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.
- 1,940 famous people
- 366 Detroit places
- 22 fields
Hungarian ties 22 Detroiters with Hungarian ties →
Field
Connection
Born in
A–Z (family name)
190 people · 4/4 page
Clear filters
Politics · 1899–1970Thaddeus M. Machrowiczlawyer, judge, congressmanPolish-born lawyer who rose from Hamtramck city attorney and judge to represent the Detroit area in Congress for a decade, then served as a federal judge in Detroit.
Music · born 1975Jamie Madroxrapper, label co-founderDetroit rapper and one half of Twiztid, the horrorcore duo that grew from the Hip Hop Shop battle scene into Psychopathic Records stars and later founded Majik Ninja Entertainment.
Press & broadcasting · 1933–1995J. P. McCarthyradio host, interviewerWJR's morning man for more than three decades, whose Focus interviews and easy wit made him the most listened-to voice in Detroit radio until his death in 1995.
Law · 1920–1987Wade H. McCreejudge, U.S. solicitor general, law professorHarvard-trained lawyer who made his career in Detroit, becoming the first Black judge on the Wayne County Circuit Court and the Sixth Circuit, then U.S. solicitor general.
MusicDan John Millersinger-songwriter, guitarist, actorDetroit singer and guitarist who led Goober & the Peas and the gothic country band Blanche, played in Two-Star Tabernacle with Jack White, and portrayed Luther Perkins in Walk the Line.
Politics · 1897–1987Louis Mirianilawyer, city council president, mayor of DetroitLegal aid lawyer and council president who succeeded Albert Cobo in 1957, completed Cobo Hall and the Civic Center, and remains Detroit's most recent Republican mayor.
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.
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.
Music · born 1975MagdaDJ, producerPolish-born DJ who grew up in Hamtramck, learned techno in Detroit's record stores and raves and became a star of Richie Hawtin's Minus label.
Labor · 1901–1968Homer Martinsecond president of the United Auto Workers (1936–1939)Former Baptist preacher who led the UAW from its Detroit headquarters through the great sit-down strikes of 1936–1937, then split the union.
Literature · born 1982Jamaal Maypoet, editor, teacherDetroit poet of Hum and The Big Book of Exit Strategies, who taught poetry in Detroit public schools and co-founded the small press Organic Weapon Arts.
Law · born 1943Isaiah McKinnonpolice officer, police chief, deputy mayor, professorOne of Detroit's first Black police officers, nearly killed by fellow officers during the 1967 uprising, who rose to chief of police (1993–1998) and later served as deputy mayor.
Notorious figures · 1897–1969Angelo Meliconsigliere and leader of the Detroit PartnershipSicilian-born baker and restaurateur who became a leader of Detroit's warring Mafia factions and the Detroit Partnership's first and longest-serving consigliere.
Politics · 1810–1884Hugh Moffatcarpenter-builder, lumberman, mayor of DetroitScottish-born carpenter who built Detroit's Mariners' Church, grew rich in lumber and, as 'Honest Hugh Moffat,' served as Republican mayor from 1872 to 1875.
Music · born 1966Alton Millerhouse DJ, producer, singerDetroit house pioneer who co-founded the Music Institute in 1988 and later worked for KMS and Transmat before an international career.
Business & brands · 1819–1882Merrill I. Millsfur trader, tobacco and stove manufacturer, mayor of DetroitConnecticut gunpowder heir who stayed in Detroit by accident in 1845, built tobacco and stove companies and was the city's Democratic mayor in 1866–1867.
MusicDJ MinxDJ, producer, label founderDetroit house and techno DJ who founded the Women on Wax collective, played the first DEMF in 2000 and is honored with a mural in Highland Park.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 ↗