Iconic Sully’s Blues Bar owner Jimmy Lessnau dies at 72

James “Jimmy” Lessnau, a beloved bar proprietor and a well-known face within the music scene of Metro Detroit, died on Friday 11 July, after an extended battle with Parkinson’s illness. He was 72.

Jimmy was finest recognized for the possession of Sully’s Blues Bar in Dearborn, an iconic location that attracted each native legends and nationwide acts in the course of the run from 1982 to 1995. For greater than ten years, the bar was a magnet for music lovers. Earlier than he opened Sully’s, he briefly ran the Cocomo bar in 1980.

Sully’s Blues Bar attracted stars and followers from all over the place

Exhibits in Sully’s “Steed Each Evening,” mentioned Nora Lessnau, Jimmy’s youthful sister, who labored with him on the bar. “Individuals would come from all over the place. Bono got here one night to see an act when he was within the metropolis. Mitch Ryder all the time confirmed up, Martha Reeves – many native artists. It was actually a enjoyable and different expertise for the Dearborn/Detroit space. No bar had finished one thing like that.”

Sully’s organized artists resembling Dr. John, Leon Russell, Sir Mack Rice, Carl Perkins, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Delbert McClinton, Johnny Adams, room stuffed with Blues, Lonnie Mack and lots of others.

In Could 2024, the Michigan Music Hall of Fame Jimmy honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions by way of Sully’s Blues Bar. The group praised the “legendary run” of the placement and its position in organizing native, nationwide and worldwide artists and referred to as Lessnau a distinguished determine in Michigan’s music historical past.

“He was simply the perfect man on this planet,” mentioned Bob Webber of Macomb, who performed within the common boys’ band in Sully’s within the Eighties and 90s. “He was so useful for brand new bands that begin, and solely folks basically. It’s actually a loss for this man to be gone. He was an awesome good friend. He was cherished by so many individuals.”

Webber reminded Jimmy’s dedication of music and the way he switched from reserving native artists to massive acts.

“We spoke about him one night to get a band named Roomful or Blues. And it was, I believe, his first nationwide act. That was a bit the start,” he mentioned. “He was a bar proprietor who cherished music, and he was actually a part of it. … This was his coronary heart. He thought it was nice to do that.”

A love for group, meals and extra

Jimmy’s love for the town stretched additional than music. His sister, Nora, remembered how in 1984 he stood outdoors of Sully’s in the course of the Tigers’ World Sequence Run with two further tickets.

“Individuals mentioned,” I will provide you with this quantity, I will provide you with that, “she mentioned.” He noticed a mom and a little bit boy who could not afford tickets, so he gave them to them free of charge. “

The Tigers gained the World Sequence sport that 12 months. After Sully’s closed, he turned a fixture in Howell’s bar in Dearborn. There he cooked his attribute “Jimmy Burgers”, Thursday Kipdiners, Friday Visfries and “Soul Sundays” till the bar was destroyed in a hearth of 2014. For a lot of regulars, Jimmy was simply as effectively the attraction because the meals itself.

An enormous historical past lover, he would usually discuss to pals about every little thing, from the involvement of Michigan on the Battle of Gettysburg to the purple gang to the Battle of the Bobbel.

Jimmy has additionally left his mark by way of mentorship. He labored in Patton Park Recreation Middle, the place he coached youth membership, softball and basketball, and was recognized for encouraging kids within the neighborhood.

Jimmy, a passionate reader, collected books about baseball, historical past and cooking – and saved his information to share with others.

“Let me let you know – this man had many passions,” mentioned Nora. “He was enthusiastic about historical past, cooking, music. … He saved greater than a thousand books and he cherished to share books with folks.”

Household and funeral particulars

Jimmy was born in 1953 in southwestern Detroit and was one of many eight kids. He went to the St. Gabriel college till the ditch after which graduated from the Holy Redeemer Excessive Faculty.

He’s survived by his 39 -year -old spouse, Denise Macisaac; his kids, Siobhan Lessnau, Aileen Lessnau (Spencer Disney), Duncan (Felix) Lessnau and Rory Lessnau; And grandchildren Ein and Mairi Disney. He’s additionally survived by brothers and sisters Ed (Becky) Lessnau, Mary (Invoice) Doyle, Lois (the late James) Witham, Nora Lessnau (Dennis Hershberger) and Ellen (Brian) Mitchell, in addition to many cousins and cousins.

He was preceded in dying by his dad and mom, John Ross and Eleanor Lessnau, and his brother Daniel.

“He was loving. He was an excellent brother for me,” mentioned Nora. “He cherished his household and cherished his two grandchildren.”

Visitation is deliberate for 1-9 hours Tuesday 15 July in How-Peterson Funeral House, 22546 Michigan Ave. In Dearborn, with a rosary at 19:30 a funeral mass will probably be held at 10.30 am Wednesday 16 July, within the Holy Redeemer Church, 1721 Junction Ave. In Detroit. Instate begins at 9.30 am and the funeral follows St. Hedwig Cemetery.

As a substitute of flowers, the household asks that donations are made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.

Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking information reporter. E -mail her: nrahal@freepress.com. Comply with her on twitter @nrahal1.