Motown: Detroit’s Sound That Changed the World

Detroit has always been a city of movement—of industry, migration, struggle, and creativity. Out of that energy came a sound that didn’t just define an era, but reshaped global music forever: Motown Records.

Founded in 1959 by Berry Gordy, Motown was more than a record label. It was a cultural force born on Detroit’s West Grand Boulevard, inside a modest house that became known as Hitsville U.S.A. From that house came a musical revolution that crossed racial, national, and generational boundaries.

The Detroit Blueprint: Discipline Meets Soul

Detroit was the perfect incubator for Motown. As the heart of America’s auto industry, the city valued precision, teamwork, and consistency. Berry Gordy famously applied the assembly-line philosophy to music—songwriters, producers, musicians, choreographers, and vocal coaches all working together to craft hits with surgical precision.

But what made Motown magical was the balance:

Industrial discipline from Detroit

Deep soul and gospel roots from Black America

Pop accessibility that reached the mainstream

This fusion created music that was polished yet emotional, universal yet unmistakably Black.

Artists Who Became Icons

Motown introduced—and perfected—some of the most influential artists in modern history:

The Supremes – redefining pop stardom and female elegance

The Temptations – blending choreography, harmony, and swagger

Marvin Gaye – transforming love songs into social commentary

Stevie Wonder – a musical genius whose influence spans genres and decades

Smokey Robinson – the poetic heartbeat behind countless classics

These artists didn’t just make hits—they shaped fashion, language, performance, and identity.

Breaking Barriers Worldwide

At a time when America was deeply segregated, Motown achieved what few thought possible: Black artists dominating mainstream charts worldwide. Motown records played on Black radio stations and white suburban stations alike. They toured internationally, introducing global audiences to Detroit’s sound.

Motown helped normalize Black excellence on a global stage—not through protest alone, but through undeniable talent and universal emotion.

Soundtrack of Social Change

While early Motown focused on love and joy, the turbulence of the 1960s and 1970s pushed the music deeper. Songs like What’s Going On reflected war, poverty, police brutality, and urban struggle—issues deeply familiar to Detroit.

Motown proved that socially conscious music could still be commercially successful, paving the way for future generations of soul, funk, hip-hop, and R&B artists.

Motown’s Lasting Influence on Detroit

Even after Motown moved operations to Los Angeles, its roots remained firmly planted in Detroit. Today, the Motown Museum stands as a living monument to the city’s creative power.

Detroit’s modern music scene—from hip-hop to neo-soul to techno—still carries Motown’s DNA:

storytelling

authenticity

innovation under pressure

Motown taught Detroit—and the world—that greatness can come from modest beginnings, discipline, and belief in Black creativity.

A Legacy That Still Plays On

Motown isn’t nostalgia—it’s foundation. Its influence can be heard in today’s chart-toppers, seen in global pop culture, and felt every time Detroit is recognized as a city that creates rather than imitates.

Motown showed the world that Detroit didn’t just build cars.

Detroit built soundtracks for humanity.

And decades later, the beat still hasn’t stopped. 🎶

Respect & Royalty: How Aretha Franklin Continues to Inspire Detroit Creatives Like Me

Detroit doesn’t just make cars — it makes legends. And when we talk about legends, the first voice that rises above the noise is Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, a woman whose voice didn’t just fill concert halls — it shook the world.

Born in Memphis but raised right here in Detroit, Aretha grew up surrounded by gospel, spirit, and community. Her childhood home wasn’t just a place of rest — it was a sanctuary for music, activism, and Black excellence. From church pews to global stages, she carried the soul of our city in every note she sang.

A Record of Greatness

Aretha’s accomplishments are the kind that can’t be contained in bullet points, but they demand acknowledgment:

18 Grammy Awards

First woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1987)

More than 75 million records sold worldwide

The iconic national anthem performance at the 2016 Lions game — with that fur coat moment Detroit will never forget

Timeless classics like Respect, Think, Chain of Fools, Natural Woman, and I Say a Little Prayer

She didn’t just sing songs — she owned them. She transformed lyrics into testimonies, melodies into movements. Her voice was strength wrapped in velvet, conviction laced with vulnerability.

A Detroit Spirit

As an artist in Detroit myself, I feel her presence in this city like a heartbeat. When I walk through the streets, hit a creative block, or wonder if my work is big enough to matter — Aretha whispers back through the speakers:

"You can do this. Speak your truth. Stand tall. Demand respect."

Detroit artists know struggle. We know hustle. We know the beauty of building something from grit and heart. Aretha embodied that — not just through her music, but through her activism, her philanthropy, and her refusal to let the world define her.

Why She Still Inspires Me Today

Aretha’s legacy reminds me:

Excellence isn’t handed to you — you work for it.

Your voice is your power — use it boldly.

Creativity rooted in authenticity lasts forever.

You can start local and become global, without ever losing home.

When I create — whether writing a novel, developing a new book cover, or crafting a story rooted in soul, faith, or Detroit’s pulse — I remember Aretha. Her music pushes me to aim higher. Her legacy reminds me that Detroit artists are built differently — forged in rhythm, resilience, and revelation.

The Queen’s Crown Remains Untouched

Long after “Respect” first shook the airwaves, Aretha Franklin continues to shape us — musicians, writers, painters, dreamers. She is proof that greatness can come from your block, your church, your grind.

In Detroit, we don’t just listen to Aretha — we live her.

And as I keep creating, step by step, project by project, I hope my work can echo even a fraction of her fire.

Iconoclasm and the Lightening of Black Art

Egyptian and Biblical Imagery Under Historical Revision

History is not only written in books—it is painted on walls, carved in stone, and preserved in sacred imagery. Yet history can also be edited, softened, and reshaped. One of the most overlooked tools of this reshaping is iconoclasm—the alteration, destruction, or distortion of images to control memory, identity, and power.

Among the most striking examples of this phenomenon is the systematic lightening and recharacterization of Black figures in both ancient Egyptian and biblical art.

Understanding Iconoclasm Beyond Destruction

Iconoclasm is often understood as the smashing of statues or the burning of sacred images. But there is a quieter, more insidious form:

Repainting skin tones

Re-sculpting facial features

Breaking noses, lips, or hair details

Reframing ethnic identity through restoration

Reproducing altered versions as “authoritative”

This form of iconoclasm does not erase images—it reprograms them.

Egyptian Art and the Recasting of African Identity

Ancient Egypt—located in Egypt—was unmistakably African. Its earliest art reflects this clearly:

Deep brown to black skin tones

Broad noses and full lips

Tightly coiled or braided hair

Cultural continuity with Nubia and the Horn of Africa

Yet many statues today bear broken noses, a recurring and telling pattern. While natural erosion is often cited, selective damage—especially to facial features associated with African identity—raises serious questions.

In modern restorations and museum reproductions:

Skin tones are frequently lightened

Afrocentric features are softened

Later Greek or Roman aesthetics are retroactively imposed

The result is a visual narrative that subtly detaches Egypt from Africa, recasting it as a Mediterranean or Near Eastern civilization—despite archaeological and genetic evidence to the contrary.

Biblical Art and the Whitening of Sacred Figures

Biblical art tells a similar story.

Early Christian communities in Africa and the Near East depicted sacred figures—including Christ, the apostles, and the prophets—with dark skin and Semitic features. Ethiopian, Coptic, and early Eastern icons preserve this legacy.

However, as Christianity became institutionalized in Europe:

Jesus was gradually depicted as pale and European

Apostles were recast with Greco-Roman features

African and Semitic traits were erased or marginalized

Even in regions like Russia, early iconography preserved darker depictions before later standardization favored lighter imagery. Over time, the Europeanized image became dominant—not because it was historically accurate, but because it aligned with political and cultural power.

The Bible—Holy Bible—was never a European book, yet its imagery was reshaped to support European authority.

Why Lightening Images Matters

The lightening of Black art is not cosmetic—it is ideological.

When images are altered:

Authority is reassigned

Origins are obscured

Identity is destabilized

Cultural inheritance is weakened

Control the image, and you influence how people understand:

Who led civilizations

Who authored faith traditions

Who holds divine or moral authority

Iconoclasm becomes a silent teacher—rewriting history without a single word.

Art as Testimony and Resistance

Despite centuries of alteration, truth remains embedded in:

Unrestored artifacts

Ancient pigments

Early icons preserved outside Western control

Oral traditions and comparative anthropology

Art remembers what power tries to forget.

Reexamining Egyptian and biblical imagery is not about rewriting history—it is about restoring it.

Final Reflection

Iconoclasm did not only break statues—it reframed humanity.

By lightening Black art, history was subtly edited to distance greatness, holiness, and civilization from Africa and its descendants. Yet the original images still speak—if we are willing to look closely.

The past is not lost.

It has merely been painted over.

A Day at the Detroit Institute of Arts: Where the City Tells Its Story

There are places in a city where time slows down—not because life is quiet, but because meaning is loud. The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of those places.

Walking up to the museum, the building itself feels like a statement: solid, intentional, unapologetically grand. It doesn’t beg for attention—it expects respect. And once you step inside, you understand why.

More Than a Museum

The DIA isn’t just a collection of art; it’s a conversation between generations. Each gallery feels like a different voice—some whispering history, others speaking boldly about struggle, beauty, innovation, and resilience. You don’t just look at the art here. You feel it.

One moment you’re standing in front of centuries-old European masterpieces, and the next you’re immersed in works that speak directly to Black identity, labor, faith, and survival. The transitions feel intentional, almost symbolic—just like Detroit itself.

The Rivera Court: Detroit’s Heart on the Wall

No visit is complete without spending time in the Rivera Court. Diego Rivera’s murals don’t simply depict industry; they honor the worker. Steel, sweat, motion, and muscle—all wrapped in color and purpose. It’s impossible to stand there and not think about Detroit’s legacy, its rise, its falls, and its unbreakable spirit.

You don’t rush through this space. You stand still. You absorb. You reflect.

Seeing Yourself in the Art

One of the most powerful aspects of the DIA is representation. Art featuring African American life, history, and creativity isn’t tucked away—it’s woven into the larger narrative. These works don’t ask permission to exist. They belong here.

That matters. Especially for young visitors, creatives, and anyone who’s ever wondered whether their story was worthy of being framed on a wall.

A Place That Recharges the Soul

The Detroit Institute of Arts is the kind of place you leave differently than you entered. Inspired. Grounded. Proud. It reminds you that Detroit isn’t just a city of factories and headlines—it’s a city of vision, culture, and enduring creativity.

Whether you’re a lifelong Detroiter or visiting for the first time, the DIA isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Sometimes the best way to understand where you’re going…

is to stand quietly in front of what’s already been created.

Detroit’s Newest Hero: RoboCop Finally Stands Guard in the Motor City

After more than 15 years of anticipation, crowdfunding, setbacks and pure Detroit grit, RoboCop — the iconic cyborg law-enforcer made famous by the 1987 sci-fi classic RoboCop — now has a permanent bronze home right here in Detroit’s Eastern Market.

A Statue Worth the Wait

The 11-foot tall, 3,500-pound bronze statue was officially unveiled in early December 2025 at 3434 Russell Street in the bustling Eastern Market district — a vibrant neighborhood known for its local vendors, art, and community energy.

What started as a tongue-in-cheek tweet back in 2011 — comparing RoboCop to Philadelphia’s famous Rocky statue and suggesting Detroit deserved its own cinematic hero — turned into a viral idea that captured the imagination of fans worldwide.

A Kickstarter campaign launched soon after raised tens of thousands of dollars from more than 2,700 backers, proving RoboCop’s pull extends far beyond just the film screen.

From Concept to Bronze Reality

The statue was meticulously cast at Venus Bronze Works in Detroit, the same foundry behind many of the city’s beloved public art pieces. Its design was inspired by the original RoboCop costume worn by Peter Weller in the 1987 film — itself a symbol of Detroit’s gritty, industrial aesthetic.

Despite being completed years ago, the statue sat in storage while organizers sought a permanent home. It wasn’t until Eastern Market and local supporters stepped up that RoboCop finally found a place where Detroiters and visitors alike can appreciate it up close.

A Symbol of Nostalgia and Reinvention

For many Detroiters, RoboCop represents more than just a cult movie character. The film’s story — of a city in crisis rebuilding through resilience and reinvention — echoes Detroit’s own narrative over the past few decades.

Today, with crime rates trending down and the city continually reshaping its cultural identity, RoboCop’s vigilant pose serves as both a nostalgic nod to film history and a celebration of Detroit’s enduring spirit.

Locals have already begun stopping by for photos, and the statue quickly became a new must-visit attraction in Eastern Market — a place where Detroit’s past, present, and creative future intersect.

Plan Your Visit

If you’re in Detroit, make your way to Eastern Market to see RoboCop “on patrol.” Whether you’re a cinema fan, a local historian, or just love great public art, the statue is a powerful piece of Detroit’s cultural landscape — a reminder that even fantasy heroes belong here in the Motor City.

When December Feels Like January: The Surprise Chill of This Winter

Every year, I brace myself for January.

That’s the month we expect to suffer.

That’s the month when the cold doesn’t just touch your skin—it smacks you in the face the moment you step out of your car downtown, especially during the Auto Show. Anyone from Michigan knows that walk from the parking garage to the entrance is a battle between you and the wind. You’re bundled up like you’re trekking the Arctic, praying your ears don’t freeze off before you reach the doors.

But this year?

December showed up early with that January energy.

The cold rolled in like it had something to prove. Instead of easing us into winter with a few light flurries and some chilly evenings, December flipped the script and hit us with temperatures that feel more like mid-January punishment. And the crazy part is—we weren’t ready. Coats still in the closet. Gloves nowhere to be found. Car heaters acting like they needed a warm-up lap before giving us real heat.

There’s something funny (and slightly terrifying) about stepping outside in DECEMBER and thinking,

“If it’s this cold now… what’s January going to look like?”

Because if January decides to outdo December this year?

We’re in trouble, lol.

Still, there’s something uniquely Michigan about this surprise cold snap. We talk about it. We laugh about it. We warn each other like we’re preparing for an expedition.

And honestly, it keeps life interesting.

Winter has a personality here—sometimes rude, sometimes dramatic, always unpredictable. December reminded us not to get too comfortable. Winter is at the wheel now.

Here’s hoping January takes it easy on us for once… but if not, at least we’ll have stories to tell while we thaw out.

Detroit’s Artistic Renaissance: A City Reborn in Color, Steel, and Soul

Detroit has always been a city of reinvention. From the assembly lines that reshaped the world to the Motown rhythms that reshaped culture, this city has never stopped creating. But in the last decade, something remarkable has been happening across the neighborhoods, alleys, and boulevards — Detroit is undergoing an artistic revival unlike anything in its modern history. And you don’t need to step inside a gallery to witness it; the city itself is the gallery.

Murals That Speak for the People

Walk through Eastern Market, the North End, Southwest, or downtown, and you’ll see it — massive murals exploding with color, character, and Detroit pride. Our walls have become canvases for both local artists and international creators eager to leave their mark on a city with a story worth telling.

These murals do more than decorate buildings.

They revive abandoned spaces, uplift communities, and introduce everyday Detroiters to world-class art on their morning commute. Themes range from social justice and cultural pride to futuristic visions of what Detroit can become. In a city once known for blight, these murals restore not just beauty, but belief.

Museums Carrying the Torch

Detroit’s museums remain pillars in this renaissance — places where history, artistry, and imagination collide.

The Detroit Institute of Arts continues to attract global attention with its legendary collections, traveling exhibitions, and community engagement. Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry murals feel more relevant than ever, reminding us that art and labor are inseparable threads of this city's identity.

Smaller galleries and creative hubs — such as MOCAD, the Scarab Club, and countless independent studios — are empowering new generations of artists. These spaces don’t just display art; they incubate it, mentor it, and challenge it to evolve.

Museums have become safe harbors for creativity, offering Detroiters a cultural home during its comeback story.

Statues, Sculptures, and Symbols of Strength

Detroit’s public sculptures tell a story of resilience carved in bronze, steel, and stone. From The Spirit of Detroit to the Monument to Joe Louis ("The Fist"), these icons stand as reminders of who we are and what we’ve endured.

New installations throughout the city add to this legacy — contemporary sculptures in public parks, restored monuments, and community-funded art pieces that transform small neighborhoods into open-air exhibitions. Every new piece contributes to a citywide dialogue: Detroit is still powerful, still creative, and still rising.

A Cultural Revival Driven by Detroiters

What makes this revitalization unique is that it isn’t solely corporate, political, or philanthropic — it’s deeply grassroots. Artists, youth groups, historians, educators, and neighborhood councils are shaping this movement together.

Old factories are becoming studios. Vacant lots are turning into sculpture parks. Community centers are offering free art programs to kids who might be the next wave of Detroit visionaries.

The revival isn’t just visual — it’s emotional. It’s psychological. It’s cultural.

Detroiters are reclaiming their narrative through art, showing the world that this city is more than headlines, more than hardship, and more than its past.

The Soul of the City Returns

Art has always been the heartbeat of Detroit—from Motown music to automotive design—and today that heartbeat is louder than ever. Our murals remind us of our voice, our museums protect our legacy, and our sculptures stand as monuments to our spirit. This artistic revitalization is not a trend; it’s a transformation. It’s the city remembering who it is and boldly becoming what it will be.

Detroit is painting its future, one wall, one gallery, and one masterpiece at a time.

Do They Still Feel It? A Reflection on Music, Generations, and Inspiration

Sometimes I wonder if this generation finds as much hope and inspiration in music as I did growing up. I struggle these days to find even one new song that truly grabs me—one that makes me stop what I’m doing, close my eyes, and feel something. Most of what floats across local radio is either the same old tunes I grew up with—songs now labeled as “classics”—or newer tracks that barely move the needle. And I know how that sounds. Like I’ve officially become the old fogy shaking his head at “the good ole days,” insisting today’s generation knows nothing about real music. But that’s not what this is. Not really.

For me, music wasn’t just background noise. It was a spark. A lifeline. A teacher. A companion. A source of hope in moments where hope felt thin. I grew up in a time when music wasn’t just consumed—it was lived. You felt it in the car, cruising down Detroit streets with the windows down. You felt it in the house on Saturday mornings when your parents were cleaning. You felt it in the laughter of your brothers, the nod of your father, the smile of your mother. Music wasn’t entertainment; it was identity. Unity. Sanctuary.

Maybe that’s why today’s songs hit me differently—or don’t hit at all. It’s not that the new generation lacks talent. It’s not that they’re incapable of creating something meaningful. It’s that music has shifted from something communal to something disposable. We swipe through songs like social media posts. We skip halfway through. We don’t sit with music anymore. We don’t court it, chase it, absorb it, or allow it to challenge us. And because of that, the relationship feels shallow.

But here’s the thing: I don’t blame the kids. I don’t blame the artists either. The world moves fast now. Too fast. Everything is designed to be consumed instantly and forgotten quickly. And yet—I still believe deep down that the right song can change someone’s life today just as powerfully as a Marvin Gaye track changed mine years ago. Hope doesn’t disappear. It evolves. It hides. It waits for the right ears.

I say all this not to complain, but to remind myself—and maybe remind someone else—that inspiration is still out there. That spark still exists. Maybe I just need to slow down long enough to recognize it. Maybe I need to stop comparing eras and start listening with fresh ears. And maybe the next great song won’t sound like the music of my youth…but it might still move my spirit the same way.

At the end of the day, music is timeless because emotion is timeless. Struggle is timeless. Joy is timeless. The heart doesn’t keep track of release dates.

And even if the radio today doesn’t speak to me the way it used to, the classics that raised me still echo through everything I do—especially my art. They inspired the way I draw, the stories I write, the characters I imagine, and the passion that keeps me creating day after day. Those songs were the soundtrack of my youth, and in many ways, the foundation of my creativity.

So maybe this generation’s “classics” are being made right now—quietly, subtly, somewhere I haven’t tuned into yet. Their Marvin. Their Prince. Their Stevie. Their Whitney. Their Janet. Their Earth, Wind & Fire. Their song that makes the world stop spinning just long enough to breathe.

And who knows? Maybe the next time I flip through the radio or scroll through playlists, that one perfect track will find me again.

Because no matter the decade, music still has the power to save somebody.

It saved me.

What Say You? Comment Below…

Michael Jackson Vs. Prince (The Great Debate)

Prince: The Underrated Genius Behind the Purple Curtain

When people debate the greatest entertainers of all time, Michael Jackson and Prince inevitably rise to the top. Michael was the global phenomenon — the unmatched performer whose presence could freeze an entire stadium. Prince, on the other hand, was the storm beneath the surface. He wasn’t chasing worldwide domination. He was building worlds, layer by layer, chord by chord, instrument by instrument.

And because he didn’t shout for attention, the world often missed just how supernatural his talent truly was.

The Most Overlooked Fact: Prince Did Everything

Prince’s genius was so vast that it actually worked against him. He wasn’t just a singer. He wasn’t just a guitarist. He wasn’t just a producer.

He was all of it.

Prince mastered:

20+ instruments

Songwriting

Arranging

Producing

Live performance

Dance

Visual style

Genre-blending innovation

When someone operates at that level, people tend to take it for granted. They see the brilliance but rarely grasp the structure behind it.

Michael Jackson perfected what he presented.

Prince perfected everything it took to create what he presented.

That’s a different kind of greatness — quieter, deeper, and in many cases, harder to appreciate unless you’re really listening.

He Made Genius Look Easy

Prince would walk into a studio, lay down the drums, pick up a guitar, track the bass, move to the keys, arrange the harmonies, then produce the whole track — all before lunch. And not just good music…

Masterpieces.

He made the impossible look effortless, and because of that, his genius wasn’t always recognized in the moment.

The Mystery Factor

Prince and MJ shared stages in history, but not the same spotlight.

Michael embraced the global camera; Prince bent it to his own rules.

He kept a distance.

He stayed mysterious.

He refused to reveal everything.

That made him magnetic to musicians and creatives — but less understood by the masses.

MJ was the pop icon the world watched grow up.

Prince was the enigmatic architect you had to study to truly understand.

His Genius Was “Musician-Level”

Ask casual listeners who the best pop stars are — you’ll hear familiar names.

Ask musicians who the greatest artist of their lifetime was, and you’ll hear this:

> “Prince is the greatest live performer I’ve ever seen.” — Beyoncé

“He’s the best guitarist alive.” — Eric Clapton

“Prince is the only person I’ve ever been intimidated by.” — Miles Davis

Musicians knew.

Artists knew.

But the world didn’t always follow at the same depth.

Always Evolving — Never Playing It Safe

Prince changed sounds, genres, and artistic identities constantly.

That level of creativity is thrilling for artists — but confusing for casual listeners.

He wasn’t chasing trends.

He was creating them.

Every album was a new invention.

Every era had a different flavor.

He refused to repeat himself.

That takes courage — and the world often underrates courageous artists until they’re gone.

An Ocean-Deep Catalog

Most artists build a career on a handful of albums.

Prince released 39 studio albums, plus vaults of music people are still uncovering.

That much material means brilliance is scattered everywhere, not concentrated in only a few records. Many listeners only scratched the surface of what he created.

To fully understand Prince, you had to dive in.

Most never did — and that’s why so much of his genius remains “underrated” in the public eye.

Where Prince Stands Today

Michael Jackson was — and remains — the greatest performer the world has ever seen.

But when it comes to the full spectrum of musical ability, Prince stands nearly alone.

He wasn’t underrated because he lacked recognition.

He was underrated because his talent was bigger than what most people could comprehend while he was here.

He wasn’t just ahead of his time —

he was ahead of everyone’s imagination.

What's Your Opinion? Comment Below.

Why Music Inspires My Art

Growing up in Detroit, music wasn’t just background noise — it was the heartbeat of my entire world. Before I ever picked up a pencil, before I tried to paint a scene or build a story, music was already shaping the way I saw life. Certain artists and musicians became more than just performers to me. They were guides, teachers, and in many ways, heroes I needed at the right time.

Music was hope.

Music was family.

Music was survival.

And even now, it fuels everything I create.

A Detroit Childhood Powered by Sound

When you grow up in Motown, music is more than entertainment — it’s a culture. A spirit. A language that everybody speaks, even without words.

My earliest memories are tied to songs playing in the house, in the car, in the background of everyday life. Those records connected me to my mother and father in ways that went deeper than conversation. My brothers and I didn’t always get along, but music could pull us together when nothing else could. It was our middle ground — the one thing we all respected.

And there was something sacred about cruising through Detroit with the windows down, the city passing by, and a song that made everything feel possible.

Why I Illustrate Musicians

I create art of certain musicians because they gave me something real.

They made me feel alive when life didn’t always make sense.

Some artists made me want to sing.

Some helped me escape.

Some taught me who I was becoming.

Some showed me who I wanted to be.

They were voices that lifted me in the dark.

They were rhythm when I felt out of step.

They were vision when I was still trying to find mine.

When I draw them, I’m not just making a picture.

I’m honoring the people who gave me inspiration, strength, and imagination long before I had any of my own.

Music + Art = My Language

Music has always been my companion — through relationships, through struggles, through marriage, through growth. It gave me a space to think, to dream, to understand the world. To understand myself.

Over the years, the combination of music and art is what finally made everything click.

Art gave me a voice.

Music gave me meaning.

Together, they shaped my philosophy, my creativity, and even the way I tell stories. When I illustrate a musician, I’m expressing gratitude. I’m saying:

“You mattered. You inspired something in me that still lives today.”

The Bond That Still Lives

When I create today — whether it’s books, posters, paintings, or biblical illustrations — that musical influence is still in every stroke.

I can feel Detroit in it.

I can feel my parents.

I can feel every drive down 8 Mile, Woodward, and Telegraph with the music loud and the world wide open.

My art is rooted in sound — in the artists who helped me dream when dreaming was hard.

And as long as I’m creating, I’ll always honor the musicians who carried me this far.

Be inspired… share your comments and thoughts.

If music inspires you the way it inspires me, share your journey in the comments or reach out. I’d love to hear how sound and art collide in your life. And if you’ve never tried creating with programs like Rebelle 8, I encourage you to dive in — you might unlock something powerful inside yourself.

Keep creating.

Keep exploring.

And let the music or whatever inspires you guide your art.