A Great Day at the Grande

Hi All,

The guest list for the Grande Class Photo is really heating up. We have folks traveling considerable distances to be in the photo. The list already includes some luminaries you may remember. Folks the photo would be entirely incomplete without. This photo was inspired by the legendary "A Great Day in Harlem" photo, check it out here: http://www.harlem.org/ This event was also re-created for Detroit Jazzfest 2008 connecting Detroit's legendary 1920' Skyscraper The Guardian Building with contemporary Jazz Greats. "A great day in Detroit". http://www.detroitjazzfest.com/greatday.html So why not document as many as possible Grande folks in one shot? We will perhaps have to entitle it"A Great Day at the Grande" !!!

See you there... Leo

Grande Class Photo Event

For Immediate Release:

Wednesday October 7, 2009 will mark 43 years since the Grande re-opened as a Rock Venue

and 40 years since the evolution of new shows at the Eastown and Grande Riviera.

Today one venue has been razed and two of these pivotal rock palaces languish in ruins.

The Grande Ballroom edifice is especially in dire straits, its current owners electing to not pursue renovation or demolition. Having collected 100's of petitioners online, the Friends of the Grande group has had efforts at nominating the Grande for the National Historic Registry blocked. The current owners are uninterested in the Grande's history and the fiscal benefits a registration would afford the property. The building's days are now numbered.

As such, limited opportunities remain to photograph and document the Ballroom and the respect many Detroiters still have for this address.

As webmaster of www.thegrandeballroom.com I am compiling 5 years of research, photos and interviews into a comprehensive book entitled.

"Ghosts of the Grande - A Complete History of Detroit's Grande Ballroom"

I have been honored to speak and correspond with countless folks who were part of the Grande experience. I would like to invite each and every one of my Grande friends to stand in reverence and silent protest of the Grande's condition as we image a "Grande Class Photo" which will appear in the book.

I hope you all can join me one more time at the corner of Grand River and Beverly...

Where: Grand River and Beverly - Detroit, Mi.

When: Wednesday October 7, 2009 - 6:00 P.M.

What: Grande Class Photo

Cheers,

Leo

October 7 Grande Ballroom Event

Hi All,

Be sure to stay tuned for a Grande Ballroom event being planned for Wednesday Evening October 7 !

FYI: The Grande Ballroom Web Site is now also updating via the Facebook and Twitter Friends of the Grande pages and feeds.


Cheers,

Leo

This Place Matters Project

Still reviewing details about capturing a picture at the Grande for this project. Please send me your thoughts and if you are interested in participating at: webmaster@thegrandeballroom.com

http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/this-place-matters/?gclid=CIPJ2NHhvpoCFQEeDQod-RjWrw

Leni Sinclair Benefit Party

Dear Grande Friends,

I hope you can join us for this event. This is a very worthy cause for a super lady that has always been a great help to me in all of my Grande/Detroit related projects and interests.

Humble and super talented, Leni is most deserving of our assistance. I urge you to read more about Leni and the cause via the enclosed and support us in this effort.

Show Schedule
12:00 Doors
01:00 Sons of Adray
02:00 James Semark
03:00 Cat Listening
04:00 John Holdgren
05:00 Michigan Basement
06:00 Circus Boy
07:00 Open Mic
08:00 Beat Boys
09:00 Dead City Prophets
10:00 Special Surprise Guest
11:00 Gary Quackenbush

Leo Early

Leni Sinclair: Rock photography’s overlooked grand matriarch

Leni's Backstage Gallery

===================================================================

Petition from coordinator Michele Lundgren:

Dear Friends,

We need to help Leni Sinclair BUY A HOUSE!
She is soon being evicted from her RENTAL home of 10 years.
She has faithfully paid the rent, but the house is being FORECLOSED on as
her landlord cannot make the mortgage payments. The house is in very
rough condition anyway, so we need to get her a NEW one! A forever house!
We have found her several wonderful properties in Detroit for under $10,000.
Leni has some money saved to pay cash, but we are short the tax escrows and the additional closing costs.
The foreclosure will take place on or about April 22nd. The house has already gone through
the Sherif'fs Sale, so this is the end.
For many years, Leni Sinclair has given selflessly of herself. From The Detroit Artists Workshop to Trans-Love Energies to The Rainbow People's party to The White Panthers, Leni shared has her art and photography, her home and her love with ALL of us. She is our friend and our mother. We embrace her as family. We help family when we can. Let's help Leni get a house.
Musicians, poets, bands, artists, vendors, whatever and whomever! We need your participation.
Please feel free to forward this to all those who can help.
For more information on how you can participate, please call or email us. Time is of the essence.

Thanks again.
Peace.

Michele Lundgren 248-722-8880

Ron Asheton 1948-2009

Ron was found deceased this morning at his home in Ann Arbor.

An icon of Detroit guitar sound.

Bio:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:acfqxqq5ldde~T1


If you think that the Stooges and the Detroit sound never made a dent outside of the Midwest, watch this clip from eastern Europe....

TV Eye in Serbia