DETROIT / A living lexicon / ¼
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.
Hungarian ties 31 Detroiters with Hungarian ties →
Origin and citizenship
Field
Connection
Born in
A–Z (family name)
1747 people · 26/37 page
Clear filters
Business & brands · 1908–2005
Max Fisherbusinessman, philanthropist, presidential adviserOil businessman who came to Detroit in 1930, built Aurora Gasoline and Speedway, led the city's Jewish community and civic renewal efforts, and gave his name to the Detroit Symphony's music center.
Religion · 1833–1918John Samuel Foleythird Catholic Bishop of Detroit (1888–1918)Baltimore-born priest who served as Bishop of Detroit for 30 years, the longest tenure in its history, as the auto boom tripled the city's Catholic population.
Music · born 1982Sean Forbeship-hop artist, accessibility advocateDeaf Detroit rapper who co-founded D-PAN to make music accessible in American Sign Language and signed with Eminem's first label, Web Entertainment.Eddie FowlkesDJ, record producer, label ownerDetroit-born DJ often called the “fourth” founder of techno, who coined the term “techno soul” and runs City Boy Records.Frederick A. Foxcomposer, music educatorDetroit-born composer and former jazz saxophonist, a Wayne State graduate who founded the Indiana University New Music Ensemble.
Business & brands · 1854–1919Charles Lang Freerrailcar manufacturer, art collector, founder of the Freer GalleryDetroit railcar industrialist whose Asian and Whistler collection, once housed in his Ferry Avenue home, became the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art.
Religion · 1866–1937Michael GallagherCatholic Bishop of Detroit (1918–1937)Bishop of Detroit during the boom years, who founded Sacred Heart Seminary and was the protector of radio priest Charles Coughlin.Donald GoinesnovelistDetroit-born pioneer of urban crime fiction who wrote 16 novels in five years, among them Dopefiend and Whoreson, before being murdered in Highland Park in 1974.
Music · born 1966Troy Gregorysinger, bassist, multi-instrumentalist, filmmakerDetroit-born bassist and songwriter who went from the thrash band Flotsam and Jetsam and Prong to leading the Witches and anchoring the Dirtbombs.
Politics · 1925–2016Roman Gribbslawyer, sheriff, mayor of Detroit, appeals judgePolish American prosecutor and Wayne County sheriff who was mayor in 1970–1974, created the notorious STRESS police unit, and was Detroit's last white mayor until 2014.
Politics · 1873–1953Alexander J. Groesbecklawyer, attorney general, governor of MichiganMacomb County-born Detroit lawyer who as governor (1921–1927) paved Michigan's roads with concrete; Groesbeck Highway is named after him and he is buried at Woodlawn.
Music · 1939–2007Billy Hendersonsinger, dancerFounding member of the Spinners, raised in Royal Oak Township, who was the group's leading dancer for half a century.
Science & invention · 1870–1938Edward N. Hinesroad builder, Wayne County road commissionerWayne County road commissioner who built the world's first mile of concrete highway on Woodward Avenue in 1909 and came up with the painted center line.
Music · born 1952John Lee Hooker Jr.blues singer, songwriter, ministerDetroit-born son of John Lee Hooker who sang on local radio as a child, toured with his father, and later earned Grammy nominations with his own modern blues.
Theatre & dance · 1842–1908Bronson HowardplaywrightDetroit-born son of an 1849 Detroit mayor, often called the first American to make a living as a professional playwright, author of Shenandoah and Saratoga.Chuck HughesAmerican football wide receiverLions receiver who collapsed and died on the field at Tiger Stadium in 1971, the only NFL player to die during a game; the Lions retired his No. 85.
Music · born 1964Robert Hurstjazz bassist, composer, educatorDetroit-born bassist who played with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, spent the 1990s in The Tonight Show Band, and now teaches jazz bass at the University of Michigan.
Music · born 1982Boldy JamesrapperDetroit rapper known for his deep, unhurried voice and vivid street narratives, a prolific member of the Griselda collective.
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.Marv Johnsonsinger, songwriter, pianistDetroit singer whose "Come to Me" (1959) was the first record issued on Tamla, the label that became Motown; his gravestone reads "Motown Pioneer".
Theatre & dance · born 1985Andrew Keenan-Bolgerstage actor, web-series creatorDetroit-born Broadway actor, a Renaissance High School graduate, who originated Crutchie in Newsies and Jesse Tuck in Tuck Everlasting.
Theatre & dance · born 1978Celia Keenan-Bolgerstage actress, singerDetroit-born Broadway actress, trained at Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, who won a Tony as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird (2018).
Music · born 1967Kemsinger, songwriter, producerMetro Detroit R&B singer, raised in Pontiac and Southfield, who self-financed his debut Kemistry and was signed by Motown in 2001.
Theatre & dance · 1937–2026Woodie King Jr.theatre producer, director, filmmakerDetroit-raised founder of Concept East Theatre and New York's New Federal Theatre, a Ford welder turned producer who championed generations of Black playwrights.
Music · 1922–2026Phyllis Kinneysoprano, folk song collector, music historianPontiac-born soprano who sang with the Carl Rosa Opera, married into Welsh culture and became a leading authority on Welsh folk music.
Music · born 1938Bernie Krausemusician, synthesizer pioneer, soundscape ecologistDetroit-born musician who joined the folk group the Weavers, helped introduce the Moog synthesizer to pop music and later founded the science of soundscape ecology.
Fashion · 1932–2017Kenneth Jay Lanecostume jewelry designerDetroit-born designer whose glamorous costume jewelry was worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, the Duchess of Windsor and Barbara Bush.
Sports · born 1937Dick LeBeauAmerican football cornerback and coachHall of Fame cornerback who played all 14 of his NFL seasons with the Lions (1959–1972) before a legendary career as a defensive coordinator.
Comedy · born 1976Misty Leemagician, voice actress, comedianMagician raised in Detroit and trained by local magician Scorpio, the first woman to serve as séance medium at Hollywood's Magic Castle, and a prolific video-game voice actress.
Politics · 1885–1950John Lesinski Sr.businessman, congressman, Polish community leaderDetroit-raised Polish-American builder and lumber dealer who led the Polish Citizens' Committee of Detroit, recruited thousands of Polish volunteers in World War I and served in Congress from 1933 to 1950.Jim Leylandbaseball managerHall of Fame manager who began his career in the Tigers' farm system and returned to lead Detroit to American League pennants in 2006 and 2012.
Politics · 1862–1950John C. Lodgejournalist, city council president, mayor of DetroitDetroit-born newspaperman who spent more than 30 years on the City Council, served three stints as mayor in the 1920s and gave his name to the Lodge Freeway.
Music · born 1976Tony Luccasinger-songwriter, actorPontiac-born, Waterford-raised singer who joined The All New Mickey Mouse Club after a Detroit audition and later finished third on The Voice in 2012.
Politics · 1848–1909William C. Mayburylawyer, congressman, mayor of DetroitDetroit-born lawyer and congressman who was mayor from 1897 to 1904, sealed the Detroit Century Box time capsule and invested in Henry Ford's first car company; his statue stands in Grand Circus Park.Skeets McDonaldcountry and rockabilly singer, songwriterArkansas-born honky-tonk singer who learned his trade in Detroit's Depression-era country scene and cut his first records for the city's Fortune label before his No. 1 hit “Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes.”Betty 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.”
Sports · 1879–1952
James E. Norrisbusinessman, Red Wings ownerGrain magnate who bought Detroit's bankrupt NHL club and the Olympia in 1932, renamed the team the Red Wings and presided over five Stanley Cups.
Sports · 1913–1982Buddy ParkerAmerican football coach and former playerHead coach who led the Lions to back-to-back NFL championships in 1952 and 1953, after winning a title with Detroit as a player in 1935.
Science & invention · 1920–2006Lawrence Patrickbiomechanics researcherWayne State University professor who made himself a 'human crash-test dummy', enduring hundreds of rocket-sled rides and impacts to learn how bodies are hurt in car crashes.
Politics · 1840–1901Hazen S. Pingreeshoe manufacturer, mayor of Detroit, governor of MichiganReforming shoe manufacturer, Detroit mayor 1890–1897 and governor, famous for fighting utility monopolies and for his 'potato patches' for the jobless; his statue stands in Grand Circus Park.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.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 ↗