Detroit Musicians by the Numbers

Filed Under: Detroit Proud, Detroit Proud Music

Jack White: 1Do you know ONE of Jack White’s former jobs...was in the furniture business? There’s a chance you may be sitting on furniture upholstered by Detroit rocker Jack White! Before he was known as the White Stripes frontman, one of Jack’s previous jobs was in the furniture business. After Jack White apprenticed as an upholsterer for a few years, he opened his own shop in Detroit, Third Man Upholstery. The business cards read ‘Your Furniture is Not Dead’. He told Rolling Stone magazine he ran the business like a cartoon. He was writing bills in crayon and writing poetry inside people's furniture. Jack White didn't care if he was making money. He explained he was just happy to pull up in front of someone's house wearing a yellow-and-black uniform, with a yellow clipboard. (Credit: Getty Images)

Eminem: 2Detroiter Eminem is not only the first rapper to have TWO diamond albums, but he has done this faster than any artist in the history of music! His albums "The Eminem Show" and "The Marshall Mathers LP" have both sold over 10 million copies. Eminem joins an iconic company of artists like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Whitney Houston, & Led Zeppein to have more than one diamond album. The only rap album to top both of Eminem’s diamond albums in sales is Outkast’s "Speakerboxx/The Love Below" at 11 million. MC Hammer’s "Please Hammer Don’t Hurt Em," 2Pac’s "Greatest Hits," and Notorious B.I.G’s "Life After Death" have also gone diamond. The next closest rap albums to diamond certification are the Beastie Boys "Licensed to Ill," Nelly’s "Country Grammar," and 2Pac’s "All Eyez on Me," each selling 9 million copies. (Credit: Getty Images)

Great Van Fleet: 3Award winning Greta Van Fleet is an American rock band made up of THREE brothers and their family friend. Becoming front runners in the rock industry, they're known for there album "From the Fires", which won a 2019 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. The band brings a new light to the classic rock genre, often being compared to Led Zeppelin. (Credit: Getty Images)

Ted Nugent: 7Did you know – The Nuge has authored a total of SEVEN books & published articles?! The Motor City Madman has released more than 34 albums and has sold a career total of 30 million records. He's also added four novels to his resume! His written works include "Blood Trails: The Truth About Bow Hunting," "God, Guns & Rock and Roll," "Blood Trails II: The Truth About Bow Hunting," "Kill It & Grill It," and "Ted, White, and Blue: The Nugent Manifesto." In 1991, he wrote an article titled "Cat Scratch Thiever: Hey Napster, get your greasy paws off my intellectual property” for the Wall Street Journal and 2013’s “The Greatest Phony America's Ever Known” for a political website. (Credit: Getty Images)

Big Sean: 9Detroit rapper Big Sean is the winner of NINE BET Hip-Hop Awards! Big Sean signed with Kanye West’s GOOD Music label in 2007, and then in 2008, signed with Def Jam Recordings. Since then, he's gone on to clean up at award shows! He has won awards for Rookie of the Year, Track of the Year, Best Club Banger, and Best Hip-Hop Video twice in back-to-back years! In 2013, Big Sean won for BET’s Best Mixtape award for his mixtape titled "Detroit." (Credit: Getty Images)

Stevie Wonder: 13Detroit legend Stevie Wonder obtained his first #1 hit at the young age of THIRTEEN years old. As one of the most prominent musicians of the 20th century, Wonder has sold more than 100 million records world-wide! Blind since birth, Stevie Wonder has become one of the highest selling music artists of all time, with 25 Grammy Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Credit: Getty Images)

The Temptations: 14As the Greatest vocal group of Motown, arguably of all time, The Temptations have charted a total of FOURTEEN #1 R&B singles. Additionally, the group had 40 hits that listed in the top 15. With three Grammy's under their belt, The Temptations had two Singles inducted into the Grammy's Hall of Fame. My Girl was inducted in 1998 and Papa Was a Rolling Stone was inducted in 1999. Setting the standard for R&B, The Temptations were know for incorporating choreography and distinct harmonies. Their popularity and consistent success got them inducted into the Rock and roll Hall of Fame in 1989. (Credit: Getty Images)

Smokey Robinson: 19Smokey Robinson has NINETEEN albums that were released on Motown Records. Smokey Robinson started as a member of The Miracles. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as The Five Chimes until 1972, when he announced a retirement from the stage to focus on his role as Motown's vice president. However, Robinson returned as a solo artist the following year, later scoring Top 10 solo hits. Smokey became another Detroit musician inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. (Credit: Getty Images)

Aretha Franklin: 20The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, has TWENTY number one R&B singles under her belt! These twenty singles makes Aretha the most charted female in history. Franklin has won 18 Grammy Awards and is one of the best-selling female artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide. In addition to her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1987, Rolling Stone named her the Greatest Singer of All Time, ranking number 1 out of 100 artists. (Credit: Getty Images)

Bob Seger: 24Legendary rocker Bob Seger has been a pillar of Detroit Rock City and has released TWENTY FOUR albums over the last 50 years! The native Detroiter has sold more than 51 million albums and after an 8 year hiatus, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band will release a 25th LP titled Ride Out on October 14th! The album's first single, a cover of John Hiatt's "Detroit Made," was recently released to radio. Fans can expect Seger to successfully blend rock, country, and blues into his new album as he has for decades! (Credit: Getty Images)

Diana Ross: 70According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Diana Ross has earned SEVENTY hit singles in the U.S. & the U.K., and totals the most hits of any female in history. Born and raised in Detroit, Diana rose to fame as the founder of The Supremes. In 1988, she was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Supremes. (Credit: Getty Images)

Mike Posner: 3,000Detroit singer-songwriter Mike Posner, know for top hits such as "Cooler than Me" and "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" is currently walking THREE THOUSAND miles across the country. The coast-to-coast journey begins in New Jersey and ends in Venice Beach California, with a goal of reminding people "your life is now". Mike Posner is a well known songwriting, with credit writing songs for Maroon 5, Pharell Williams, Justin Bieber, Avicii, and more. (Credit: Getty Images)

Kid Rock: 150,000Detroit faithful Kid Rock currently holds the Michigan record for most tickets sold for 10 consecutive sold out shows of 150,000! Know for his top hit singles such as "Picture" and "All Summer Long". Kid Rock is not only famous for his unique combination of Hip Hop and Rock, but also for his love for Detroit, founding Made in Detroit, a popular restaurant and bar. (Credit: Getty Images)

Madonna: 65 MillionMadonna has sold almost SIXTY FIVE MILLION albums in the United States! Without including her worldwide sales, she still ranks atop the greatest selling artists of all time! She ranks 15th on the U.S. album sales charts. At 64.5 million certified sales, Madonna trails a company of fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers like The Beatles, Elvis, Led Zeppelin, and The Eagles, just to name a few. Madonna is known for reinventing both her music and image, and for over thirty years, has been a fixture in popular culture. Her total number of album sales will continue to climb because Madonna has confirmed she is currently working on a new album! (Credit: Getty Images)

Anita Baker: 21Soulful Anita Baker has won over TWENTY ONE awards, including 8 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards, and 7 Soul Train Music Awards. As one of the most decorated female singers in history, Anita Baker got her start by joining the famous Detroit soul group, Chapter 8. (Credit: Getty Images)