42.3301° N, 83.0462° W

DETROIT

Most Famous People Born in Detroit, United States

Notable people
3,099
Peak decade
1950s
Median birth year
1949
Most distinctive
Basket 4.6×

Motown, and everything Motown taught the rest of American music. Detroit's distinctive shelves run to basketball, baseball, hockey, and a music industry — singers, producers, novelists — that reads like the statistical fingerprint of a postwar Black working-class city that built a national sound and kept rebuilding one. Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Jack White, and Eminem all grew up inside a few miles of each other.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Detroit during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1950s with 458 notable births.

What Detroit Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Football is Detroit's biggest profession — 9% of all notables (290).

Detroit over-indexes on basket4.6× the global rate.

Detroit under-produces politician — only 0.6× the global rate.

  1. Football290
  2. Actor242
  3. Politician227
  4. Basket179
  5. Music158
  6. Baseball157
  7. Singer156
  8. Hockey117
  1. Basket1794.6×
  2. Baseball1574.5×
  3. Music1583.6×
  4. Producer313.5×
  5. Hockey1173.2×
  6. Novelist383.1×
  7. Boxer332.7×
  8. Singer1562.4×
  1. Politician2270.6×
  2. Writer660.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Detroit's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Music
  • Film & TV
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Science
  • Other
All3,099
Sort By

3,099 notable people

2101 FOOTBALL

Alex Carson

Born 1924

Preview
2102 GOLF

Ken Westerfield

Born 1947

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2103 ACTOR

Maylia

1925 - 2016

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2104 RAILROAD

Ronald Batory

Born 1950

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2105 HOCKEY

Gerry Abel

Born 1944

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2106 POLITICIAN

Bob Tata

Born 1930

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2107 FOOTBALL

Ernest Shazor

Born 1983

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2108 FOOTBALL

Bill Wightkin

1927 - 1997

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2109 POLITICIAN

Mike Kowall

Born 1951

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2110 PRODUCER

Rick Lax

Born 1982

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2111 FOOTBALL

Chris Floyd

Born 1975

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2112 PSYCHIATRIST

Phyllis Harrison-Ross

1936 - 2017

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2113 BUSINESS

Gordon Morton McGregor

1873 - 1922

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2114 JOURNALIST

Damian Rogers

Born 1972

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2115 FOOTBALL

Chris Liwienski

Born 1975

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2116 MUSIC

Byrdie Green

1936 - 2008

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2117 FOOTBALL

Ed Philion

Born 1970

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2118 LAWYER

Victoria A. Roberts

Born 1951

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2119 BIOLOGIST

Philip James DeVries

Born 1952

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2120 SCREENWRITER

Stegath Dorr

Born 1973

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2121 BASKET

Fred Bennion

1884 - 1960

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2122 NASCAR

Phil Parsons

Born 1957

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2123 ACTOR

Michael Stasko

Born 1980

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2124 KILLER

Mathew Charles Lamb

1948 - 1976

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2125 COMPOSER

Carl Dante

Born 1950

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2126 BOXER

Ricky Womack

1961 - 2002

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2127 MUSIC

Sylvester Rivers

Born 1953

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2128 CHOREOGRAPHER

Dennis Courtney

Born 1958

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2129 POLITICIAN

John Olumba

Born 1981

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2130 PRIEST

Jay Samonie

1930 - 2010

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2131 TECHNICIAN

Dennis Skotak

Born 1943

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2132 LAWYER

Bruce D. Black

Born 1947

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2133 FOOTBALL

Tom Beer

Born 1944

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2134 LAWYER

Ralph B. Guy Jr.

Born 1929

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2135 SINOLOGIST

John Alexander Pope

1906 - 1982

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2136 FOOTBALL

Gary Ballman

1940 - 2004

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2137 FOOTBALL

Ron Simpkins

Born 1958

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2138 POLITICIAN

Fred Durhal III

Born 1984

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2139 PRESENTER

Nadja Bernhard

Born 1975

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2140 FOOTBALL

Mike Jolly

Born 1958

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2141 BASEBALL

Bill James (pitcher, born 1887)

1887 - 1942

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2142 FILM

Richard Foster Baker

1857 - 1921

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2143 POLITICIAN

Vicki Barnett

Born 1954

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2144 HOCKEY

Ron Friest

Born 1958

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2145 FOOTBALL

Glenn Winston

Born 1989

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2146 PUBLISHER

Todd Loren

1960 - 1992

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2147 ACTOR

Jim Deberry

Born 1977

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2148 COACH

Dan Boisture

1925 - 2007

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2149 NEWSPAPERMAN

Tom Colten

1922 - 2004

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2150 GYMNAST

Ed Gagnier (gymnast)

Born 1936

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2151 SHOPKEEPER

Charles Beaubien

1748 - 1794

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2152 FOOTBALL

Ron Johnson (wide receiver, born 1980)

Born 1980

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2153 HOCKEY

Doug Roberts (ice hockey)

Born 1942

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2154 PUPPETEER

Paul McPharlin

1903 - 1948

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2155 FOOTBALL

Maurice Williams (offensive tackle)

Born 1979

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2156 WRITER

Keith Monroe

1915 - 2003

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2157 COLLECTOR

Robert Hudson Tannahill

1893 - 1969

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2158 LAWYER

Barbara Ann Crancer

Born 1938

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2159 FOOTBALL

Walt Clago

1899 - 1955

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2160 FOOTBALL

Lawrence Thomas (American football)

Born 1993

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2161 MISSING

Kenneth Jernigan

1926 - 1998

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2162 LAWYER

David M. Lawson

Born 1951

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2163 BASEBALL

Dick Billings

Born 1942

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2164 SPORT

Mario Impemba

Born 1963

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2165 BASEBALL

Ed Stein (baseball)

1869 - 1928

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2166 SINGER

King Lizzard

Born 1957

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2167 POLITICIAN

James Felton Keith

Born 1981

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2168 BASKET

Mike Brkovich

Born 1958

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2169 COMICS

Robert L. Washington III

1964 - 2012

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2170 POLITICIAN

William Barlum Thompson

1860 - 1941

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2171 FOOTBALL

Carl Powell

Born 1974

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2172 BASEBALL

Danny Schmitz

Born 1955

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2173 CONDUCTOR

Brazeal Dennard

1929 - 2010

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2174 LAWYER

Tyrone C. Fahner

Born 1942

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2175 FOOTBALL

Chris Roberson (American football)

Born 1983

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2176 FOOTBALL

Mel Taube

1904 - 1979

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2177 WRITER

Dinah Lee Küng

Born 1972

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2178 HOCKEY

Tony Curtale

Born 1962

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2179 SINGER

Tori Alamaze

Born 1977

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2180 FOOTBALL

Tom Dohring

Born 1968

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2181 BASKET

Jarvis Walker (basketball)

Born 1966

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2182 FOOTBALL

John Wojciechowski

Born 1963

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2183 MILITAR

Edward Thomas Williams

1901 - 1973

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2184 PHILANTHROPIST

Louise Manoogian Simone

1933 - 2019

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2185 TRADE UNION

Charles Brooks (trade unionist)

1915 - 1977

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2186 ACTOR

Matthew Locricchio

1947 - 2019

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2187 ACADEMIC

Helen Landgarten

1921 - 2011

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2188 SPORT

Fred Julian

1938 - 2013

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2189 FOOTBALL

Derek Hill (gridiron football)

1967 - 2012

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2190 POLITICIAN

Vincent Gregory

Born 1948

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2191 MUSIC

Morgan Davis

-

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2192 ACADEMIC

Baruch Fischhoff

Born 1946

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2193 MODEL

Kimberly Spicer

Born 1980

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2194 POLITICIAN

Marilyn Lane

Born 1959

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2195 SONGWRITER

Michael Stokes (record producer)

Born 1955

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2196 DESIGNER

Nicole Gibbons

-

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2197 KILLER

Ronald E. Clark

1911 - 1972

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2198 HOCKEY

Blair Barnes

1960 - 2010

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2199 LAWYER

George La Plata

1924 - 2010

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2200 BASEBALL

Leo Cristante

1926 - 1977

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2201 BUSINESS

Robert S. Taubman

Born 1953

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2202 FOLKLORIST

Kay Turner

Born 1948

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2203 PHILOLOGIST

Gerald Michael Browne

1943 - 2004

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2204 POLITICIAN

Leslie Love

Born 1971

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2205 THEATRE

James L. Nederlander

Born 1960

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2206 CHOREOGRAPHER

Bert Hubbard

Born 1927

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2207 PAINTER

Robert Franklin Gates

1906 - 1982

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2208 PSYCHOLOGIST

John Amsden Starkweather

1925 - 2001

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2209 FOOTBALL

John Kelly (running back)

Born 1996

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2210 HOCKEY

Stéphane Gervais

Born 1982

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2211 HOCKEY

Chris Renaud (ice hockey)

Born 1960

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2212 POLITICIAN

Charles W. Jewett (Connecticut politician)

1913 - 2000

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2213 ENTREPRENEUR

Jules Lederer

1917 - 1999

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2214 RACER

Chris Karamesines

Born 1931

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2215 NAVAL

Thomas Joseph Simpson

1921 - 2017

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2216 HOCKEY

Tom Ross (ice hockey)

Born 1954

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2217 JOURNALIST

Pamela Martin (television reporter)

Born 1953

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2218 BUSINESS

Donald Bruce Kaufman

1918 - 1983

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2219 PHYSICIST

Charles L. Brooks III

-

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2220 FOOTBALL

Aaron Hayden

Born 1973

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2221 ACTOR

Elijah Connor

Born 1988

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2222 POLITICIAN

Sean McCann (politician)

Born 1971

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2223 VIOLIN

Leon Sachs

1918 - 1977

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2224 PHOTOGRAPHER

Jeremy Deputat

Born 1976

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2225 WRESTLER

Robert Dawson (wrestler)

Born 1963

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2226 BASEBALL

Jim Doyle (baseball)

1881 - 1912

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2227 COMPOSER

Curt Sobel

Born 1953

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2228 FOOTBALL

Ron Berger

Born 1942

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2229 BOXER

Isiah Thomas (boxer)

Born 1989

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2230 POLITICIAN

Martin Howrylak

Born 1974

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2231 POLITICIAN

Pete Lund

Born 1964

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2232 HURDLER

Andrea Page

Born 1956

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2233 MONK

George Winne Jr.

1947 - 1970

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2234 FOOTBALL

Fakhir Brown

Born 1977

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2235 PRESENTER

Cyndy Garvey

Born 1949

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2236 BASKET

Hal Devoll

1923 - 2010

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2237 POLITICIAN

Rocky Suhayda

Born 1952

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2238 PRIEST

Eugène Philippe LaRocque

1927 - 2018

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2239 BASKET

Amber Hall

Born 1978

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2240 BASKET

Eddie Parry

1918 - 2016

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2241 POLITICIAN

Rob Fleming

Born 1971

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2242 COMPOSER

Stephanie Tyrell

1949 - 2003

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2243 ARTIST

Marcel Vercoutere

1925 - 2013

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2244 BODYBUILDER

Lenda Murray

Born 1962

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2245 MISSING

Duane Litfin

Born 1943

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2246 PRIEST

Brian Hennessy (bishop)

1919 - 1997

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2247 POLITICIAN

Kenneth Horn

Born 1959

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2248 PIANIST

Teddy Harris

1934 - 2005

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2249 FOOTBALL

Zak Keasey

Born 1982

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2250 ANIMATOR

Bruce Gordon (imagineer)

1951 - 2007

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2251 BUSINESS

David Coulter (politician)

-

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2252 FOOTBALL

Julius Curry

Born 1979

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2253 COMPOSER

Liz Lachman

-

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2254 FOOTBALL

Paul Seal

Born 1952

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2255 PLAYER

Malcolm MacDonald (tennis)

Born 1950

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2256 MUSIC

Tony Newton (Musiker)

-

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2257 COACH

Phil Emery (American football)

Born 1959

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2258 PAINTER

Abdul Qadim Haqq

Born 1968

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2259 JOURNALIST

Katherine Rosman

Born 1972

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2260 FILM

Dionciel Armstrong

Born 1973

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2261 FOOTBALL

Eric Crume

Born 1993

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2262 COMPOSER

Julian Kytasty

Born 1958

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2263 FOOTBALL

Robert Gordon (gridiron football)

Born 1968

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2264 ACADEMIC

Louis Smullin

1916 - 2009

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2265 BASEBALL

Steve Trout

Born 1957

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2266 BASEBALL

Greg Bollo

Born 1943

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2267 SINGER

Chubby Newsom

1920 - 2003

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2268 ANIMATOR

Ted Petok

1917 - 2010

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2269 BASEBALL

Glenn Gulliver

Born 1954

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2270 BASEBALL

Glenn Redmon

Born 1948

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2271 HOCKEY

Chris Cichocki

Born 1963

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2272 SINGER

Niagara (painter and singer)

Born 1954

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2273 BASEBALL

Ike Blessitt

Born 1949

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2274 BUSINESS

Jack Cowin

Born 1942

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2275 ACTOR

Vaughn Lowery

-

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2276 POLITICIAN

Rudy Hobbs

Born 1976

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2277 PSYCHOLOGIST

Benson Ginsburg

1918 - 2016

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2278 SPORT

Charles H. Campbell

1858 - 1927

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2279 FOOTBALL

Ron Rice (American football)

Born 1972

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2280 FOOTBALL

Jeff Chadwick

Born 1960

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2281 BUSINESS

Hans W. Becherer

1935 - 2016

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2282 BASKET

Martina Jerant

Born 1974

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2283 FOOTBALL

Rob Bolden

Born 1992

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2284 LAWYER

John E. Steele

Born 1949

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2285 BANDLEADER

Joe Weaver

1934 - 2006

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2286 INSURANCE

Barry Bremen

1947 - 2011

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2287 BASKET

Asia Boyd

Born 1992

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2288 REPUBLICAN

John Bizon

-

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2289 WRESTLER

Mike Moore (wrestler)

Born 1958

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2290 ACTOR

Vanita Smythe

1925 - 1994

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2291 HOCKEY

Tripp Tracy

Born 1973

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2292 FOOTBALL

Lance Long

Born 1985

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2293 CORRESPONDENT

Neal Karlinsky

Born 1968

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2294 WRESTLER

Jimmy Jackson (wrestler)

1956 - 2008

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2295 SCREENWRITER

Boyce DeGaw

1900 - 1953

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2296 COMEDIAN

Mark Sweet

Born 1951

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2297 MUSIC

Ryan Mendez

Born 1980

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2298 BASKET

Suzy Merchant

Born 1969

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2299 BASEBALL

Joe Koppe

1930 - 2006

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2300 COMPOSER

Jerry Grant (composer)

Born 1936

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2301 POLITICIAN

Mark Finchem

-

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2302 MUSIC

Ray Kaczynski

Born 1960

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2303 MILITAR

Joseph A. Glowin

1892 - 1952

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2304 ACTOR

McKee Rankin

1844 - 1914

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2305 PHOTOGRAPHER

Byron G. Highland

1934 - 1967

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2306 CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Jeffrey Montgomery

1953 - 2016

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2307 CEO

Stephen Calk

Born 1967

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2308 OCEANOGRAPHER

John A. Knauss

1925 - 2015

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2309 NOVELIST

Aryeh Lev Stollman

Born 1954

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2310 NOVELIST

Arliss Ryan

Born 1950

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2311 MALACOLOGIST

Harold Ernest Vokes

1908 - 1998

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2312 POLITICIAN

Peggy Rosenzweig

Born 1936

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2313 DIPLOMAT

David Hermelin

1936 - 2000

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2314 PHYSICIAN

Eric Schoomaker

Born 1948

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2315 HOCKEY

Austin Wycisk

Born 1980

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2316 SINGER

Delores Ivory Davis

Born 1939

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2317 SWIMMER

Ray Kaye

1912 - 1983

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2318 ACTOR

Council Cargle

1935 - 2013

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2319 POLITICIAN

Joseph A. Martin

1888 - 1928

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2320 COLUMNIST

Bruce Bialosky

Born 1953

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2321 SONGWRITER

Larry LaPrise

1912 - 1996

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2322 BASEBALL

Al Greene (baseball)

1954 - 2014

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2323 BASKET

Bacari Alexander

Born 1976

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2324 HOCKEY

Dave Gagnon

Born 1967

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2325 POLITICIAN

Robert Mac

Born 1968

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2326 ENGINEER

Jerry Jost

Died 2014

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2327 FOOTBALL

Jerome Davis (offensive tackle)

Born 1974

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2328 ENGINEER

Montgomery C. Meigs Jr.

1847 - 1931

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2329 SINGER

Kenya Bell

Born 1977

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2330 ARTIST

Aunia Kahn

Born 1977

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2331 ENGINEER

George Labram

1859 - 1900

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2332 ARMY

Robert Leslie Poxon

1947 - 1969

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2333 FOOTBALL

Henry Reed (American football)

Born 1948

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2334 SPORT

Alan Rothenberg

Born 1939

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2335 POLITICIAN

Kathy Brynaert

Born 1944

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2336 PAINTER

Alfonse Borysewicz

Born 1957

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2337 LAWYER

Charles Levin (judge)

1926 - 2020

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2338 HORSE TRAINER

J. Paul Reddam

Born 1955

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2339 ARCHITECT

Joseph Storey

1923 - 1975

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2340 BASKET

Rob Murphy (basketball)

Born 1972

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2341 FOOTBALL

Shantee Orr

Born 1981

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2342 MUSIC

Rayse Biggs

-

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2343 PLAYWRIGHT

Brooke Berman

Born 1969

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2344 BASEBALL

Dan O'Leary

1856 - 1922

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2345 COMPOSER

Norman L. Berman

Born 1949

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2346 SWIMMER

Jane Cadwell

1915 - 2000

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2347 SCIENTIST

Nye Lavalle

-

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2348 ACTOR

Sean McCourt

Born 1971

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2349 PRIEST

Paul Michael Boyle

1926 - 2008

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2350 BOXER

Chuck Spieser

1929 - 1996

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2351 ATTORNEY

Robert Nederlander

Born 1933

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2352 MISSING

Aneta Kowal

Born 1991

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2353 BASEBALL

Doug Konieczny

Born 1951

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2354 SPORT

Dave Schreiber

Born 1944

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2355 BOBSLED

Joe Briski

Born 1955

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2356 MILITAR

Vincent W. Patton III

Born 1954

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2357 BUSINESS

William H. Osborne

Born 1960

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2358 FOOTBALL

Bob Toneff

1930 - 2015

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2359 FOOTBALL

Karon Riley

Born 1978

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2360 POLITICIAN

Peter MacGregor

Born 1966

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2361 WHOLESALE

Alexander Lewis

1822 - 1908

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2362 SINGER

Ilene Barnes

-

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2363 POLITICIAN

Morris Hood III

1965 - 2020

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2364 SPORT

Bill Sheridan

Born 1959

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2365 BASEBALL

Marty Clary

Born 1962

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2366 FOOTBALL

Joe Fitzgerald (American football)

1899 - 1978

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2367 BASEBALL

Clarence Currie

1878 - 1941

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2368 BASEBALL

Clarence Winters

1899 - 1945

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2369 SCREENWRITER

Jimmy Diggs

Born 1955

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2370 FOOTBALL

William J. Olcott

1862 - 1935

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2371 FOOTBALL

Jay Vidovich

Born 1960

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2372 PRODUCER

Nat Tarnopol

1931 - 1987

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2373 FOOTBALL

Bill Simpson (American football)

Born 1951

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2374 FOOTBALL

Donovan Peoples-Jones

Born 1999

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2375 FOOTBALL

Chuck Shonta

Born 1937

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2376 FOOTBALL

Archie Matsos

Born 1934

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2377 BASKET

Greg Grays

Born 1979

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2378 POLITICIAN

Carey Torrice

Born 1986

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2379 INVENTOR

Alex Deans

Born 1997

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2380 CONSERVATIVE

Milton Balkany

Born 1946

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2381 POLITICIAN

David Daubney

Born 1947

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2382 FOOTBALL

Walter Bender (Canadian football)

Born 1961

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2383 CHEMIST

Warren S. Warren

Born 1955

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2384 BASEBALL

Bill Stellberger

1865 - 1936

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2385 POET

Richard Lyons (writer)

1920 - 2000

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2386 FOOTBALL

Guy Frazier

Born 1959

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2387 ENTOMOLOGIST

George Ball (entomologist)

1926 - 2019

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2388 BASEBALL

Dutch Lerchen

1889 - 1962

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2389 BASEBALL

Johnny Mitchell (baseball)

1894 - 1965

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2390 SINGER

Henry Fambrough

Born 1938

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2391 MUSIC

Harold McKinney

1928 - 2001

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2392 FOOTBALL

Jovan Olafioye

Born 1987

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2393 BASKET

Jay Youngblood

Born 1984

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2394 BASEBALL

Gene Markland

1919 - 1999

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2395 POLITICAL

Nick Kouvalis

Born 1975

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2396 FOOTBALL

Tom Boisture

1931 - 2011

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2397 LAWYER

Eddie Francis

Born 1974

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2398 BASEBALL

Kerwin Moore

Born 1970

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2399 BASKET

Brian Alexander (basketball)

1975 - 2020

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2400 SONGWRITER

Alicia Myers

Born 1957

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