We lost one of the funkiest drummers of all time last week—the legendary James Gadson passed away on April 2 at the age of 86.

You may not have known his name, but you certainly know the tracks he played on, including cuts from Bill Withers, Diana Ross and so many others, like Beck who helped introduce him to a new generation of musicians. In the first hour of the show, we dedicate the whole hour to Gadson and his contributions to music. Rest in rhythm to the legend.

Today’s playlist moves between soul, funk, and indie, with tracks from Marvin Gaye, D’Angelo and The Vanguard, alongside tracks from Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile, and New Order. 

Newer and more experimental sounds come from artists like SBTRKT, Ela Minus, and Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill, with additional moments from Jeff Parker and Nation of Language, plus more throughout the set. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for April 7, 2026 

• “Use Me (Live)” – Bill Withers 

• “Think I’m in Love” – Beck 

• “Sugah Daddy” – D’Angelo and The Vanguard 

• “Got to Be Real” – Cheryl Lynn 

• “Dancing Machine” – Jackson 5 

• “Paper Tiger” – Beck 

• “Back To Manhattan” – Norah Jones 

• “Love Hangover” – Diana Ross 

• “Remind Me” – Patrice Rushen 

• “I Want You” – Marvin Gaye 

• “Where to Start” – Bully 

• “Chance to Bleed” – Kurt Vile 

• “Site Unseen (feat. Waxahatchee)” – Courtney Barnett 

• “Six O’clock News” – Brennan Wedl & Waxahatchee 

• “Dance For You” – Dirty Projectors 

• “Jewel” – T. Rex 

• “Greatest Dancer” – Nadine Shah 

• “Hell Is Near (Live)” – St. Vincent & Jules Buckley 

• “Punishers” – Die Spitz 

• “Across That Fine Line (Working Men’s Club Remix)” – Nation of Language 

• “Ceremony” – New Order 

• “Vanishing Point” – Tanlines 

• “Sungazing” – Fluoretro 

• “Thinkin Bout You” – Flea 

• “Like Swimwear (part one) [feat. Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose & Josh Johnson]” – Jeff Parker & ETA IVtet 

• “Build a Nest (feat. Ruby Parker)” – Jeff Parker 

• “Diane Charlemagne (Iman Houssein Remix)” – LEFTO EARLY BIRD 

• “Animals” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill 

• “Back On” – SBTRKT 

• “Berlin (Godblesscomputers Remix)” – Alexander Flood 

• “dominique” – Ela Minus 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org. 

Today we celebrate Marvin Gaye’s birthday with a mix that honors his legacy and lasting influence, weaving his music throughout the show with reworks and classics. 

We also spin a pair of Talking Heads covers from Rosie Lowe and Astrønne, adding a modern twist to those iconic tracks. The playlist goes into Latin with rhythms fromTito Puente and Ray Barretto and finishes strong with Sly & The Family Stone, Dolly Parton, and Sade. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for April 2, 2026 

• “Hang on in There” – Mike James Kirkland 

• “Reaching for Our Star” – Sharon Revoal 

• “A Funky Space Reincarnation” – Marvin Gaye 

• “You Can’t Blame Me” – Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr 

• “Come Around and Love Me” – Jalen Ngonda 

• “Monsters” – Jordan Rakei 

• “Contour” – Pino Palladino & Blake Mills 

• “Give It To Me Baby” – Jarina De Marco 

• “Burning Down The House” – Rosie Lowe 

• “Psycho Killer” – Astrønne 

• “California Stars” – Billy Bragg & Wilco 

• “Goodbye Mr. Blue” – Father John Misty 

• “Tangled Up In Blue” – Bob Dylan 

• “I’m Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You” – Silver Jews 

• “A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off” – The Magnetic Fields 

• “Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut” – Bo Diddley 

• “Gone Daddy Gone” – Violent Femmes 

• “Voodoo Woman” – Koko Taylor 

• “Oye Como Va” – Tito Puente 

• “Son Con Cuero” – Ray Barretto 

• “Summer Maddness S.A.” – Karriem Riggins 

• “Run To My Mother” – Tall Black Guy x Nate Smith x Marvin Gaye 

• “What’s Going On (Paul Oakenfold x Kilanova Remix)” – Marvin Gaye 

• “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” – Marvin Gaye 

• “Thank You for Talkin’ to Me, Africa” – Sly & The Family Stone 

• “Just Like a Baby” – Sly & The Family Stone 

• “Hold Me” – Sault 

• “If I Should Die Tonight (SaLaAm ReMi’s Piano Mix)” – Marvin Gaye 

• “I Want You (A Cappella with Bass & Congas)” – Marvin Gaye 

• “I Couldn’t Love You More (Jam Master’s Deep Rework)” – Sade 

• “Jolene (Todd Terje Remix) [Mixed]” – Dolly Parton 

• “Lady Day & John Coltrane (feat. Rahsaan Patterson) [12″ Version]” – Brian Jackson & Masters At Work 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music on the final day of February, we’ll jump into historical March releases from the past 60 years including Seger, Anita Baker, Iggy Pop, Marvin Gaye and many more.

Also new music this week from Jill Scott, Mitski, Jose Gonzalez and the upcoming HELP (2) compilation!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for February 28, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Red Dragon Tattoo” – Fountains Of Wayne
• “Random Name Generator” – Wilco
• “You Went Away Too Long” – The Womack Sisters
• “A Perfect Storm” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Bruises” – Chris Bathgate
  
• “I Want You” – Marvin Gaye (March 1976)
• “Sweet Love” – Anita Baker (March 1986)
• “Gardenia” – Iggy Pop (March 2016)
• “Be Great” – Jill Scott ft. Trombone Shorty
• “This Time For Real” – Chet Faker
• “Nothing I Could Hide” – Arlo Parks
  
• “Big Bang Baby” – Stone Temple Pilots (March 1996)
• “Takin’ It To The Streets” – The Doobie Brothers (March 1976)

• “That White Cat” – Mitski
• “Doctrine Of Love” – Jalen Ngonda
• “That’s The Way God Planned It” – Billy Preston
• “We All Go Back To Where We Belong” – R.E.M.
• “Everybody Hurts” – Al Green
• “The Freshmen” – The Verve Pipe (March 1996)
• “Soul Kiss” – Joe Jackson (March 1986)
• “Moonlight Becomes You” – Frank Sinatra (March 1966)
• “These Boots Are Made For Walking” – Nancy Sinatra (March 1966)
• “Bad Blood” – Neil Sedaka
  
• “Pictures” – Gnarls Barkley
• “Like A Rock” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (March 1986)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

This Tuesday, it’s a brand new show: The Shake Out with Dave Lawson, featuring 45s from Dave’s ever-expanding record collection and the stories that bring them to life.

This week: a hit song featuring Chuck Berry, Etta James and Marvin Gaye!

Hear that and more feel-good finds, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on 101.9 WDET and WDET.org.

Listen to the full episode above for two weeks after it airs.