Birth Name: John Michael Stipe
Place of Birth: Decatur, Georgia, United States
Date of Birth: January 4, 1960
Ethnicity: English, distant German
Michael Stipe is an American singer, lyricist, film producer, and visual artist. He is known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He is the brother of singer and bass guitarist Lynda Stipe.
Michael’s patrilineal line traces back to Henry Stipe, who was born, c. 1741, in Germany.
Michael’s paternal grandparents were The Rev. John Warren Mobley Stipe (the son of Edward Everett Stipe and Mary Elizabeth Irwin Mobley) and Laura S. Phipps (the daughter of James Robert Phipps and Minerva Marilda Banks). Laura was adopted by Aquila M. Stead and Cordelia Brooks, and renamed Laura E. Stead.
Michael’s maternal grandparents were John Clifford Hatch (the son of Melvin C. Hatch and Julia Rush) and Ruth Ella Lathram (the daughter of Milton Perry Lathram and Vera Inez Parmer).
Sources: Genealogy of Michael Stipe – http://www.hababeri.com
Obituary of Michael’s paternal grandfather, The Rev. John Warren Mobley Stipe – http://archives.savannahnow.com
Family history of Michael’s paternal grandmother, Laura S. Phipps – http://www.genealogy.com