"When I do play clubs, it's at places like the Harbor House," she says, referring to the place on Clinton near Greektown. "I don't have anything scheduled, but I'm doing a lot of festivals this summer including Arts Beats & Eats."

Even better, there's a new album on the way. "I'm going to go back to the studio because we just started recording," Davis says. "I hope to have the CD done and ready in the fall. Look for my CD to come out around November. I want to use all Detroit musicians. I want to represent Detroit. My mission is also to get the radio stations to play Detroit music. I believe that the music will help heal us. We need major healing in this city right now, and if we don't put our art and our music to work, I believe it will keep going down."

Thornetta Davis' career so far has been wonderfully diverse and storied. She has recorded with Bob Seger and Kid Rock, becoming the go-to soul voice for Detroit rockers in the process. But what has been her favorite experience so far? "That's hard to say. I've had so many great experiences," she says. 

The Calgary gig is still fresh: "People were just going off the buzz because they had never really heard me either. When we got done, people were telling us we were the best the whole weekend. That made me feel really good. 

"Performing with Bonnie Raitt was a great memory. She invited me onstage to sing with her. And there were the shows opening for Ray Charles and B.B. King at the Fox."

She pauses. "To perform at the Fox Theatre in my hometown, that was great."

Brett Callwood writes City Slang for Metro Times. Send comments to letters@metrotimes.com.

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