Here at WDET, we feel incredibly lucky to have such an esteemed group of music hosts gracing our airwaves. On the Don Was Motor City Playlist, Blue Note Records President and music industry powerhouse Don Was pays homage to the Motor City and the artists that inspire him.

Every Friday, Was digs deep into his music archives to curate playlists and share personal stories about the artists whose songs he features. Co-hosted by WDET’s Ann Delisi, listeners hear commentary about Detroit and its rich musical and cultural histories.

Listeners and fans will again have the opportunity to celebrate the show — now in its fourth year — at the Don Was Motor City Playlist’s 2nd annual Bowling Party on Monday, July 21 at the Garden Bowl! 

Was and Delisi joined The Metro ahead of the event to share more about what’s in store for tonight. Get your tickets here.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

This summer has been hot — perfect for enjoying a cool beverage and an even cooler playlist. To mark the halfway point of 2025, we asked our award-winning DJs to share their top five tracks of the year so far so we could create the ultimate summer soundtrack.

Below is a well-balanced mix of genres, energies and artists.

Listen to the full playlist:

Ann Delisi, Ann Delisi’s Essential Music

• “Everything’s Beautiful” — Hiatus Kaiyote
• “I Don’t” — Madison McFerrin
• “Flower Moon (feat. Aaron Frazer)” — Durand Jones & The Indications
• “Lotta Love” — Lamont Landers
• “Stealing A Kiss” — The War And Treaty

Chris Campbell, The Progressive Underground

• “20/20” — Ideeyah, Meftah
• “Your first time” — Erogenous
• “Lovers’ Holiday” — Durand Jones & The Indications
• “Sweet Danger” — Obongjayar
• “LIFE IS A RHYTHM (feat. Cazeaux O.S.L.O)” — Alexander Flood

Jeff Milo, MI Local

• “Jessie” — Danny VanZandt
• “Fearless and the Pure” — Elisabeth Pixley-Fink
• “UR WORLD” — LOCAL ORGANIC
• “Power” — Neu Blume
• “The Bloodletting” — PHABIES

Jon Moshier, Modern Music

• “Alcohol” — TVOD
• “Emilina” — Bloodshot Bill
• “She’s Too Cool for You” — Audio Book Club
• “Evil People” — MIEN
• “Transmuted Matter” — Stereolab

Liz Warner, Alternate Take

• “Ibiza” — Butcher Brown
• “The Missing Piece” — Max Cooper
• “Babystar” — Herbert & Momoko
• “BROKEN” — Ela Minus
• “Gadabout Season” — Brandee Younger

Mike Latulippe, The Detroit Move

Note: Due to the retrospective nature of this show, these five songs were released before 2025.

• “Possum Belly Overalls (feat. Noble ‘Thin Man’ Watts and His Rhythm Sparks)” — June Bateman
• “I Don’t Like You That Much” — Royal Jokers
• “Dance What You Wanna” — George E. Lee
• “Way Out” — Keetie & The Kats
• “I Can’t Do The Ska” — The Zodiacs

Rob Reinhart, Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music

• “I’ll Be OK” — Michigander
• “Walk This Road (feat. Mavis Staples)” — The Doobie Brothers
• “Love Is On Fire” — The War And Treaty
• “Lady Liberty” — Galactic & Irma Thomas
• “After I’m Dead” — Ryan Allen And His Extra Arms

Ryan Patrick Hooper, In The Groove

• “R B J” — LL Burns
• “Dumb Feeling” — Mei Semones
• “Elderberry Wine” — Wednesday
• “Melodie Is A Wound” — Stereolab
• “You got time and I got money” — Smerz

More best-of playlists