from patrolman to Detroit police chief (1998–2001), served as Wayne County sheriff (2009–2020) and ran for mayor in 2013.
Music · 1938–1997Lawrence Paytontenor, vocal arrangerDetroit-born tenor and vocal arranger of the Four Tops, credited with the group's seamless harmonies.
Music · born 1991Babyface RayrapperEast-side Detroit rapper whose laid-back, luxurious flow made him a central figure of 2020s Detroit hip-hop, peaking with the album Face in 2022.Tracy Reesefashion designerDetroit-born fashion designer and Cass Tech graduate who dressed Michelle Obama and later returned home to build a sustainable label in Detroit.
MusicGuilty Simpsonrapper, songwriterDeep-voiced Detroit rapper, one of J Dilla's favorite MCs, who recorded for Stones Throw and formed Random Axe with Black Milk.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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