DETROIT – As Movement is set to begin, a new art exhibit at Wayne State University honors the life of Detroit music icon Amp Fiddler, whose influence spanned multiple generations and genres of music.
“There’s a quote here that says he’s the red thread that’s intertwined in all of the genres post-Motown,” Tombi Stewart-Fiddler, Amp’s Widow, said on Friday (May 23).
Stewart is the curator of the exhibit “Waltz of a Ghetto Fly,” which will be featured at the Elaine Jacobs Gallery.
“No matter where I go, someone has an Amp story,” Stewart said. “Amp gave me this. Amp showed me this; you know Amp taught me this.”
The list of artists Fiddler worked with and influenced reads like a Hall of Fame roster.
Whether it was Funk legends like Parliament Funkadelic and Enchantment, R&B icons such as Prince and Neo-Soul, artists such as Corrine Bailey Rae, or various hip hop artists such as Slum Village, the Roots, J Dilla, and A Tribe Called Quest.
Fiddler’s career began after he graduated from Osborn High School in 1976.
He was heavily influenced by men such as George Clinton and Jazz pianist Harold McKinney.
Fiddler’s widow, Stewart, curated the exhibit, which features photos, artwork, and numerous clips of his interviews and performances.
Since his death on Dec. 23, 2023, she has been on a mission to ensure that Amp is recognized and remembered.
Stewart pushed the city of Detroit to name May 16 “Amp Fiddler Day.” One week ago, the corner of 7 Mile Road and Revere, near Amp’s home, was named in his honor.
It acknowledges a man who often flew beneath the mainstream radar and lived to help other artists.
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“It’s the way that he moved,” Stewart said. “He was very humble, and he did not create for accolades; it wasn’t about ego or pride, so when he created, He created to create, he enjoyed it.
The name of the exhibit also holds a special meaning. “Waltz of a Ghetto Fly” was the name of Fiddler’s first solo album in 2003.
Stewart says it’s a fitting introduction to those who may just be discovering him for the first time.
“It was a testament to, if you have faith in your gift, you’re offering a unique offering that there are people here to embrace it,” she said. “The world will embrace it, and they do.”
The “Waltz of a Ghetto Fly” exhibit runs through Sept. 20.
