Woodlawn Cemetery

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Buried here are multiple artists including:

Aretha Franklin

Aretha was known as the “Queen of Soul” and had 18 Grammy award-winning songs. Her musical repertoire ranged from gospel to jazz, rhythm and blues and pop. In 1987 she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her signature song and greatest hit is “Respect.” Aretha died on August 16, 2018 at the age of 76.

David Ruffin

Ruffin was one of the lead singers for “The Temptations” from 1964 to 1968. He was the lead voice on such famous songs as “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”.  David was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 for his work with The Temptations. David died on June 1, 1991 at the age of 50 from a drug overdose.

Earl Van Dyke

Earl was the main keyboardist with Motown Records‘ in-house band the Funk Brothers in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s”. Earl died on September 18, 1992 at the age of 62 from prostate cancer. 

Billy Henderson

Billy was lead singer and co-founder of “The Spinners“. In February 2, 2007, Henderson died in Daytona Beach, Florida, at the age of 67, from complications caused by diabetes. The Spinners were nominated for six Grammy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Pervis Jackson

Pervis was bass singer and co-founder of “The Spinners“. The Spinners were nominated for six Grammy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was was still a part of The Spinners up to his death on August 18, 2008 from cancer at the age of 70.

James Jamerson

James was one of the “Funk Brothers” who played backup on most every Motown hit in the 1960s and early ’70s.  James is considered one of the most influential bass players in modern music history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. As a session musician he played on twenty-three Billboard Hot 100 number one hits, as well as fifty-six R&B number one hits. James died on August 2, 1983 at the age of 47 from the complications from cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure and pneumonia.

Richard Wylie

Richard who was also known as “Popcorn Wylie”, was one of the “Funk Brothers” who played backup on most every Motown hit in the 1960s and early ’70s. Richard died on September 7, 2008 at the age of 69 from congestive heart failure.

Edward Patten

Edward was a member of “Gladys Knight & the Pips” and along with the group, he was inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Edward died at the age of 65 on February 25, 2005 from the complications associated with a stroke.

Levi Stubbs

Levi was the lead vocalist of “The Four Tops“. Stubbs was also a voice artist in film and television, most famously having provided the voice of “Audrey II”, the alien plant in the 1986 movie Little Shop of Horrors. The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013.  Levi Died on October 17, 2008 at the age of 72 from the complications of cancer.

Lawrence Payton

Lawrence was one of the original members of “The Four Tops“. Lawrence is credited with creating the Four Tops vocal arrangements and the overall sound of the Tops. He also sang lead on several songs. The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013.  He passed away on June 20, 1997 at the age of 59 due to liver cancer.

Ronald White

Ronnie was one of the founding members of “The Miracles“. Ronnie wrote several hit singles for the Miracles as well as other artists including The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Mary Wells. Ronnie White was a 2012 posthumous inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Miracles. He received a star posthumously on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 20, 2009  and was also posthumously inducted with the rest of the original Miracles into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2005. He passed away on August 26, 1995 at the age of 56 from leukemia.

Woodlawn Cemetery
19975 Woodward Avenue
Detroit MI 48203
313 368-0010