The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater | Detroit MI
Beats & Uber Treat!
Let me tell you about the ultimate summer night in Detroit! Picture this: The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, the boats swaying gently on the water behind the stage, the sun setting with a golden glow, not too hot—basically, a backdrop made for concert magic.
First up, Larry Lee and the Back in the Day Band. Now, this was my first time seeing them, and let me tell you, they did not come to play—they came to SLAY. From the moment they hit the stage, you could feel their energy, setting the perfect mood for what was about to go down. Performing old-school songs had us going back in time. They had us on our feet, and singing along. We were thoroughly warmed up, and ready for the main event: the Queen of Percussion herself, Ms. Sheila E!
If you’ve seen Sheila E before, you already know—you can never get enough. It’s electrifying how she commands the drums, sending those beats straight to your soul. For the past few years, it’s become a bit of a family affair with Mychael Gabriel (her and Prince’s Godson) on guitar. He’s definitely more than earned his spot alongside royalty on that stage, and the tribute to Prince was nothing short of magical. Sheila and Mychael brought the energy, the hits, and a full-on party to the stage.
Oh, and here’s the best part: Sheila made it personal. She cruised through the audience, not once but twice! And guess what? She grabbed my hand! That’s right, Sheila E herself gave me a little love, and I might still be floating because of it. Another highlight? Some lucky folks from the audience got to party on stage with her—I mean, what a dream!
But the night didn’t end when the music stopped. My gurl and I ordered an Uber to head back to the hotel, and as I was scrolling through the driver’s profile (as one does), I noticed the driver, Jason’s fun fact: he loves to sing. Naturally, we asked him to give us a little sample. At first, he was a little shy, but he treated us to an original tune—and y’all, he could SING.
But wait, it gets better! He then hit us with Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work,” and let me tell you, we were in HEAVEN…at least I know I was, because, well…Maxwell IS my man and all (don’t judge me…lol). This young man belted it out like it was his personal concert, and he even took my hand—my right hand, since Sheila had already claimed the left.
We was living our best life being serenaded the entire ride back! After inquiring about him and his music, we immediately followed him on social media. The ride ended and we wished him well because he’s off to L.A. in a matter of days to chase his dreams. How cool would it be to one day see him on stage and say “we knew him when he was an Uber driver”! FYI he goes by J.Santino The night overall? From the live music on stage to a surprise serenade, it was a perfect summer evening.
