After more than seven years of reporting and anchoring the news at WDET, Russ McNamara has resigned from the station.
Since joining WDET, McNamara has helped keep Detroiters informed through thousands of newscasts, breaking news updates, and in-depth reporting on the issues shaping our region. As a Senior News Editor, he helped ensure our team of journalists’ work met WDET standards. McNamara also served as anchor for All Things Considered – Detroit.
His work helped tell the stories of Detroit and Southeast Michigan during a period of tremendous change, from major civic events and elections to the challenges of the pandemic and constantly shifting national and local politics. We are grateful for his dedication and the many contributions he made during his time at WDET.
We thank Russ for his years of service and wish him success in the next chapter of his career.
Jerome Vaughn to anchor All Things Considered – Detroit
Beginning immediately, we’re pleased to announce WDET News Director, Jerome Vaughn, is taking over as the new host of our NPR afternoon drive time magazine.
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WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
For decades, weekends on WDET have had a familiar soundtrack.
Through Jay’s Place, Jay Butler has welcomed generations of listeners with a thoughtful blend of blues, soul, and R&B. His unmistakable voice, passion for music, and genuine connection with listeners have made Jay’s Place one of Detroit Public Radio’s most beloved programs.
Now, after an extraordinary broadcasting career spanning more than six decades, Jay has decided it’s time to retire.
Jay’s final broadcast of Jay’s Place will air on Sunday, August 2, ending one of the longest-running and most cherished music programs in WDET’s history.
A life on air
Known to generations of listeners as “The Blues Man,” Jay’s journey behind the microphone began in Jackson, Tennessee, when he was just 15 years old. What started as a chance visit to a local radio station became the beginning of a legendary career that would take him from Tennessee to Detroit, where he became one of the city’s most respected and influential radio personalities.
Jay arrived in Detroit in 1966 at WJLB, where he would later serve as Program Director, helping transform the station into one of the market’s top-rated broadcasters. During the 1967 Detroit riots, he remained on the air for 24 consecutive hours, providing information, reassurance, and a trusted voice during one of the city’s most difficult moments.
His career extended beyond radio as well. Jay worked with United Artists Records and Playboy Records, helping promote legendary artists including Aretha Franklin, The Spinners, and Luther Vandross. His voice even appeared in the classic 1976 film Car Wash. Throughout his career he championed the music and artists who helped define Detroit’s sound.
In 2006, Jay brought his signature style to WDET with Jay’s Place: The Very Best of Oldies But Goodies and Blues That You Can Use. Along with the music came one of his most beloved traditions—the Motor City Roll Call—where listeners’ birthdays, anniversaries, and names became part of every show, creating a uniquely personal connection that made everyone feel welcome.
Throughout his 20 years at WDET, Jay has done far more than curate exceptional music. He has preserved Detroit’s rich musical heritage, shared the stories behind the songs, and built a loyal community that has gathered with him every Sunday for nearly two decades.
His contributions have earned widespread recognition, including induction into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015 and a Special Tribute from the Detroit Music Awards honoring his lifetime of service to Detroit music, broadcasting, and the community.
“Jay Butler is a radio legend, and one of the most influential and important figures in Detroit media history,” said Adam Fox, Program Director for WDET. “He brought extraordinary knowledge, warmth, and authenticity to every broadcast. Through his music, his stories, and his connection with listeners, Jay created a true community. His impact on WDET and on Detroit radio is immeasurable, and we’re honored that he’s shared this chapter of his remarkable career with us.”
Started listening to you in my teenage years.my favorite DJ.. Congratulations on your achievements and retirement.
Paulette
Congratulations on your retirement Jay. You have been a friend to my parents for years (RIP Pat Robinson and Rudy Robinson)and I thank you for your service to the listeners throughout the years!!
Rudy
Thank you for your many’s years of wonderful blues and R&B wish your retirement joyful for many years. Thank you, Mr. Butler.
Carroll
You are a Positive Detroit institution who will be greatly missed! Enjoy your retirement, you've earned it!
Ilsa
Thanks Jay for all the wonderful music you provided thru the years " God Blessings Always" stay Great !
Gregory
Happy Retirement, I will miss hearing your voice, May God bless you in your future endeavors.
Kimberly
Thank you for your commitment to preserving Detroit's music history. All the best to you in the future!
Matt
I want to thank you for taking me under your wing and training me to be a better DJ. I was honored to serve as your remote engineer for 3 years at WQBH. Thanks for the great memories!
Ervin
Congratulations Jay! I am one of your original fans from the WJLB days. Blessings to you forever, and thank you so much for being such a wonderful part of my life.
Shirley
Bro Butler I want to thank you for all the years you gave DETROIT. Thank you for the good times and GOD BLESS on retirement in good health and spirits
Eric
A "Living Legend" who has and is still making great contributions around the world and will never be forgotten. God bless you always
Brenda
Thank you, Mr.Jay Bulter for the good times, it was worth it.
Talft
As Jay prepares to sign off for the final time, we invite listeners to join us in celebrating his remarkable career by tuning in for his final two broadcasts:
Sunday, July 26
Sunday, August 2 – Final Broadcast
Share your appreciation
Join us in thanking Jay for his work. Fill out the form below or email wdetdigital@wdet.org. You may also leave a voice message through the WDET app on your phone by tapping “Open Mic” in the bottom right corner of your screen.
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When Ismael Ahmed signed off each week with the reminder that “we are all brothers and sisters on this Island Earth,” it wasn’t simply the closing line of a radio show. It was a philosophy that guided decades of his work as a broadcaster, community leader and one of Detroit’s great cultural bridge builders.
Following Ismael’s passing earlier this year, listeners have shared stories about how This Island Earth introduced them to new music, new cultures and new ways of seeing the world. His legacy lives on not only through the countless lives he touched, but through the enduring belief that music has the power to connect people across cultures, languages and borders.
Today, WDET is honored to announce the next chapter of that legacy.
Beginning Sunday, August 9, lifelong Detroiter Kim Hunter will become the new host of This Island Earth, WDET’s weekly journey through the music and cultures of the world.
For many longtime WDET listeners, Kim’s voice will be a familiar one. In the 1990s, he co-hosted Radio Free Earth alongside the late Ismael Ahmed, introducing listeners to music and conversations that celebrated Detroit’s rich cultural diversity and the traditions of communities around the globe.
Kim’s career has spanned work in Detroit’s auto and steel plants, television and radio production, and media relations for social justice organizations throughout Michigan. An accomplished writer, he has published two books of poetry and a collection of short stories and received a Kresge Literary Arts Fellowship in 2012.
“I’m grateful for the chance to rejoin WDET,” Hunter said. “And once again share music and culture from around the world and right here in Detroit.”
While the host may be changing, the heart of This Island Earth remains the same.
For decades, the program has celebrated the sounds, stories and traditions of cultures from around the world while reflecting the extraordinary diversity that defines metro Detroit. It’s a program rooted in curiosity, discovery and the belief that music can help us better understand one another.
At a time when our communities can often feel divided, This Island Earth continues to offer something increasingly rare: a chance to listen across cultures, discover new perspectives and recognize that we have far more in common than what separates us.
“One of WDET’s responsibilities is to reflect the incredible diversity of the communities we serve,” said Adam Fox, Program Director for WDET. “Metro Detroit is home to people from every corner of the world, and This Island Earth reminds us that every culture has a story worth hearing and music worth sharing. Ismael Ahmed built a program that connected people through curiosity, compassion and joy. While no one can replace Ismael, we’re honored that Kim Hunter will lead the next chapter of this remarkable program. Kim brings his own voice, a deep connection to Ismael’s legacy, and a genuine passion for the music and cultures that make Detroit such a vibrant place.”
Join us as we welcome Kim Hunter to This Island Earth beginning Sunday, August 9, airing Sundays on WDET 101.9 FM and streaming anytime at WDET.org.
Whether you tune in for local news, music, culture or conversation, we want to hear from you. Our annual Listener Survey is now open, and your feedback will help guide the future of WDET.
As a listener-supported public radio station, we’re accountable to our community. Your responses help us understand what’s working, what you’d like to hear more of, and where we can do better.
The survey takes just a few minutes to complete, is completely anonymous, and will be open until the end of August. Thank you for helping us build a stronger WDET for everyone.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
Some listeners may notice occasional changes in the quality of WDET’s over-the-air broadcast as we work to resolve a technical issue affecting our transmission equipment.
Our engineering team has identified the problem and is actively working on a solution. While repairs are underway, we’ve implemented a temporary backup system to help maintain a reliable broadcast. During this time, some broadcast features, including HD Radio and station information displayed on compatible receivers, may be temporarily unavailable.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to restore full service. Maintaining a high-quality broadcast for our listeners is a priority, and we’re committed to getting everything back to normal as quickly as possible.
Thank you for listening to WDET and for your continued support.
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