Albert Majors

Albert Dewitt Majors was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 18, 1931. He was the third son of eight children born to Reuben William Henry Majors and Victoria Adell DeFord Majors. His father, mother, brothers Donny, Reuben Jr., and Bert Leon preceded him in death. Al, as he was affectionately called, graduated from Detroit’s Northern High School in 1948. Born to him and his first wife, Marion McCain, was his daughter Denise Sharon; with his second wife, Reba Landrum, his son Christopher Albert and with his third wife Vita, his son Albert Chase.

Albert Majors, immediately upon graduating from high school began combining his entrepreneurial spirit with his love for music. At a very young age—he sponsored fashions shows, beauty contests, jazz concerts and dances at such venues as the Rathskeller Room, Roosevelt Hall, the Rosedale Theatre, the Civic Center and the Ferry Center. Albert Majors was an accomplished musician and became a well known jazz drummer. During the 50’s and 60’s the Al Majors’ jazz bands made coveted performances all over Detroit at such noted clubs as the Frolic Ballroom, Club El Tropicana, the Madison Ballroom, the Drome Lounge, The Sax Club Lounge, Twenty Grand Gold Ballroom, the Civic Center, the Chez Monte Lounge, and the Inferno, to name a few. He provided the music for numerous cabarets and the Al Majors’ Modern Jazz Quintet was featured at the Alumnus Club’s Annual Cabaret, “Show Biz.” The Al Majors Jazz Quintet performed the music score for the noted stage play, The Connections, which performed at Wayne State University’s Federation of Women’s Auditorium.

In New York City, Al Majors performed at The Spot, The Room and The Astros night Clubs. This success and passion encouraged him to open and operate his own restaurant and nightclub here in Detroit, The Birdcage. The Birdcage served as host and entertainment for numerous Detroit luminaries and jazz entertainers for a number of years. Al also owned and operated the Handbag Shop in the Great Lakes Building for a short while. In 1966, Albert Majors celebrated the opening of Plum Street, a new, grassroots, economic venture designed to halt inner-city blight in Detroit. Al Majors owed a substantial number of the commercial buildings that made up Plum Street until its dissolution. After this, he acquired a number of commercial properties on Detroit’s Northwest side.

By 1973, Al Majors owned twelve of the thirteen storefront properties that made up the entire block between Northlawn and Cherrylawn across from Marygrove College on McNichols Road. His plan—develop an entire mall that would house a variety of cultural venues. Within this vicinity, Al again combined his love for music and knack for economic success by instituting a music studio. The Studio Music Shop provided private music lessons on a variety of instruments by noted instructors including Earl Klugh and Yusef Lateef. The Studio Music Shop sold and rented over 100 different musical instruments and over the years, became a neighborhood icon for music lessons, equipment and supplies until Al closed its doors with his retirement.

Always the loving daddy, husband, grandfather, brother and uncle, he generously opened his heart, home and life to his family and friends. He loved to travel. He enjoyed collecting art, antique musical instruments, Tiffany lamp shades and made his home a showplace for his extensive collection of antique furniture. A connoisseur of seafood, Albert was always the last word on where the best restaurants and places to eat could be found.

He leaves to mourn his wife Vita, one daughter Denise Majors Cattron (Thomas), two sons Christopher Albert Majors and Albert Chase Majors, one brother, Victor Majors (Karen), three sisters Savonia Mathews of Savannah, Georgia, Virginia Fields (Marvin) and Viola M. Walker. Four granddaughters, Melanie Lynn Binder (Phillip), Alexandria Cattron, Christa and Sasha. Four grandsons Blake, Christopher, Jay and Khari, three great-grandsons Cannon, Blake Jr., and Khari Jr. and one great-granddaughter Kayvonna as well as host of loving nieces, nephews and dear friends.