300 reasons Detroit’s musical history rocks

published October 07, 2013 | posted by detroit

This alphabetical list of the 300 most important and influential musical artists in Detroit's history, as compiled by WDET-FM, Detroit, is by no means a definitive list. It serves as a starting point for you to explore Detroit's diverse musical heritage.

1. Aaliyah — Contemporary R&B vocalist

2. Alberta Adams — Blues vocalist

3. Pepper Adams — Jazz saxophonist

4. Joseph Reed Alden — Co-wrote Sleepy Time Gal

5. Geri Allen — Jazz pianist

6. Pistol Allen — Jazz drummer

7. Howard Armstrong (Louie Bluie) — Blues vocalist

8. Ralphe Armstrong — Jazz bassist

9. Dorothy Ashby — Jazz harpist

10. Juan Atkins — Techno pioneer

11. Anita Baker — R&B vocalist

12. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters — '50s R&B group

13. Spencer Barefield — Jazz guitarist

14. Johnnie Bassett and the Blues Insurgents — Blues guitarist/group

15. Marcus Belgrave — Jazz trumpeter

16. Benny Benjamin — Motown Funk Brothers drummer

17. George Bennard — Wrote Old Rugged Cross

18. George Benson — Jazz saxophonist

19. Big Chief/Thornetta Davis — Rock/blues band/vocalist

20. Big Maceo (Maceo Merriweather) — Blues vocalist/pianist

21. Rayse Biggs — Jazz trumpeter

22. Emmanuelle Boisvert — DSO concertmaster

23. William Bolcom and Joan Morris — Classical pianist and vocalist

24. Bess Bonnier — Jazz pianist

25. Sonny Bono — Pop songwriter/vocalist

26. Thomas "Beans" Bowles — Motown saxophonist

27. Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise — Blues/rock band

28. Johnny Bristol — Motown producer/vocalist/songwriter

29. Jack Brokensha — Jazz and Motown vibraphonist and percussionist

30. Roy Brooks — Jazz drummer

31. Shelton Brooks — Wrote Darktown Strutters Ball

32. Ray Brown — Jazz bassist

33. Eddie Burns — Blues guitarist

34. Kenny Burrell — Jazz guitarist

35. Donald Byrd & The Blackbyrds — Jazz trumpeter/group

36. Choker Campbell & His Orchestra — R&B saxophonist

37. Hughie Cannon — Wrote Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home

38. The Capitols — '60s R&B group

39. Carl Carlton — Funk, soul vocalist

40. Betty Carter — Jazz vocalist

41. James Carter — Jazz saxophonist

42. Regina Carter — Jazz violinist

43. Ron Carter — Jazz bassist

44. Dennis Chambers — Jazz drummer

45. Paul Chambers — Jazz bassist

46. Chairmen of the Board — '70s soul group

47. Chenille Sisters — Folk group

48. Mattie Moss Clark —Gospel singer, member of Clark Sisters

49. Clark Sisters — Gospel group

50. Rev. James Cleveland — Gospel vocalist, trombonist and pianist

51. George Clinton — Funk vocalist, producer and songwriter

52. Dennis Coffey — Motown session guitarist

53. Alice Coltrane — Jazz pianist and harpist

54. Contemporary Jazz Quartet (jazz group)/Kenny Cox (pianist)/Charles Moore (trumpet, flugelhorn)

55. The Contours — '60s Motown group

56. Alice Cooper — Rock vocalist

57. Dave "Baby" Cortez — Organist who recorded #1 Billboard single The Happy Organ

58. The Counts — R&B band

59. A. Couse — Wrote mid-1800s hit song The Detroit Schottische

60. Carl Craig — Techno pioneer

61. Marshall Crenshaw — Rock singer/songwriter

62. Dana Cupp — Bluegrass banjoist

63. Michael Daugherty — Contemporary classical composer

64. Destroy All Monsters — Experimental rock/punk band

65. Detroit Emeralds — '70s soul group

66. Detroit Symphony Orchestra

67. Antal Dorati — DSO conductor

68. The Dramatics — '70s soul group

69. Gene Dunlap — Jazz drummer

70. The Dynamics —'70s soul group

71. Jack Earls —Rockabilly vocalist

72. Teddy Edwards — Jazz saxophonist

73. Raymond B. Egan — Co-wrote Till Me Meet Again

74. Sixten Ehrling — DSO Conductor

75. Louis Elbel — Wrote University of Michigan fight song The Victors

76. Eminem — Rapper

77. Maria Ewing — Soprano

78. The Falcons/Eddie Floyd — '50s/'60s soul group/vocalist

79. Fantastic Four — R&B and soul group

80. Ernie Farrow — Jazz bassist

81. Doris Fisher — Wrote You Always Hurt The One You Love

82. Tommy Flanagan — Jazz pianist

83. Frank Foster — Jazz saxophonist and arranger

84. Four Tops — Motown group

85. T.J. Fowler & His Orchestra — Jazz and jump blues band

86. Aretha Franklin — Soul vocalist

87. Calvin Frazier & Sampson Pittman — Blues guitarists

88. Glenn Frey — Rock guitarist/vocalist, member of The Eagles

89. Frijid Pink — Psychedelic rock band

90. Frost — '60s/'70s rock band

91. Curtis Fuller — Jazz trombonist

92. The Funk Brothers — Motown studio band

93. Harvey Fuqua — Motown/R&B writer, producer and vocalist

94. Ossip Gabrilowitsch — DSO conductor

95. Slim Gaillard — Jazz vocalist, pianist and guitarist

96. Kenny Garrett — Jazz saxophonist

97. Marvin Gaye — Motown/R&B vocalist

98. Pete Goble — Bluegrass songwriter

99. Berry Gordy — Motown songwriter/founder

100. Jay Gorney — Wrote Brother Can You Spare A Dime

101. Grand Funk Railroad — '70s rock band

102. Wardell Gray — Jazz saxophonist

103. Grant Green — Jazz guitarist

104. Griot Galaxy —Free jazz group

105. Emma Azalia Hackley — Mid -1800s singer and choral director

106. Bill Haley — Rock vocalist/guitarist

107. Fred Hammond — Gospel vocalist, bassist and producer

108. Sir Roland Hanna — Jazz pianist

109. Barry Harris — Jazz pianist

110. Charles Kassell Harris — Wrote late-800s hit After The Ball

111. Teddy Harris, Jr. — Jazz pianist and composer

112. Vernon Harrison (Boogie Woogie Red) — Blues pianist

113. Wendell Harrison — Jazz saxophonist and clarinetist

114. Richie Hawtin — Techno producer, arranger, composer

115. Louis Hayes — Jazz drummer

116. J. C. Heard — Jazz drummer

117. Bill Heid — Blues and jazz pianist

118. Joe Henderson — Jazz saxophonist

119. Michael Henderson — Jazz and rock bassist

120. William P. Hensley (Washboard Willie) — Blues "Washboardist"

121. His Name Is Alive — Indie rock band

122. Holland, Dozier, Holland —Motown songwriters and producers

123. Major Holley, Jr. — Jazz bassist

124. Brenda Holloway — Motown vocalist

125. John Lee Hooker — Blues vocalist, guitarist and composer

126. Harlan Howard — Wrote Busted and I Fall To Pieces

127. Bob Hurst — Jazz bassist

128. Insane Clown Posse — Rappers

129. Ali Jackson — Jazz drummer

130. Deon Jackson — Soul vocalist

131. Eddie Jackson — Rockabilly vocalist

132. Fred Jackson — Jazz saxophonist

133. Milt Jackson — Jazz vibraphonist and composer

134. Oliver Jackson, Jr. (Bops Jr.) — Jazz drummer

135. James Jamerson — Motown Funk Brothers bassist

136. Neeme Järvi — DSO conductor

137. John (Bobo) Jenkins — Blues guitarist, vocalist and producer

138. Johnny & The Hurricanes — 60s instrumental rock band

139. Marv Johnson — '50s and '60s R&B singer

140. Elvin Jones — Jazz drummer

141. Hank Jones — Jazz pianist

142. Isham Jones — '20sand '30s jazz bandleader, wrote It Had To Be You

143. Thad Jones — Jazz bandleader, trumpeter, composer ampersand arranger

144. Uriel Jones — Motown Funk Brothers drummer

145. Sheila Jordan — Jazz vocalist

146. Ana and Ida Kavafian — Classical violinists

147. Eddie Kendricks — R&B vocalist and member of The Temptations

148. Kid Rock — Rap and rock singer

149. Eddie Kirkland — Blues vocalist, harmonica player and guitarist

150. Earl Klugh — Jazz guitarist

151. Gladys Knight & The Pips — R&B/Motown group

152. Terry Knight & The Pack — '60s rock group

153. Cub Koda & Brownsville Station — '70s,'80s and'90s rock vocalist/band

154. Ruth Laredo — Classical pianist

155. Yusef Lateef — Jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer

156. Bettye Lavette — Blues vocalist

157. Hugh Lawson — Jazz pianist

158. Samuel M. (Sammy) Lerner — Wrote I'm Popeye The Sailor Man

159. Barbara Lewis — '60s pop-soul vocalist

160. Kirk Lightsey — Jazz pianist

161. Little Sonny — Longtime blues vocalist and harmonica player

162. Little Willie John — '50s and '60s R&B vocalist

163. Joe LoDuca — Jazz guitarist and film score composer

164. Shorty Long — '60s Motown vocalist and pianist

165. Angelo Lorenzo — Co-wrote Sleepy Time Gal

166. Lene Lovich — New Wave vocalist

167. Madonna — Pop icon

168. Rick Margitza — Post-bop jazz tenor saxophonist

169. Gerald Marks — Wrote All of Me

170. Kenny Martin — Soul vocalist

171. Marvellettes — '60s Motown girl group

172. Bennie Maupin — Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist.

173. Derrick May — Techno pioneer

174. Nathaniel Mayer — Fortune Records R&B vocalist

175. Cecil McBee — Jazz bassist

176. MC5 — '60s, '70s rock band

177. Howard McGhee — Jazz trumpeter

178. Harold McKinney & Family — Jazz pianist, composer, educator/multi-instrumentalists

179. McKinney's Cotton Pickers — Jazz big band

180. Charles McPherson — Jazz saxophonist

181. Roger Miller (of Mission of Burma) — Rock vocalist and guitarist

182. Frederick Allen Mills — Wrote Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis

183. Jeff Mills (The Wizard) — Techno DJ, producer

184. Mischa Mischakoff — DSO concertmaster

185. Mr. B — Blues and boogie woogie pianist

186. Mr. Bo (Louis Collins) — Blues guitarist and vocalist

187. Billy Mitchell — Jazz saxophonist

188. Francisco Mora — Jazz percussionist

189. Chubby Newsome — Jump blues vocalist

190. Larry Nozero — Jazz saxophonist and flutist

191. Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes — Rock guitarist and vocalist/band

192. Paul Paray — DSO conductor

193. Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio — R&B/Pop vocalist and guitarist/band

194. Terrence Parker — Techno DJ and producer

195. Parliament-Funkadelic — Funk band

196. Freda Payne — Soul, jazz and pop vocalist

197. Greg Phillinganes — Pop/soul keyboardist and songwriter.

198. Wilson Pickett — Soul vocalist

199. Iggy Pop — Rock icon

200. King Porter — Jazz and blues trumpeter

201. Johnny Powers — Rockabilly vocalist and guitarist

202. The Precisions — '60s R&B group

203. Suzi Quatro — '70s and '80s vocalist, songwriter and bassist

204. ? & The Mysterians — '60s rock band

205. Barbara Randolph — Soul vocalist

206. Phil Ranelin & Tribe — Free jazz group

207. Rare Earth — '60s and '70s psychedelic soul group

208. The Rationals — '60s rock band

209. Johnny Ray — '50s pop vocalist

210. Della Reese — Jazz, blues, R&B, gospel and pop vocalist

211. Dianne Reeves — Jazz vocalist

212. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas — Motown vocalist/group

213. The Reflections — '70s R&B group

214. William Revelli — University of Michigan band director

215. Todd Rhodes — Jazz pianist and arranger

216. Sir Mack Rice — R&B vocalist and composer

217. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles —Motown vocalist/group

218. Sugar Chile Robinson — R&B vocalist

219. Rockets — '70s and '80s rock band

220. Rodriguez (Jesus Rodriguez) — Rock vocalist and guitarist

221. Romantics — '80s rock group

222. Frank Rosolino — Jazz trombonist

223. Diana Ross & The Supremes — Motown vocalist/group

224. Dr. Ross — Blues vocalist, harmonica player and guitarist

225. Dennis Rowland — Jazz vocalist

226. Royal Jokers — Doo-wop group

227. David Ruffin — R&B vocalist, member of The Temptations

228. Jimmy Ruffin — R&B vocalist, member of The Temptations

229. Danny Russo — Wrote Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye

230. Peter "Madcat" Ruth — Blues harmonica player

231. Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels — Rock vocalist/group

232. Kevin Saunderson/Inner City — Techno DJ and producer/band

233. Savage Grace — Progressive rock band

234. Jack Scott — Rockabilly guitarist and vocalist

235. Bob Seeley — Boogie woogie pianist

236. Bob Seger — Rock icon

237. Jaribu Shahid — Jazz bassist

238. James Royce Shannon — Wrote The Missouri Waltz

239. Dick Siegel — Folk singer/songwriter

240. John Sinclair — Vocalist, poet, blues and jazz historian, manager of the MC5

241. Louis Smith — Jazz trumpeter

242. Patti Smith — Rock singer/songwriter, poet

243. Son House — Delta blues slide guitarist and vocalist

244. Sonic's Rendezvous Band — Rock group

245. R. J. Spangler — Blues drummer

246. Skip Spence — Singer/songwriter, member of Moby Grape and Jefferson Airplane

247. Spinners — '70s soul group

248. SRC — 60s and '70s rock band

249. Gordon Staples — DSO concertmaster and Motown string arranger

250. Edwin Starr — R&B/Motown vocalist

251. Sonny Stitt — Jazz saxophonist

252. Byron Douglas Stokes — Co-wrote Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

253. The Stooges — '60s/'70s rock band

254. Straight Ahead — All-female jazz group

255. Barrett Strong — Motown vocalist/composer

256. Nolan Strong and The Diablos — Blues/R&B vocalist/group

257. Tani Tabbal — Jazz drummer

258. Craig Taborn — Jazz keyboardist

259. R. Dean Taylor — Motown songwriter/vocalist

260. Temptations — Motown group

261. Tammi Terrell — Motown vocalist

262. Harvey Thompson — Jazz vocalist

263. Lucky Thompson — Jazz saxophonist

264. James Tocco — Classical pianist

265. Johnny Trudell — Bid band leader and Motown trumpeter

266. Undisputed Truth — '70s Motown funk group

267. Unrelated Segments — '60s garage rock band

268. Earl Van Dyke — Keyboardist/bandleader for The Funk Brothers

269. Earl Van Riper — Jazz pianist

270. Velvellettes — Motown group

271. Frank Dudleigh Vernor — Co-wrote Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

272. Albert Von Tilzer — Wrote Take Me Out To The Ballgame

273. Harry Von Tilzer — Wrote A Bird In A Gilded Cage

274. Donald Walden — Jazz saxophonist

275. Jr. Walker & The Allstars — Motown saxophonist and vocalist/band

276. Beulan "Sippie" Wallace — Blues vocalist

277. Leon Ware — Motown songwriter/singer/producer/arranger

278. Gino Washington — '60s R&B vocalist

279. Was (Not Was) — Contemporary R&B dance group

280. Don Was (Don Fagenson) — Producer and bassist

281. Julius Watkins — Jazz French horn player

282. Joe Weaver — Blues pianist and vocalist

283. Ben Weisman — Wrote many million selling songs for Elvis Presley

284. Mary Wells — Motown vocalist

285. Kim Weston — Motown vocalist

286. Rodney Whitaker — Jazz bassist

287. Norman Whitfield — Motown producer and songwriter

288. Richard Whiting — Wrote On The Good Ship Lollipop

289. Popcorn Wylie — R&B/Motown vocalist/songwriter

290. Jimmy Wilkins' Big Band — Trombonist/bandleader

291. Andre Williams & The Five Dollars — '50s/'60s R&B group

292. Richard Storrs Willis — Wrote It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

293. Gerald Wilson — Jazz leader, composer, arranger and trumpeter

294. Jackie Wilson — R&B vocalist

295. Winans — Contemporary gospel group

296. Stevie Wonder — Soul and pop icon

297. Lyman Woodard — Jazz organist

298. Syreeta Wright — Soul vocalist

299. York Brothers — Country duo

300. Alexander Zonjic — Jazz flutist



300 reasons Detroit's musical history rocks

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