Everyone knows that the Gold family LOVES Detroit! They therefore have a kindred spirit in Grammy, Emmy, Tony, and Webby award-winning and nominated songwriter, Allee Willis. Allee is a beloved and familiar face at American Jewelry and Loan, whenever she is in town!
Allee’s latest project, “The D” is the official unofficial theme song of Detroit. A record, plus multiple music videos and a feature length hybrid documentary titled Allee Willis Loves Detroit, it’s about human spirit as exemplified by the people of Detroit. “The D” is a joyous citywide singalong tribute written by Detroit-born Grammy winner Allee Willis with Andrae Alexander in the same uplifting spirit as Willis’ first hit, “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire.”
In September, 2013, and again at Thanksgiving when Willis led a sing-along from atop the NBC/WDIV Wizard of Oz Thanksgiving Day Parade float, she and her 15 person crew recorded and filmed at over 50 locations around the city. In addition to a plethora of legendary Detroit-born singers, artists, actors and comedians, “The D” captures thousands of Detroiters singing, playing, dancing, clapping, whistling, juggling hubcaps and showing their spirit anyway they can, making this is truly a “Made in Detroit” musical theme as the Motor City re-imagines itself. It’s a joyous celebration of life and a story for cities all around the world as they re-conceive and retrofit themselves for the 21st Century.
Allee Willis is an award-winning and nominated songwriter, artist, director, producer, collector, party thrower.
Says Willis, “Being born in Detroit influences everything I do. I never learned how to play an instrument, but Motown guided me to write songs that have sold over 50,000,000 records – like Earth Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland,” the musical The Color Purple, The Pointer Sisters “Neutron Dance,” and “I’ll Be There For You” (the Friends theme), all known for their upbeat positivity. Spending every Saturday at my dad’s scrapyard, just miles from the Big Three automakers, influenced my art, sets and graphic design. I also have a reputation as one of the best party throwers in the world, and for decades have prided myself on throwing kick-ass, large scale, musically-pumped social events. In 1992 I conceived of the world’s first social network, a community in cyberspace called willisville, when most people still had never even heard of the Internet. “The D” is the logical conclusion of what I’ve been doing my whole career to create one new giant piece of social art with the entire city of Detroit as my collaborators.
You can learn more at her Detroit webpage. Want to get in on the fun? Allee considers her biggest talent to be “party thrower”! Please join us on Sep 21, 2014 at 3:00 PM at United Sound. Tickets are going fast and available here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/811274. You do NOT want to miss this Detroit event!