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As CJ Milroy tells it, it all started when she and her husband John starting giving tours to musician friends who came to town for gigs and stayed with them.
"A couple years ago, we found out that there were Motown artists buried in the cemetery that were in unmarked graves," she says. "We held fundraisers and Uriel Jones and Marv Johnson now have headstones they deserve.
"We were taking folks out to see them and adding new points of interest every time. People have been bugging us to take them over the years. We love Detroit and it's rich musical history. We want more people to have the exposure to it."
So, for the past few years, the couple has been offering tours.
On Saturday, April 26, the couple is offering a bus tour of the hot spots and homes of the soul music stars of the Motown era and some of their final resting places. It's being billed as "Detroit Motour." The cost is $45 and the bus leaves from Withington just east of Planavon in Ferndale. The tour is from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Both CJ and John Milroy are musicians and have played in local bands, including the now-defunct Rickety Nelsons, which played rockabilly and rock and roll.
"They're great citizens of the local music community," says friend Barbara Ingalls.
In a promotion the upcoming tour, the couple writes:
Feel…the excitement of soul pop during the Motown era. ENJOY…a journey into the past as we cruise the city in search of the old sights, homes and establishments where the recording magic was captured and made history! When you purchase your ticket for our tour, you are in for a treat. This isn't your average tour. Our tour guide will take you on a unique, fun and interesting musical journey. It's gonna be a gas. Oh Yeah.
To learn more about the tour click here.
See Detroit News virtual tour of cemeteries where notables are buried.
