Music · born 1947
Iggy Popsinger, songwriterFrontman of the Stooges, the Ann Arbor band that roared out of Detroit's Grande Ballroom, and the “Godfather of Punk,” inspired as a boy by the din of Ford's Rouge plant.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
- 18 fields
Hungarian ties 31 Detroiters with Hungarian ties →
Origin and citizenship
Field
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29 people
Clear filtersMusic · born 1947Iggy Popsinger, songwriterFrontman of the Stooges, the Ann Arbor band that roared out of Detroit's Grande Ballroom, and the “Godfather of Punk,” inspired as a boy by the din of Ford's Rouge plant.
Music · 1941–2006Wilson Pickettsinger, songwriterSoul singer of "In the Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally" who moved to Detroit at 14 and learned his craft in its gospel groups and with the Falcons.
Music · born 1988Mike Posnersinger, songwriter, record producerDetroit-born singer-songwriter raised in Southfield, known for "Cooler Than Me" and "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" and for co-writing hits for other stars.
Music · 1973–2006ProofrapperD12 co-founder and Eminem's closest friend, who ran the famous open-mic battles at the Hip Hop Shop on Seven Mile and was a pillar of Detroit hip-hop.
Music · born 1954Ray Parker Jr.guitarist, singer, songwriter, producerDetroit-born guitarist behind the “Ghostbusters” theme, who started as a teenager in the house band of the city's famous 20 Grand nightclub.
Film & TV · born 1945Paul Petersenactor, singer, writer, child-actor advocateThe Donna Reed Show's Jeff Stone, who recorded singles for Detroit's Motown label in the late 1960s and later became a leading advocate for child performers.
Music · born 1942Freda Paynesinger, actressDetroit-born singer of the 1970 smash “Band of Gold”, recorded for Invictus, the label her hometown friends Holland–Dozier–Holland founded after leaving Motown.Johnny Pacaractor, musicianDearborn-born actor of Flight 29 Down and Make It or Break It, a Wayne Memorial High School graduate of Romanian descent.
Music · born 1956Greg Phillinganeskeyboardist, singer, arrangerDetroit-born keyboard ace who went from classical lessons with a Detroit Symphony pianist to Stevie Wonder's band and musical director for Michael Jackson.
Music · born 1978Denaun Porterrapper, record producerD12 founding member who grew up in Detroit and became one of Eminem's closest production partners and a sought-after hip-hop producer.
Music · 1886–1979
Paul Parayconductor, composer, organistFrench conductor who rebuilt the Detroit Symphony after its 1949 collapse and made its celebrated Mercury Living Presence recordings between 1951 and 1962.
Music · born 1972Theo ParrishDJ, house producer, label ownerChicago-raised DJ who made Detroit his home in the 1990s and became famous for marathon, genre-spanning sets and raw, hand-made house records.
Film & TV · born 1946Suzanne de Passeproducer, record and television executiveHarlem-raised executive who joined Motown in Detroit as Berry Gordy's creative assistant, shaped the Jackson 5's act and later ran Motown Productions.
Music · born 1944Scherrie PaynesingerDetroit-born singer, sister of Freda Payne, who led the Invictus group the Glass House and then co-led the Supremes from 1973 to 1977.
Music · born 1962Roxy PetruccidrummerMetro Detroit drummer who co-founded the glam metal band Madam X in Detroit in 1981 with her sister Maxine and later drove Vixen, one of the most successful all-female hard rock bands.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.Clarence Paulsongwriter, record producerCo-founder of the "5" Royales who moved to Detroit, became Stevie Wonder's mentor and first producer, and co-wrote "Fingertips" and "Hitch Hike".
Music · 1938–1997Lawrence Paytontenor, vocal arrangerDetroit-born tenor and vocal arranger of the Four Tops, credited with the group's seamless harmonies.
Music · born 1965James Penningtontechno DJ and producerDetroit techno pioneer known as Suburban Knight, whose dark “The Art of Stalking” became a classic and who mentored Underground Resistance.Terrence Parkerhouse DJ and producerDetroit house DJ and producer known for gospel-infused, piano-driven records such as “Love's Got Me High” and the album GOD Loves Detroit.Russell PeckcomposerDetroit-born orchestral composer whose music joined Mozart and Beethoven with the Motown sound he grew up with; best known for The Glory and the Grandeur.Frank Porrettaoperatic and musical theater tenorDetroit-born tenor from a family of surgeons who sang fourteen seasons at New York City Opera and starred in musicals and the film Song of Norway.Maxine Powelletiquette instructor, finishing-school founder, talent agentDetroit finishing-school founder who taught poise and stage manners to the Supremes, Marvin Gaye and other Motown stars in the 1960s.
Music · born 1969Stacey Pullentechno DJ and producerDetroit-raised protégé of Derrick May who blended house, garage and jazz into techno and became one of the city's globe-trotting DJs.
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.”Elizabeth Parcellscoloratura soprano, voice teacherDetroit-born coloratura soprano who built a twenty-year career in German and Swiss opera houses, sang with Michigan Opera Theatre and came home to teach.Johnny Powersrockabilly singer, guitarist, songwriter, producerDetroit rockabilly singer of “Long Blond Hair” who got his stage name at Fortune Records and became the first white male artist signed by Motown.Sylvester Pottssinger, songwriterDetroit singer and songwriter who recorded for Fortune Records with the Hi-Fidelities and was a longtime member of the Contours.PeezyrapperEast-side Detroit rapper and Team Eastside leader, one of the most beloved street-rap voices of the 2010s and 2020s.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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