January/February 2010

Michigan’s Contribution: Music

One Internet source lists 995 music artists from Michigan.  Here’s just a sampling:

Bob Seger -Born May 6, 1945 at The Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. - Graduated Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor.  A rock musician and singer/songwriter -signature song Old Time Rock and Roll -  he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2004.

Berry Gordy, Jr. - Born November 28, 1929 inDetroit.  Berry is the founder of the Motown record label and its many subsidiaries.  He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Del Shannon (Charles Weedon Westover) singer - Born December 30, 1934  in Grand Rapids – He is best known for hits such as Runaway, Hats Off to Larry and Stranger In Town

Diana Ross -  Born March 26, 1944  in Detroit - at Women's Hospital.  The first female music artist to have six number one songs as a soloist.  She also was the lead singer of "The Supremes."

Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono - Born February 16, 1935 in Detroit.  Along with his then-wife Cher, as part of the singing duo Sonny and Cher,  wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit records with singles like I Got You, Babe and The Beat Goes On.

Alice Cooper –Born February 4, 1948 inDetroit,  also known as Vincent Damon Furnier. Some hit songs include Welcome to my Nightmare, Eighteen and No More Mr. Nice Guy.

Mark Farner – Born September 29, 1948 in Flint - Best known as the lead guitarist/singer for Grand Funk Railroad, but later became a Contemporary Christian musician. Hit songs from Grand Funk Railroad include We're an American Band and I'm your Captain.

Judkins Stevland "Stevie Wonder"-BornMay 13,1950 in Saginaw.  Stevie Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for his singing. He also has over thirty top ten hits.

Madonna Louise Ciccone - Born Aug. 16, 1958 in Bay City and raised in Rochester Hills.  Singer with hit singles Material Girl, and Vogue.  She has also acted in such movies as A League of Their Own, and Evita.

Glenn Frey - Born 1948 in Detroit - and grew up in Royal Oak.  Best known as one of the founding members of The Eagles, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Kid Rock rapper/singer -Born1971, in Romeo - Also known as Robert James Ritchie.

Anthony Kiedis singer/songwriter - Born Nov. 1, 1962 in Grand Rapids - the lead singer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers - best known for songs such as Under the Bridge, Breaking the Girl and Scar Tissue.

Sufjan Stevens singer/songwriter, musician - Born July 1,1975 in Detroit, lived in Petoskey and attended Hope College in Holland.  His album Greetings From Michigan  included odes to cities including Detroit and Flint, the Upper Peninsula, and vacation areas such as Tahquamenon Falls. Melded into the scenic descriptions and characters are his own declarations of faith, sorrow, love, and the regeneration of Michigan.

Jack White - Born 1975 in Detroit and Meg White born 1974 in Grosse Pointe Farms – band White Stripes - The band has sold approximately 12 million albums worldwide, two million in the U.S. alone, and their latest three albums have each won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.

Sources:
www.outdoor-michigan.com/Famous_People.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufjan_Stevens
www.scribd.com/doc/336957/Famous-People-From-Detroit
www.zimbio.com/Meg+White
www.madmanmike.com/bands_musicians_michigan.html