Kid Rock Foundation Donates $250K To Detroit Music Gallery
DETROIT (AP) - A history of music in Detroit - from jazz to blues to Motown to techno and hip hop - will be covered in an interactive museum gallery supported by a $250,000 donation by the Kid Rock Foundation.
The 1,400-square-foot Kid Rock Music Lab at the Detroit Historical Museum will feature activities on naming artists from music samples, a station for visitors to create their own songs and Detroit music trivia.
The Detroit Historical Society approached the musician's foundation to help support the project, according to Society executive director and chief executive Bob Bury.
"Kid Rock is certainly a promoter of the city and does all he can to create a positive impression," Bury said.
The Michigan native whose real name is Robert Ritchie grew up in Romeo in northern Macomb County. He now lives in Oakland County's Clarkston.
The Detroit NAACP branch honored Ritchie in 2011 for his advocacy of the city with the civil rights organization's Great Expectations Award.
Kid Rock plays hip-hop, hard rock, country and Southern rock styles. He will be part of the Historical Museum's gallery along with Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper and other stars.
"There are bits and pieces of the music story around town," Bury said. "This is an opportunity to bring it all together and tell the startling history of music in Detroit.
"In addition to talking about the legendary folks, we wanted to also give the opportunity for people to test their knowledge of Detroit music history, create their own songs with music tracks and to have an experience using technology and what it would be like to be in (Kid Rock's) band or a backup singer to Diana Ross."
The Kid Rock Music Lab and other new galleries are part of the Historical Society's $20.1 million campaign to renovate the Historical Museum, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and the Historical Society collections.
The museum, located at 5401 Woodward, closed in May for renovations and is expected to reopen Nov. 23.
Normal adult admission is $6. Seniors (60+), students with valid ID and youth ages 5-17 pay $4. Admission for children ages four and under is free. Parking in the Museum's lot is $4 at all times. For more information, visit detroithistorical.org.
TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
