WHAT: As a special benefit for MUMFORD HIGH SCHOOL, alumna extraordinaire ALLEE WILLIS conducts the MUMFORD HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND through a medley of her hit songs in the lobby of Detroit’s FOX THEATRE, with cast members from THE COLOR PURPLE joining in for a sing-along. WHEN: Saturday, April 9, 11:00AM to 12:30PM, SHARP WHERE: The Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201 GRAMMY, Tony, Emmy, and Webby award-winning/nominated songwriter, artist, multimediaist, director, collector, party thrower—and native Detroiter— returns to her hometown for a special benefit event at the historic and fabulous Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit. An alumna of Mumford High School, Willis will lead the school’s marching band through a medley of her hit songs in the lobby of the Fox. The Saturday, April 9 event takes place during a weekend run of The Color Purple at the theater, and cast members from the touring company of the Broadway smash—of which Allee is a co-author—will join in for a celebratory sing-along. Event will go toward new band uniforms. The Allee Willis-composed songs comprising the medley—to be played first instrumentally by the marching band, and then with TCP company members singing along—are: “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “In The Stone,” (all major hits for Earth, Wind, & Fire), “I’ll Be There For You” (Theme from Friends),” “The Color Purple,” “Stir It Up” (Patti LaBelle), and “Neutron Dance” (the Pointer Sisters). The last two songs connect Allee to Mumford beyond her having gone there—they’re featured in Beverly Hills Cop, and on the soundtrack, which won Allee a GRAMMY. The film, produced by fellow Mumford alum Jerry Bruckheimer, made the school famous when Eddie Murphy wore a Mumford t-shirt throughout. Allee was inspired to work with the Mumford High marching band after being invited to conduct the 350-piece marching band at her collegiate alma mater, University of Wisconsin, for the halftime show at the 2010 Homecoming football game. “Allee Willis Marches on Detroit” is a dream come true for Allee, connecting her songs and The Color Purple to Mumford and her beloved hometown of Detroit—all in the city’s most famous venue. She also looks forward to working with Mumford students on an ongoing basis. And, this project builds on work Allee started doing with the school in 2008, when she was on a national radio broadcast as Mumford became the first school in the country to receive 400 hours of historic audio tapes related to African-American history that she helped to restore with Pacifica Radio Archives. Tickets are $50 each, with attendance limited to 200 guests (not including the band and event facilitators). Sponsorships are available to help underwrite the event, and will go toward “sponsored” tickets to allow current Mumford students to attend, generating proceeds for uniforms, and covering production costs. FYI “Allee Willis Marches on Detroit” takes place just before a matinee of The Color Purple. Event tickets do not include admission to the show. Attendees may (but are not required to) separately purchase discounted tickets for The Color Purple—in advance—by calling Fox Theatre group sales at 313-471-3099. “Allee Willis Marches on Detroit” is supported by Nickelodeon’s The Big Help Grant Program.
Michigan Icon
Kid Rock Gives Back
Kid Rock’s love for Detroit and Michigan has always been apparent, but this past Saturday at his 40th birthday bash at Ford Field, Detroit showed its love for Kid Rock by presenting him with the Spirit of Detroit Award. In true Rock style, he returned the favor by announcing $25,000 donations to each of these Metro Detroit charities, COTS, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Haven and Rainbow Connection.
Michigan Business Spotlight – Kern’s Sausages
Kern’s Sausages opened for business in 1949 in Frankenmuth, Michigan’s Little Bavaria. They offer 34 varieties of homemade sausages, baked goods, cheeses, fine wines, and German import foods. They have one of the largest selections of domestic and imported beer in the area and also offer catering and gift baskets.
For more information or to visit Kern’s Sausuages, please visit: www.kernssausage.com
R.I.P. Ernie Harwell
Here at Michigan is Amazing, we don’t like to share the negative. However, we feel it’s important to pay tribute to a man that so many generations of Michiganders know and love. Ernie Harwell was the voice of the Tigers for over four decades.
Tuesday May 4, 2010 Mr. Harwell passed away at the age of 92. As he said in his final sign-off in 2002, “Now God has a new adventure for me.” No other words seem more fitting. Your voice will live on forever in the minds of baseball fans everywhere, but especially for those here in Michigan.
Rest in Peace Ernie…we’ll miss you.
To read more on Ernie, click here.
Today in Michigan History
April 7, 1947
Henry Ford died.
According to one Ford biographer, “at the time of his death, Henry Ford was summed up as a patriot, philanthropist, philosopher, sociologist, reformer, economist, teacher, and above all, a man of simple tastes. He was widely depicted as an inspiration of youth and symbol of individualism, American ingenuity, free enterprise and America itself.”
Scores of Michiganders eulogized the 83-year-old Ford. Michigan senator Arthur Vandenberg noted that “he probably had as great an impact on his time as if he had been president of the United States.”
Thank you Michigan Start Pages for this glimpse into our past. See more here.
American vs Lafayette Coney Island on Food Wars
The two Coney Islands will be facing off on Food Wars! Have a favorite, come out to show your support!
For all the details, click here.
Today in Michigan History
February 2, 1936
Ty Cobb became one of the first players selected to enter the newly formed Baseball Hall of Fame.
According to many observers, Ty Cobb may have been baseball’s greatest player. His batting accomplishments are legendary—a lifetime average of .367, 297 triples, 4,191 hits, 12 batting titles (including nine in a row), 23 straight seasons in which he hit over .300, three .400 seasons (topped by a .420 mark in 1911), and 2,245 runs. Nicknamed “The Georgia Peach,” Cobb stole 892 bases during a 24-year career, primarily with the Detroit Tigers.
Thank you Michigan Start Pages for this glimpse into our past. See more here.
Today in Michigan History
January 21, 1987
Singer Aretha Franklin became the first female inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25, 1942, Aretha Franklin moved with her family to Detroit when she was two. Her father, C. L. Franklin, became pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church and an important civil rights leader. As a teenager, Aretha was a star in her father’s traveling gospel show. Franklin struck out on her own at age seventeen to make it in the music business. Some of her early hits include “Respect,” which won two Grammy Awards and an honorary award from Martin Luther King Jr., “Think” and a remake of Carol King’s “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel).” Franklin, who still lives in Detroit, holds the record of most Grammy Awards for a female artist.
Thank you Michigan Start Pages for this glimpse into our past. See more here.
Today in Michigan History
December 18, 1920
Ty Cobb took over as manager of the Detroit Tigers.
On his thirty-fourth birthday, Ty Cobb replaced longtime manager Hughie Jennings as manager of the Detroit Tigers. Cobb, who had to be talked into taking the job, took it partly because it was rumored that Clarence Rowland, the former White Sox manager whom Cobb did not feel was qualified, would be selected to lead the Tigers.
Thank you Michigan Start Pages for this glimpse into our past. See more here.
RIP Soupy Sales
Detroit entertainment legend and slapstick pioneer, Soupy Sales, died Thursday night in New York at age 83.
Click here to read more about Soupy Sales on Freep.com.
Michigan is Amazing 