2014 July Detroit

Rick (in red) is part of our RV group.  He's clowning around with another man visiting the home of "Motown" music.  Picture of the Temptations in the front window.  The original label (Tamla) was derived from "Tammy", the first recorded song on this label and LA (Los Angeles). 

The two buildings together was the administration offices, Gordy's family apartment, and the recording studio.  Our tour guide was so much fun.  He had us singing "Grapevine" and other Motown hits throughout the tour.  Many of these early stars grew up within a few block radius of this building.  Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, and other's pictures are shown during their recording sessions in this small little studio.  Such fun to see it.

 We made a quick stop for lunch at this cute hot dog place (Coney Island Shop) in downtown Detroit.

Below is the Fisher Building built in 1928 by Fisher Body Company.  They spared no expense.  It's still one of the most beautiful buildings ever built in the US.  Fisher Body was the first company to design an enclosed automobile.  The Fisher Brothers profited hugely from their early development.

There are restaurants, offices, condos, shops and more shops, but the finest part of the building is the very elaborate theatre that is used still today for Broadway hits and other big shows.

Below is the original Steinway Piano headquarters.

Joe Lewis was from Detroit.  The statue below is Cobo Hall, a convention center in downtown.  Joe Lewis defeated the German Max Schmeling in a World Championship boxing match in 1938.  Joe died in 1981 a pauper.  His family did not have money to bury him.  When Max Schmeling heard of Joe's passing he paid for his funeral.

Below the GM offices is the center building.  Marriot is on the left.  Not sure, but the other buildings might be GM's also.

Looking back toward downtown Detroit from the plaza near the Detroit River.

 

Paddle boat on the Detroit River.  Below really nice statue of slaves during the Underground Railroad era. This is the only point in the US that you look South toward Canada.  Windsor, Ontario is in the background.