20 celebrities who went to high school in Detroit

By Metro Times editorial staff on Sat, Dec 7, 2019 at 2:30 pm

Every city is proud of its successful residents, and Detroit is home to an especially talented group of people who are artistic, athletic, smart, and much more. Here's a list of celebs who not only lived here for a time, but also graduated from one of our high schools.

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Smokey Robinson Singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive Northern High School William Robinson, also known as Smokey Robinson, was in the Miracles, a Motown group, and also became the Motown vice president until 1990. Today, he has music in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with many more awards. Photo via Sterling Munksgard / Shutterstock

Smokey Robinson

Singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive
Northern High School
William Robinson, also known as Smokey Robinson, was in the Miracles, a Motown group, and also became the Motown vice president until 1990. Today, he has music in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with many more awards.

Photo via Sterling Munksgard / Shutterstock

Aaliyah Singer, actress, model Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts The young star sold millions of records in the 1990s and early 2000s, and starred in the films Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned before a plane crash in the Bahamas ended her life at age 22. Photo via Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock

Aaliyah

Singer, actress, model
Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts
The young star sold millions of records in the 1990s and early 2000s, and starred in the films Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned before a plane crash in the Bahamas ended her life at age 22.

Photo via Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock

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Aretha Franklin Singer, songwriter, pianist, civil rights activist Northern High School R-E-S-P-E-C-T is all we have for the Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin has 112 charted singles, along with dozens of awards. She was also a civil rights activist and philanthropist. In August 2018, she died of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, and was given a heartfelt public funeral in Detroit. Photo via JStone / Shutterstock

Aretha Franklin

Singer, songwriter, pianist, civil rights activist
Northern High School
R-E-S-P-E-C-T is all we have for the Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin has 112 charted singles, along with dozens of awards. She was also a civil rights activist and philanthropist. In August 2018, she died of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, and was given a heartfelt public funeral in Detroit.

Photo via JStone / Shutterstock

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Black Milk Rapper, songwriter, record producer Cooley High School Curtis Cross, also known as Black Milk, has been rapping for almost two decades. He has collaborated with artists such as Danny Brown, J Dilla, and RZA. Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Black Milk

Rapper, songwriter, record producer
Cooley High School
Curtis Cross, also known as Black Milk, has been rapping for almost two decades. He has collaborated with artists such as Danny Brown, J Dilla, and RZA.

Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Alice Coltrane Jazz musician/composer, harpist, swamini Cass Technical High School In the early '70s, Alice Coltrane was a bandleader for Impulse! She was also known for playing the harp and creating music with her husband, John Coltrane. Later in her life, she became a swami. In 2007, she died of respiratory failure at the age of 69. Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Alice Coltrane

Jazz musician/composer, harpist, swamini
Cass Technical High School
In the early '70s, Alice Coltrane was a bandleader for “Impulse!” She was also known for playing the harp and creating music with her husband, John Coltrane. Later in her life, she became a swami. In 2007, she died of respiratory failure at the age of 69.

Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Anita Baker Singer and songwriter Central High School With many gold and platinum records as well as Grammy Awards, Anita Baker has won dozens of accolades for her contemporary R&B music. Photo via DFree / Shutterstock

Anita Baker

Singer and songwriter
Central High School
With many gold and platinum records as well as Grammy Awards, Anita Baker has won dozens of accolades for her contemporary R&B music.

Photo via DFree / Shutterstock

David Alan Grier Actor and comedian Cass Technical High School Detroit native David Alan Grier is known for his sketch comedy show, In Living Color. He also played Jackie Robinson in the Broadway musical, The First. Photo via Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock

David Alan Grier

Actor and comedian
Cass Technical High School
Detroit native David Alan Grier is known for his sketch comedy show, In Living Color. He also played Jackie Robinson in the Broadway musical, The First.

Photo via Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock

Jack White Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer Cass Technical High School After hitting it big with his band the White Stripes in the early 2000s, Jack White has become one of the most celebrated figures in rock. Photo via MPH PHOTOS / Shutterstock

Jack White

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer
Cass Technical High School
After hitting it big with his band the White Stripes in the early 2000s, Jack White has become one of the most celebrated figures in rock.

Photo via MPH PHOTOS / Shutterstock

Dej Loaf Rapper, singer, songwriter Southeastern High School Deja Trimble, also known as Dej Loaf, is known for her hit singles, Try Me and Back Up with Big Sean. She has released four mixtapes in the last eight years. Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Dej Loaf

Rapper, singer, songwriter
Southeastern High School
Deja Trimble, also known as Dej Loaf, is known for her hit singles, “Try Me” and “Back Up” with Big Sean. She has released four mixtapes in the last eight years.

Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Diana Ross Singer, actress, record producer Cass Technical High School Diana Ross is a Motown legacy. She was the lead singer of the Supremes, and released 12 No. 1 singles. After going solo, she has remained one of the most popular singers. Photo via Tinseltown / Shutterstock

Diana Ross

Singer, actress, record producer
Cass Technical High School
Diana Ross is a Motown legacy. She was the lead singer of the Supremes, and released 12 No. 1 singles. After going solo, she has remained one of the most popular singers.

Photo via Tinseltown / Shutterstock

John Conyers Politician, longest Black member serving in U.S. Congress, civil rights activist Northwestern High School Born and raised in Detroit, John Conyers served as a Michigan Representative for almost 40 years, co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, and was a civil rights activist. He died of natural causes in October 2019. Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

John Conyers

Politician, longest Black member serving in U.S. Congress, civil rights activist
Northwestern High School
Born and raised in Detroit, John Conyers served as a Michigan Representative for almost 40 years, co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, and was a civil rights activist. He died of natural causes in October 2019.

Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Kash Doll Rapper Detroit City High School Arkeisha Knight, also known as Kash Doll, is a rapper who came out of Detroit. She used to perform locally, but then blew up after posting Instagram videos of her rapping. Her popular singles include Ice Me Out and For Everybody. Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Kash Doll

Rapper
Detroit City High School
Arkeisha Knight, also known as Kash Doll, is a rapper who came out of Detroit. She used to perform locally, but then blew up after posting Instagram videos of her rapping. Her popular singles include “Ice Me Out” and “For Everybody.”

Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Jerry Bruckheimer Film and television producer Mumford High School Jerry Bruckheimers best films include Flashdance, Top Gun, Pirates of the Caribbean, Black Hawk Down, and more. Photo via Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

Jerry Bruckheimer

Film and television producer
Mumford High School
Jerry Bruckheimer’s best films include Flashdance, Top Gun, Pirates of the Caribbean, Black Hawk Down, and more.

Photo via Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

Kenya Moore Actress, model, producer, author, television personality, entrepreneur Cass Technical High School Kenya Moore was Miss America in 1993 and in the top six for Miss Universe. She also co-starred in "Real Housewives of Atlanta," wrote a book, and appeared in Waiting to Exhale and Deliver Us from Eva. Photo via Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock

Kenya Moore

Actress, model, producer, author, television personality, entrepreneur
Cass Technical High School
Kenya Moore was Miss America in 1993 and in the top six for Miss Universe. She also co-starred in "Real Housewives of Atlanta," wrote a book, and appeared in Waiting to Exhale and Deliver Us from Eva.

Photo via Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock

Monica Conyers Politician Henry Ford High School Monica Conyers was elected to Detroit City Council in 2005. She also helped troubled teens and was a vice administrator for Detroit Public Schools. In 2009, Conyers went to prison for bribery, and was released in 2013. Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Monica Conyers

Politician
Henry Ford High School
Monica Conyers was elected to Detroit City Council in 2005. She also helped troubled teens and was a vice administrator for Detroit Public Schools. In 2009, Conyers went to prison for bribery, and was released in 2013.

Photo via Screengrab / YouTube

Tee Grizzley Rapper, singer, songwriter Frank Cody High School After being released from prison in 2016, Tee Grizzley released his most popular song, the viral hit First Day Out. Photo via Kahn Santori Davison

Tee Grizzley

Rapper, singer, songwriter
Frank Cody High School
After being released from prison in 2016, Tee Grizzley released his most popular song, the viral hit “First Day Out.”

Photo via Kahn Santori Davison

Ben Carson Politician, public servant, author, retired neurosurgeon, and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Southwestern High School As a neurosurgeon, Carson performed many pioneering procedures. After running for president of the United States, Carson later joined the administration of his one-time rival Donald Trump, serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Photo via Shutterstock

Ben Carson

Politician, public servant, author, retired neurosurgeon, and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Southwestern High School
As a neurosurgeon, Carson performed many pioneering procedures. After running for president of the United States, Carson later joined the administration of his one-time rival Donald Trump, serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Photo via Shutterstock

James Lipton Writer, lyricist, actor Central High School As host of Inside the Actors' Studio, Lipton interviewed more than 300 actors. He died in 2020 at age 93. Photo via Shutterstock

James Lipton

Writer, lyricist, actor
Central High School
As host of Inside the Actors' Studio, Lipton interviewed more than 300 actors. He died in 2020 at age 93.

Photo via Shutterstock

Tim Meadows Actor, comedian, Saturday Night Live cast member Pershing High School Tim Meadows has been on Saturday Night Live for 10 seasons, making him the longest member. He also has roles in Mean Girls, Coneheads, Grown-ups, and more. Photo via Shutterstock

Tim Meadows

Actor, comedian, Saturday Night Live cast member
Pershing High School
Tim Meadows has been on Saturday Night Live for 10 seasons, making him the longest member. He also has roles in Mean Girls, Coneheads, Grown-ups, and more.

Photo via Shutterstock

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