Edward J. Wolfrum was a young sound engineer from Royal Oak whose creative genius played a crucial role in the Detroit recording industry's subsequent success, earning him international acclaim and professional recognition. Wolfrum worked at Motown, Golden World Records, United Sound Studios, Terra Shirma, Theme Productions, and many other smaller studios throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Although Wolfrum wasn’t a household name like many of the musicians he collaborated with, his invention of a single piece of sound equipment boosted his name and reputation in the local recording scene and later across the country and internationally.

He was 16 when he created a device he called a “Direct Box” while working at WEXL, a radio station on Eleven Mile. It enabled consumer-grade gear to interface with professional audio equipment, significantly improving the sound quality of the finished product.

According to Ed’s wife, Susan, Paul McCartney flew to Detroit in 1965 to check out the sound being engineered in the studios. She said Paul was unaware of the Wolfrum’s Direct Box but was curious about how Detroit recording studios were achieving a cleaner bass sound from their recording artists.

“Paul was quite young then, but he was fascinated by the bass playing here in Detroit and dropped by to watch and listen for himself,” Wolfrum said in an interview. “I think it was a spy mission, as I know he was trying to figure out how we got the bass sound."

Ed recalls that his Direct Box was right at Paul’s feet, yet he never noticed it. After hearing the improved sound, Paul inquired how it was produced. Ed and others told McCartney they couldn’t tell him.

Undaunted, Paul said, “OK,” then added, “Since I am in America, I want to have an American hamburger,” and suggested they all go to McDonald’s. Ed replied, “No,” and suggested that if Paul wanted a great “American hamburger,” they all go to Maverick’s Drive-In in Royal Oak.

Maverick’s was a longtime, popular restaurant on Woodward, north of Thirteen Mile near Normandy. The group drove up Woodward Avenue, and Paul said he enjoyed the drive, telling his companions he appreciated seeing the city’s sights along Woodward up to Royal Oak.


At Maverick’s, the story goes, they were all enjoying their lunch when some young girls at a nearby table noticed Paul. Alerted by their attention, Paul suggested the group leave before things “got a bit out of control.”

As Paul got up from the table, one of the girls came up to him and said, “You look a lot like Paul McCartney!” Paul turned around and looked at the girl and said, “Yeah, I get that a lot.” The group left without incident.