After getting some research done in preparation for the third week in June that I’ll be in Chicago. I decided since it was such a beautiful day today with the temperature in the mid 50s.  That I’d trek over to Detroit Memorial Park East. Located on 13 mile road a few blocks east of Ryan Rd. This African-American burial ground has many notable personages interred there from the Motown era.

When I arrived at Detroit Memorial Park. I pulled out the cemetery map which I previously listed the notables I planned on looking for. Much like the situation I had last week at White Chapel in Troy. The graves laid out in a circle formation. One thing I did notice which was of great help for me. Was that the older concrete and newer stainless steel number markers were easily viewable in the ground.

Starting the tour across from the office in the Garden of Love section Grave: 2399 I proceeded to look for the grave site of Philippe Wynne who was one of the members of the Motown group The Spinners. He also played with George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic around 1979.  Throughout his career he had multiple hits as both a solo artist and with the groups he played with. Unfortunately I discovered that his grave site was unmarked.

After attempting to find the Wynne grave site and realizing it was unmarked I headed a few steps away to Section: 2 Grave: 15 26 where I found the grave site of inventor Elijah McCoy. He invented a drip cup for oil bearings to be used on locomotives. He had 57 patents to his name related to inventions he created and improvements to inventions others made. Dieing in 1929 from complications related to senile dementia caused by hypertension he lived out his years at the infamous Eloise Infirmary.

Cruising along over to Section: 17 Grave: 2856 I stumbled upon the grave site of William “Little Willie” John. He was an R&B artist who sang with Count Bassie at the age of 14. In 1955 he had his first hit single “All Around The World” which was a top 10 hit on the R&B charts reaching #5. In 1963 Little Willie was dropped from his record company due to his bouts with alcoholism.

In 1966 he was tried and convicted of manslaughter and sent to Washington State Penitentiary for fatally stabbing a patron at a nightclub he was performing at. While in prison its rumored that he was strangled to death. It was also rumored that he had a heart attack. The heart attack is stated on his death certificate.

Next on the list in Section: 37 Lot: 2074 I visited the grave site of Blues musician Robert Warren. During his time he was one of Detroit’s top Bluesmen. Recording his first album in 1949 followed by the hit single “I Got Lucky” in 1950. Backed by Sonny Boy Williamson he recorded “Sanafee” and “Chuc-a-Luck”

Heading towards the front of the cemetery. Located in Section: 36 Grave: 539 we visited the grave of Darrell Eubanks (Banks) Born in Ohio, Darrell learned to sing in gospel churches before choosing a full time career in music. Signing with Solid Hit Bound Records he released his first hit single “Open The Door To Your Heart” in 1966. Written by Dennis Elbert but was credited to Banks as writer. A legal battle ensued with the case being settled out of court and Elberts winning the suit. In 1970 Darrell was murdered by a Detroit cop after the cop intervened in an argument Darrell was having with his girlfriend.

Closing out the day we visited Terome “T-Bone” Hannon who is located in Section: 40 Grave: 1813. T-Bone as Terome was known as was a music producer and noted bass guitarist. He toured with the musical groups SheDaisy, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, DC Talk, Shane Minor, and Shania Twain. At the time of his death he was touring with the female musical talent Jewel.