Glad you could join us for the fourth stop of the Cemetery Tour Series.
Let's get this tour off! Go to N42 31.159 and W083 03.933
STOP 1: You will be looking for the headstone of FLORENCE GLENDA BALLARD
R&B singer and founding member of one of America's successful female vocal groups of all time, the Supremes. Florence Glenda Ballard was the eighth of thirteen children born in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in the housing projects of Detroit, Michigan. In her teens, Ballard formed the vocal group the Primettes with school friends Mary Wilson and Betty Travis (who later left the group). Diana Ross completed the line-up in 1960. The following year, in Jan. of 1961, the Primettes were signed by Motown Records, who re-named them the Supremes. As the group's acknowledged leader, Ballard was the featured vocalist on their early Motown singles, label boss Berry Gordy insisted that Diana Ross become the lead singer in 1963. Over the next four years, the Supremes became the toast of show business, scoring 10 No. 1 hits, appearing on the "The Ed Sullivan Show" 20 times, headlining top night clubs and starring in their own top-rated TV specials. After Diana Ross was made lead, Ballard was allowed few opportunities to take the limelight, either on record or in contract. Unhappy with her diminishing role in the Supremes, she repeatedly complained to Gordy and his executives, and resulting friction led to her being ousted from the group in 1967. Throughout the drama, Motown maintained that Ballard was retiring because of the strain of constant touring. In 1968 Ballard married Tommy Chapman, a former Motown Chauffeur, and they had three children together. Motown annuled her contract, and she signed with ABC, for whom she made two singles. Ballard was legally barred from capitalizing on her glorious past with the Supremes, and while her former group went on, her solo releases flopped. Her contract with ABC was later terminated and other labels were weary of offending Gordy by signing her. Ballard became an increasingly embittered figure, ignored by the Detroit Music Scene in which she had played such a pivotal role. By the early 1970's, Ballard's finances had declined and she and her children were living in a Detroit housing project. Her reliance on a lethal cocktail of alcohol and diet pills soon weakened her health, and in February, 1976, a day after checking into a Detroit hospital, Ballard's tragic career ended at the young age of 32. Ironically, Florence Ballard's contribution to the success of the Supremes has now been recognized and her fate has been described as a telling verdict on the way in which Motown handled its more uncompromising artists. Though she departed this life before she could revive her career, Florence Ballard continues to live through the wonderful legacy of the Supremes.
Now find the military grave of Roy Coleman within 10 feet of Ballard's
NOW FOR YOUR FIRST QUESTION: Roy was the Sgt. of what truck Company? This is a four digit number, add the last two numbers together to get "A"
Now go to N42 31.174 and W083 03.963
STOP 2: You will be looking for the headstone of ELIJAH McCOY.
Inventor. He is best remembered for his many inventions dealing with the lubrication of steam engines and to whom the phrase "The real McCoy" is attributed. He was born a free black in Colchester, Ontario, Canada to parents who were fugitive slaves who had escaped from Kentucky via the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War. In 1847 his family returned to the US and settled in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Around 1859 he traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland to study mechanical engineering and after receiving his certification a few years later, he returned to Michigan. He obtained a job with the Michigan Central Railroad but could only be employed as a fireman and oiler. During this time he established a machine shop at his home in Ypsilanti where he performed more highly skilled work, such as developing improvements inventions, including an automatic lubricator for oiling the steam engines of locomotives and ships while they were in motion that became known as the "McCoy System," for which he applied for and received a patent. He continued to refine his inventions and design new ones and after the turn of the century he was recognized by Booker T. Washington in "Story of the Negro" (1909) as producing more patents than any other African-American at that time. He continued to turn out inventions until late in his life, obtaining as many as 57 patents, 50 of them dealing with lubricating systems. He would also invent the ironing board and lawn sprinkler. Because he lacked the finances to manufacture his lubricators in large quantities, he generally assigned his patent rights to his employers or sold them to investors. Around 1920 he formed the Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company to produce his products. The high quality of his inventions gained such notoriety that the phrase "the Real McCoy" was coined to distinguish his inventions from cheap imitations. He eventually moved to Detroit, Michigan with his second wife and he died in the Eloise Infirmary in Nankin Township (now Westland, Michigan) at the age of 86 where he had suffered from injuries sustained in an automobile accident seven years earlier that claimed the life of his wife.
Now find another headstone about him just to the south.
NOW FOR YOUR SECOND QUESTION: He invented the automatic lubricating ___ This word has how many letters? Your answer will be "B"
Now got to N42 30.798 and W083 03.929
STOP 3: You will be looking for the headstone of "LITTLE WILLIE JOHN" WILLIAM EDWARD JOHN
Singer, Entertainer. Born in Arkansas and raised in Detroit, he sang with Count Basie at age 14 and won a talent contest. In 1955, had his first moderate hit with "All Around the World" which reached #5 on the R&B Chart, and #6 on the Pop Chart. The next year he recorded "Fever" which hit #1 on the R&B chart for 5 weeks. The song was later recorded by Peggy Lee. Other songs which he had hits with include "Need Your Love So Bad," "Home At Last," "Talk to Me," "Leave My Kitten Alone," and "Sleep." A man who had a volatile temper, especially when fueled by alcohol and his sensitivity to his height (5'4"), he was known to get into fights. In 1966 he stabbed a man to death in a Seattle Cafe. He was convicted and sent to Washington State Prison where he died (officially) of a heart attack. Rumor also says he was strangled. He was buried in Detroit.
Now find the bench of Hilda Blackstone Crum Yancy Harvey just to the southwest.
NOW FOR YOUR THIRD QUESTION: You will find a four digit number located on the bottom right hand corner of the top. The last number here will be "C"
Now go to N42 30.813 and W083 03.707
STOP 4: You will be looking for the headstone of ROBERT "BABY BOY" WARREN
Blues Musician. Born Robert Henry Warren, he learned his guitar skills during his youth in Memphis, but he became one of Detroit's top bluesmen when he moved to the Motor City to take a job at General Motors. His first recording was in late 1949, followed by "I Got Lucky" in 1950, with backing by pianist Boogie Woogie Red. However, he is best remembered by "Sanafee" and "Chuc-A-Luck", tunes that were backed by Sonny Boy Williamson. He did a tour in major cities and in Europe, but his loyal following remained anchored in Detroit.
Now look to the west and find the bench of Anderson.
NOW FOR YOUR FOURTH QUESTION: What animal is shown on it? How many letters make up this animal? Now take that number and add 3 to it. Your answer will be "D"
Now got to N42 30.920 and W083 03.742
STOP 5: You will be looking for the bench of DARRELL BANKS
R&B/Gospel Musician. A native of Mansfield, Ohio, he was born Darrell Eubanks, but he was moved as a toddler to Buffalo, New York. A talented musician by a young age, he began singing in church and then at local watering holes. At one of these performances he befriended a local dentist named Doc Green, who by chance had also owned a local nightclub called the Revilot Lounge. Thanks to Doc Green and his songwriter/musician friend Donnie Elbert, Banks headed to Detroit, Michigan, to begin his professional music career. Under a license agreement by Doc Green, he hooked up with talent personality Lebron Taylor and Solid Hitbound Productions, to use the name of Murphy's night club Revilot for the Record Label of Banks' first single, 'Open The Door To Your Heart,' which debuted in 1966. The song written by Donnie Elbert, but credited as being written by Banks, and then later credited to both of them, landed at number two on the R&B Charts and number 27 on the pop charts. This would be one of Banks' biggest hits. Banks' next release was the single, 'Somebody Somewhere Needs You,' which went to the number 34 spot on the R&B Charts and number 55 on the Pop Charts. The song written by Marc Gordon and Frank Wilson was previously recorded by Ike & Tina Turner on the Loma Record Label. This was his last chart topper, and Revilot was soon merged with the Atlantic Records Atco Division. In 1967, he recorded two more singles, 'Angel Baby (Don't Ever Leave Me),' and 'Here Comes The Tears.' Although he never actually cut a record for the Revilot Record Label, they did release an Atco album in 1967 entitled, "Darrell Banks Is Here.' The album contained both the Atco singles he recorded the smae year and the single, 'I'm Gonna Hang My Head And Cry,' which was written by Cleveland Horne, Gene Redd, Donald Bell, and Rose Marie McCoy. Banks then joined the Cotillion Records Label for the single, 'I Wanna Go Home,' written by Don Davis and Fred Briggs. In 1969, banks signed with the Stax Records' Volt Division and released an album, and two singles for them entitled, 'No One Is Blinder (Then A Man In Love),' and 'Beautiful Feeling.' The song 'Beautiful Feeling' single fared well, but it didn't do much for Banks' career. Around the same time trouble brewed thanks to the Stax Record Label. A great entertainer Banks was, but he also had a bad temper. The Record label released a song he had compiled, but gave full credit to a singer named Steve Mancha, who had only recorded it. This was considered an insult to Banks, but the situation was soon cleared up. A compilation album featuring that song, all of his Stax recordings, and singles like, 'Forgive Me,' 'Don't Know What To Do,' and Mancha's 'I Could Never Hate Her,' was later released as a package. Although he had worked himself to stardom with more than seven albums, and several recordings, his career was beginning to slump, and tragedy would soon follow. On February 24, 1970, tragedy struck, when Darrell Banks was shot and seriosuly wounded by an off-duty policeman named Aaron Bullock. The story goes that Banks was seeing a woman named Marjorie Bozeman, who was trying to break off the relationship. Bullock intervened when Banks grabbed Bozeman's arm and pulled a gun and shot him. Banks was then rushed to the New Grace Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, where he was pronounced dead at the age of 32. In 1997, a compilation album was released featuring three of his recordings entitled, "The Lost Soul," on the Goldmine Records Label. Following his death, Banks was buried in an unmarked grave at the Detroit Memorial Park West in Detroit, Michigan. Following a visit from some fans some 33 years after his death this was discovered, and on July 17, 2004, thanks to financial help from the United States, Scotland, Finland, and Australia, a memorial bench was placed on Banks' unmarked grave.
Just south of Banks find the headstone of Ida Smith.
NOW FOR YOUR FIFTH QUESTION: What year was Ida born? The third number here will be "E"
Now go to N42 31.178 and W083 03.766
STOP 6: You will be looking for the headstone of TEROME "T-BONE" HANNON
Musician. He was a producer and noted touring bass guitarist for several gospel groups and many rock acts including, SheDaisy, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, DC Talk, Shane Minor and Shania Twain. More recently he had been touring with pop singer Jewel's live band for 3 years and was about to tour with her again shortly before his tragic death.
Just north find the bench of Garris.
NOW FOR YOUR SIXTH QUESTION: How many letters are in her first name? This answer will be "F"
YOU ARE NOW DONE WITH THE TOUR AND THE FINAL CAN BE FOUND AT N42 31.ECA and W083 03.DBF.
Good luck and thanks for taking cemetery tour #4.
BONUS!!!!
TO HEAR FLORENCE AND THE SUPREMES SINGING "YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE" OPEN THIS LINK: https://youtu.be/YU8oNu3pdS0
TO HEAR LITTLE WILLIE JOHN SINGING "FEVER" OPEN THIS LINK: https://youtu.be/y27vBA68Zyk
TO HEAR DARRELL BANKS SINGING "OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR HEART" OPEN THIS LINK: https://youtu.be/OP1I0k0g7KQ
TO HEAR DARRELL BANKS SINGING "SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE NEEDS YOU" OPEN THIS LINK: https://youtu.be/OP1I0k0g7KQ
TO HEAR BABY BOY WARREN SINGING "SANAFEE" OPEN THIS LINK: https://youtu.be/1OyW-ROg4uE