There is a lot going on in a small section of town that contains … almost nothing. President Woodrow Wilson Avenue in Detroit initially reflected the residential prosperity of Detroit, circa 1913. The building is the People’s Block. Nowadays, the President Woodrow Wilson (W.W.) corridor neighborhood is nearly vacant. It’s certainly wide enough to land […]
Detroit
A subtle green-trimmed sign in front of the Paris Hotel on St. Aubin Street in Detroit reads,“Your Home Away From Home Since 1952” Now abandoned, the hotel sits forlorn in a desolate location. Green is not the most popular architectural color in Detroit, but Glass House Hand Car Wash survives, and makes a brilliant statement […]
I walked into the cavernous Bert’s Warehouse Stage in Detroit’s Eastern Market for a photo shoot at the 2018 Detroit A Go Go Friday night show. A trim guitarist with red shoes was tearing up the stage, bending strings, backed by the house band that featured a 10-year-old harmonica player, Mighty Michael Mendelson. I would […]
I first saw Ronnie McNeir – a 20-year veteran of The Four Tops – perform solo at the Detroit A Go Go 2017. He took the stage in a blue graduation cap and gown. I had no idea what he was doing. Turns out Ronnie was performing his first 45 song, Sitting in My Class, […]
Blog Copy – Andy Levin and John Lewis August 3, 2018 Civil rights icon and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, 78, hospitalized in Atlanta after falling ill during a flight – Daily Mail Did I have the last photographic images of the civil rights legend and politician? Earlier in the day I attended a rally for Andy Levin, […]
I arrived late to the City of Ecorse annual River of Fire Walleye Fishing Tournament. The Ecorse Heavy Hitters Fire Department hosted the tournament, proudly displaying their shinny fire engine parked at the dock gate in case of fire run. I didn’t see any “River of Fire”. The Ecorse Dock office on the Detroit River […]
Fast Freddy Anderson: a Detroit Fashion Statement. I had been introduced to Fast Freddy Anderson at the four-day Detroit A Go-Go live shows in October, 2017. Freddy was singing with The Capitols, backing the original lead singer Donald Stroball, and dancing to the classic “Cool Jerk,” recorded in Detroit at Golden Worlds Records (1966). […]
I had initially met Willie Ford at Roberto’s Barber and Beauty Salon on East Seven Mile Road in Detroit. He was sitting in a Chrysler parked out in front of the shop. It was cold. We talked briefly. I was meeting with Larry Webster, part-owner of the shop and the manager of The Dramatics, one […]
Thursday, May 28, 2015 was a busy day at Detroit’s RobertO’s Beauty and Barber Shop on East 7 Mile Road. The shop was busy with customers, family, and friends. A typical day late in the week. Friday and Saturday are even more busy. RobertO’s styleshair. Larry Webster (age 70) sculpting a customer, and partner Robert “Fast Fingers” Davis […]