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Luther Keith
Luther "Badman" Keith, a blues musician, former reporter, columnist, and editor at The Detroit News, and executive director of ARISE Detroit!, has died unexpectedly. He was 74.
A good friend, Keith Owens, a former Detroit Free Press reporter, tells Deadline Detroit that he passed away Wednesday morning in his sleep.
Keith, a beloved figure in the community known for his kindness and decency, was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 1995. He was the nephew of the late U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Damon Keith.
He began working at The Detroit News in 1972 as a general assignment reporter before covering sports the next year. During his time at the newspaper, he achieved several firsts.
According to the Hall of Fame posting, he was the first African American sports reporter at a major Detroit daily (1973), the first African American assigned to cover the state capitol (1979), and the first African American newsroom editor at The Detroit News (1982).
In 1985, he took a leave of absence from The Detroit News to become the founding director of Wayne State University’s Journalism Institute for Minorities. He eventually returned to the paper, rising to managing editor.
"Of all the editors I worked for at the News he was the nicest, by far," said former Detroit News reporter Bill Vlasic, who went on to become the Detroit bureau chief for the New York Times.
Luther Keith
In 2005, Keith retired from the Detroit News. A year later, he founded and served as executive director of ARISE Detroit!, a nonprofit coalition promoting volunteerism and community activism. He worked there until his death.
At the same time, he continued to pursue one of his great passions—playing the blues. He started playing blues guitar in 1981 and went on to produce albums and perform at events and venues, including the iconic Baker's Keyboard Lounge on Livernois in Detroit where some of the world's greatest jazz musicians have appeared.
"Unlike most artists, Luther never played an instrument till he was 30 and he never performed professionally till he was 45," his music website said. "Yet despite the late start, he has produced 4 popular CDs, has recorded more than 50 songs, and has been rocking the stages at Detroit’s hottest venues and major events for years. Some late-bloomers find a way to flourish."
Keith was born in Detroit on Oct. 9, 1950, to Mittie Savella Ashworth and Luther Caesar Keith. His father was a postal employee who founded the United Committee on Negro History, according to Keith's bio on The History Makers website.
In 1968, he graduated from Cathedral High School, a boys' college preparatory Catholic school in Detroit. In 1972, he earned an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Detroit.
He and his wife, Jacqueline, have one child, Erin, whom he described in 2019 on Facebook as his "social justice lawyer/activist daughter."
Condolences poured in on Facebook.
Lisa Hagopian
So sad and he was such a gem for his work in the Metro Detroit community.
Larry Good
Tragic loss. Crossed paths with Luther when he was covering politics and Lansing. One of the finest people I‘ve ever known.
Frederick J. Smith
Condolences to the family of my Journalist colleague Luther Keith , the “ Bad Man” guitarist .
Maggie McCabe
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Just no...Not again... My dear, dear friend Luther Keith. I don't know how I can process you not being here. You were a gift. My heart is breaking. A true blues man that I dearly loved. I will miss you so. Rest in peace my lovely friend. You will always be with me. Your spirit will ride on. My deepest condolences to the Keith family.
RJ Spängler
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I am absolutely shocked to learn of the passing of my friend Luther Keith. We had lunch together just yesterday! He shared with me his plans for playing the blues, his writing, traveling with his wife. We spoke about how he got into the blues, the JOA Blues Band made up of newspaper folks like our mutual pal Bob Orlean. God bless you pal. You were one of the good guy
