Adams spent more than 30 years at WDET, serving for most of them as program director at the station. She also hosted groundbreaking programs on WDET such as Morphogenesis, Judy Adams’ Music Gallery and later, The Judy Adams Program.
Judy Adams was the brightest of lights in Detroit’s early music scene, a pioneering woman and classically-trained composer and on-air radio personality whose fusion of jazz, classical, funk and rock genres as a musical host both delighted and instructed devoted listeners for decades. Born in Detroit in 1949, she was first exposed to music when her late parents, Albert and Ruth, took her and her younger sister Janet to Detroit-area symphonic performances. That early exposure kindled a love of all things musical that lasted for an entire lifetime.
Her career
Graduating from Oakland University with a degree in piano and a minor in music composition, she quickly embraced the medium of radio and soon became the musical voice of Detroit’s NPR and Wayne State University station, WDET, for more than three decades.
Her “Morphogenesis” show on WDET in the 1970’s, Music Gallery in the 1980’s and 90’s and later “The Judy Adams Program”, were the first of their kind to embrace an expansive and eclectic mix of different musical styles, a brilliant amalgamation of on-air auditory delights that many have since imitated but none have surpassed. A snippet of Bach might be followed by an exotic outtake of the Byrds’ “Eight Miles High,” and Judy’s knowledgeable, but easy-to-listen-to on-air patter would provide helpful information about the pieces she played that eager listeners coveted. She would even throw in segments on cooking recipes from time to time on her later shows to provide for an absolutely unique listening experience.
When WDET changed formats and she moved on from her program manager position there, she occupied similar positions as an on-air host, manager, curator, and performer in other venues: WRCJ; CJAM; the Music Hall; the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe; the electronic music festival in downtown Detroit, and the Detroit International Jazz Festival. Her hordes of followers — a vibrant community yet today — went with Judy wherever she did. A proud Armenian-American, Judy also served as a host in earlier days on WDET’s Heritage of Armenian Culture radio program.
Her family
As importantly, Judy was a loving and doting mother, sister, wife and in-law. She and her late husband Larry Minne (a great harmonica player in his own right) raised their son Anthony in a household filled with music, and Anthony and his wife Sarah’s first son is named Miles in honor of the brilliant jazz musician Miles Davis – who along with Jimi Hendrix and Pat Metheny was always one of Judy’s favorite artists.
Her WDET legacy
WDET continues Judy Adam’s legacy through a named music internship.
The Judy Adams intern will assist on-air music hosts in programing and developing segments, including booking guests, background research, conducting interviews, reviewing music, creating on-air segments, developing web posts, generating promotional materials and drafting scripts for on-air broadcasts.
Judy’s legacy extends beyond the airwaves she once filled — inspiring a new generation to carry her spirit into the future of broadcasting.
Tributes to Judy
Judy Adams Obituary (2024) – Royal Oak, MI – Edward Korkoian Funeral Home -Spiller-Spitler Chapel
WDET’s listener and member comments
• “She made the radio station famous! Boy, will we miss her sweet voice 🥲❤️🙏🏽” – Sheila Melissa Palmer
• “She was one of my favorite music hosts…I learned of so many musical artists from her…” – Melanie Goldberg
• “… I listened to Judy’s shows and she definitely widened my musical horizons. May she RIP. 🙏🫶🎼” – Eugene Groesbeck
• “Rest in peace, loved her ever-so-happy voice and the talent she was for WDET airwaves.💚🙏” – Daniel Pepera
• “RIP. She was a great host and a wonderful woman.” – Dan McGowan
• “…Judy was a well respected colleague who was a trailblazer for all music broadcasters. We have many happy memories of working with her on the Montreux Detroit Festival broadcasts and other projects. ❤️💔” – Molly Motherwell
• “I learned so much about music from Judy. I fondly remember her Jimi Hendrix birthday specials.” – Ben Colman
• “…I had the pleasure to have met Judy several times over the years, as she was friends with my sister Jane, who was married to Larry McDaniel, the “Arkansas Traveler.” Judy had an engaging personality and had an immense wealth of musical knowledge that I selfishly used to fill my shelves with albums I first heard on “Morphogenesis”, her seminal program on just about every kind of music. I lapped that show up… She will be greatly missed.” – Bill Rayburn
• “She helped me discover so much great music. Such a wonderful host.” – Tim Polesovsky
• “Her shows were great. She knew good music and musicians, sharing history with enthusiasm…💔” – Angie Aletha
• “… She was instrumental in helping me launch my show on WDET. She will certainly be missed… My Respect & condolences to her family and friends. Rest well ❤️” – Mike Julien
• “I remember buying Red C’s disc thanks to Judy playing a couple tracks. Years later, I lost the CD and tracked down Billy Brandt himself for another copy. He helped me out but definitely thought I had a screw loose.” – Dave Fobare
• “Peaceful transition to one of the sweetest people I have ever known. I listened to her show on WDET religiously, which always resulted in a trip to Repeat The Beat record store in Ferndale. Judy Adams was a music aficionado, tastemaker and an avid supporter of all Detroit music. Whenever I saw her I was met with a hug, a smile and a request for any new releases I had. She was always so proud of my accomplishments. Thank you for all the music, support, kindness, and encouragement, you will be missed. ❤️🙏🏽” – Paul Randolph
• “O sweet Judy Adams… my musical Armenian God Mother, has passed. It was first her voice on Detroit radio, WDET, listening to her world mix show where she spun the greats from around the globe and eventually we became friends then family. I’d invite her to grace my stages DJing to open and close out my bigger concerts. Love you Judy~ #legend” – Sean Blackman
• “Judy Adams once told me how much she loved my Party Train, when I was on air at WGPR, and that it might be fun to have it rolling on WDET. I joked with her that I might be a little too “raucous” for public radio. She laughed and said maybe, maybe not… I was just thrilled to know that she listened to it. Wasn’t long after that WDET changed and she moved on, after 30 years of immeasurable contribution as program director, host, and a wealth of other involvements. She was quite the visionary and so loved and respected, deservedly so. I’m sorry to hear of her passing. Detroit was much better for having had her involved. RIP, awesome, brilliant visionary woman. You are very loved and will be missed. ❤️🙏🏽😢 #RIPJudyAdams #Legacy” – DJ Linda Lexy
• “The incomparable Judy Adams was one of the main reasons why I became a broadcaster. In addition to her radio work, she was a composer, writer, performer, and event coordinator. Judy Adams did all of these things, and she did them brilliantly. I will miss her terribly. ❤️ ” – John Z