Blue Bird Inn

Famous Detroiters

Famous people tied to this place 13

Lexicon entries for the people who lived, worked, performed or liked to spend time here.

• Elvin Jones 1927–2004 · jazz drummer, bandleader

  Performed here

  West-side jazz bar, a bebop stage from 1948, where he drummed in Billy Mitchell's house band. Closed in the early 2000s; the Detroit Sound Conservancy bought it in 2018 and is restoring it as a venue and heritage center.

• Yusef Lateef 1920–2013 · jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, author

  Performed here

  West-side bar that became Detroit's leading bebop room by the late 1940s. He is among the modernists documented at the club. The Detroit Sound Conservancy bought the building in 2018; it became a local historic district in 2020 and is being restored as a venue and heritage center.

• Kenny Burrell born 1931 · jazz guitarist, composer, educator

  Performed here

  West side bar that was Detroit's key bebop room around 1950. The Detroit Sound Conservancy bought it in 2018 and is restoring it; it became a local historic district in 2020.

• Tommy Flanagan 1930–2001 · jazz pianist, composer

  Performed here

  His first residency (1949) and his job again after army service. Owned since 2018 by the Detroit Sound Conservancy, which is restoring it.

• Thad Jones 1923–1986 · jazz trumpeter, cornetist, composer, bandleader

  Performed here

  West-side bar that became Detroit's leading bebop room by the late 1940s. He played in the house band here with Billy Mitchell, Elvin Jones and Barry Harris. The Detroit Sound Conservancy bought the building in 2018; it became a local historic district in 2020 and is being restored as a venue and heritage center.

• Pepper Adams 1930–1986 · jazz baritone saxophonist, composer

  Performed here

  He played here with Thad Jones after returning from Korea and became music director when Jones left. Now being restored by the Detroit Sound Conservancy.

• Curtis Fuller 1932–2021 · jazz trombonist, composer

  Performed here

  West-side bebop club where he is among the documented performers. The Detroit Sound Conservancy bought the building in 2018; it became a local historic district in 2020 and is being restored.

• Wardell Gray 1921–1955 · jazz tenor saxophonist

  Performed here

  West-side bebop club that lists him among its performers. Closed in the early 2000s; under restoration by the Detroit Sound Conservancy.

• Oliver Jackson 1933–1994 · jazz drummer

  Performed here

  Jackson and his bassist brother Ali played in Billy Mitchell's house band at this west-side bebop club.

• Terry Pollard 1931–2009 · jazz pianist, vibraphonist

  Performed here

  The Tireman Avenue bebop club where Pollard played in Billy Mitchell's house band with Elvin Jones.

• Frank Gant 1931–2021 · jazz drummer

  Performed here

  Gant drummed in pianist Alvin Jackson's house band at the Tireman Avenue club.

• Billy Mitchell 1926–2001 · jazz tenor saxophonist, bandleader

  Performed here

  The Tireman Avenue bebop club where Mitchell led the house band, with Miles Davis sitting in for several months in 1953.

• Clarence Eddins 1918–1992 · nightclub owner

  Worked here

  The west-side bebop club he owned and ran with his wife Mary; closed in the early 2000s, bought by the Detroit Sound Conservancy in 2018 and designated a city historic district, it is being restored as a music venue.