In The Groove: Steve Okonski on his new track ‘Easy’ and making jazz approachable
Performer and pianist Steve Okonski joined In The Groove to talk about the improvisation, groove, and approachability that define his trio’s music. Okonski first...
Ryan Patrick Hooper is the award-winning host of "In the Groove" on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. Hooper has covered stories for the New York Times, NPR, Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit, SPIN and Paste magazine.
Hooper grew up reading the Sunday paper with his dad. That’s where he learned the basics of writing while dreaming of one day writing the stories himself. At 16, he knocked on the door of his hometown paper and asked for a job as a reporter. Since then, he's written extensively for the Detroit Free Press -- the same paper he grew up reading.
Since joining WDET in 2017, Hooper has expanded the station’s arts and culture coverage and received numerous awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasting along the way. Nationally, Hooper was awarded a 2020 RTDNA Regional Edward R. Murrow award for feature reporting for his story “Would You Rent a Stray Dog From the City of Detroit?“ In 2018, Hooper was named the Associated Press Michigan Editors Broadcast Rising Star in broadcast journalism. He received the prestigious Crain’s Detroit Business “20 In Their 20s” award in 2014. His commitment to volunteerism was recognized by the State of Michigan in 2007.
His juggalo-inspired I.C.Pizza costume was selected by the Huffington Post as one of the best Halloween costumes of 2014.
Performer and pianist Steve Okonski joined In The Groove to talk about the improvisation, groove, and approachability that define his trio’s music. Okonski first...
Diving into new music from Bon Iver, Jill Scott, Momoko Gill, Mitchum Yacoub, Commodo and more. Check the playlist below...
Performer and comedian Bridget Everett joined In The Groove ahead of her Detroit appearance to talk about the music, freedom and emotional release that...
Margaret Atwood, the celebrated author behind "The Handmaid’s Tale," joined In The Groove to talk about memory, storytelling and why some moments in life stay...
An action packed show today with music from Miguel ahead of his tour stop in Detroit later this week (Feb....
This set moves through indie, soul, funk, and experimental sounds. Some highlights include Courtney Barnett and Radiohead, tracks from Gabriel Garzón-Montano, and some soaring...
This afternoon’s mix moves easily from the alt-pop edge of Beck and the steady flow of Blackalicious to the introspective...
Shaking off the gray and settling into the afternoon with a far-reaching mix that moves from the heart-worn soul of Bobby...
Blasting through the brick wall with Beastie Boys before cooling things down with new music discovery from Jill Scott, Daev...
We’re back with another Valentine’s Day show, featuring listener picks from Lauryn Hill, Outkast, Stevie Wonder, John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman, Imogen Heap, Mazzy Star, and Frank Ocean. Today’s show spreads...
For today’s Valentine’s Day show, listener picks include Amy Winehouse, Stan Getz & João Gilberto, Anita Baker, Jon Dixon, Waylon Jennings, Queen, Thee Sacred Souls, Art of Noise, and Mannywellz. Callers...
Exploring Bobby Womack’s catalog and his contributions to Sly and the Family Stone, plus new music from Nourished by Time...