Grande Ballroom
Encyclopedia
The Grande Ballroom is a historic live music venue located at 8952 Grand River Avenue
in Detroit, Michigan
. The building was designed by Detroit engineer and architect Charles N. Agree
in 1928 and originally served as a multi-purpose building, hosting retail business on the first floor and a large dance hall upstairs. During this period the Grande was renowned for its outstanding hardwood dance floor which took up most of the second floor.
In 1966 the Grande was acquired by Dearborn, Michigan
, high school teacher and local radio DJ Russ Gibb
. Gibb was inspired by visiting San Francisco's Fillmore Theater
, and envisioned a similar venue in Detroit for the new psychedelic music
and a resource for local teenagers. Gibb worked closely with Detroit counterculture figure John Sinclair
in bringing in bands, both from San Francisco and harder-edged psychedelic rock bands gathering around Detroit's Plum Street
community like the MC5
. National and international acts - as well as future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
rs - of this period included Led Zeppelin
, Janis Joplin
, Pink Floyd
, The Grateful Dead, Jeff Beck
, Cream
and The Who
. The MC5
, The Tymes
, and The Stooges
served as house bands, assuring weekly performances. The Grande also featured the avant garde jazz of John Coltrane
and Sun Ra
.
Performances of this period were frequently advertised by the distinctive psychedelic handbills of Gary Grimshaw
and Carl Lundgren
. The Grande's rock and roll countercultural experience was extensively documented by Detroit photographer Leni Sinclair.
Since Gibb closed the Grande as a rock venue in 1972, the building has rarely been used and has fallen into a state of disrepair. As of 2010 it remained inactive and open to redevelopment.
Grand River Avenue
US Highway 16 , also called Grand River Avenue for much of its length, is one of the principal pre-Interstate roads in the state of Michigan. Before the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the highway had been designated M-16...
in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The building was designed by Detroit engineer and architect Charles N. Agree
Charles N. Agree
Charles Nathanial Agree was an architect who held his practice in Detroit, Michigan.Agree moved to Detroit in 1909 at the age of 12. He began his firm in 1917, after he graduated from the Detroit Y.M.C.A Technical School. His first major commission came in 1921 to build the Whittier Hotel near...
in 1928 and originally served as a multi-purpose building, hosting retail business on the first floor and a large dance hall upstairs. During this period the Grande was renowned for its outstanding hardwood dance floor which took up most of the second floor.
In 1966 the Grande was acquired by Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
, high school teacher and local radio DJ Russ Gibb
Russ Gibb
"Uncle" Russ Gibb is a former concert promoter, and media personality from Dearborn, Michigan, probably most famous for his role in the Paul is Dead phenomenon, a story he broke as a DJ on WKNR-FM....
. Gibb was inspired by visiting San Francisco's Fillmore Theater
The Fillmore
The Fillmore Auditorium is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California, made famous by Bill Graham. Named for its original location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it lies on the boundary of the Western Addition and the Pacific Heights neighborhoods.In 1968,...
, and envisioned a similar venue in Detroit for the new psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
and a resource for local teenagers. Gibb worked closely with Detroit counterculture figure John Sinclair
John Sinclair (poet)
John Sinclair is a Detroit poet, one-time manager of the band MC5, and leader of the White Panther Party — a militantly anti-racist countercultural group of white socialists seeking to assist the Black Panthers in the Civil Rights movement — from November 1968 to July 1969...
in bringing in bands, both from San Francisco and harder-edged psychedelic rock bands gathering around Detroit's Plum Street
Plum Street
Plum Street is a neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, roughly the area today bounded by Michigan Avenue, the Lodge Freeway, and the Fisher Freeway. The community gained wide notice in the late 1960s as hub of art, rock 'n' roll, anti-war, drug and hippie activity...
community like the MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
. National and international acts - as well as future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
rs - of this period included Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, The Grateful Dead, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. The MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
, The Tymes
The Tymes
The Tymes are an American soul vocal group, who enjoyed equal success in the United Kingdom as their homeland. They share the distinction of being one of the few acts to have one and only one chart-topper in both the U.S...
, and The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
served as house bands, assuring weekly performances. The Grande also featured the avant garde jazz of John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
and Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
.
Performances of this period were frequently advertised by the distinctive psychedelic handbills of Gary Grimshaw
Gary Grimshaw
Gary Grimshaw is a graphic artist and poster designer specializing in the music business. He was born on February 25, 1946 in Linclon Park, Michigan. His high school best friend was Rob Derminer who later started a band called the MC5...
and Carl Lundgren
Carl Lundgren (illustrator)
Carl Lundgren is an American artist and illustrator, primarily known for his 1960s-era rock posters and fantasy art.-Career:...
. The Grande's rock and roll countercultural experience was extensively documented by Detroit photographer Leni Sinclair.
Since Gibb closed the Grande as a rock venue in 1972, the building has rarely been used and has fallen into a state of disrepair. As of 2010 it remained inactive and open to redevelopment.