WHFR News

This Just In: Episode 74

Episode 74 of This Just In, WHFR's pre-recorded new music showcase, airs December 1st, 2025 from 8-9pm and December 2nd, 2025 from 3-4pm.

This week's playlist:

Katana - Memories [Metal]
Suzanne Vega - Witch [Alternative Rock]
HAAi - Voices [Electronic]
Valiant Kings & Hector Reverb - Insula [Techno / House]

The Leaving - Saved [Indie Rock / Industrial]
Art School Girlfriend - The Peaks [Indie Rock / Electronic]
Ally Nicholas - Red [Indie Rock]
Kareen Lomax - apartment [R&B / Indie]

December 2nd Is "Giving Tuesday"

Join the millions of people across the world coming together to celebrate generosity during Giving Tuesday on December 2nd, 2025. If you're looking to spend that last bit of money set aside for charitable contributions, consider a tax-deductive donation to your favorite non-commercial internet and broadcast station, WHFR.

Giving Tuesday

TOP TEN BLUES for November 2025

Please join Highway 61 for the best in new Blues releases and local area Artists' music every Friday, 2:00 – 6:00pm, with host DJ~KittyLuv;) 'making~waves'.
 Here is our latest Top Ten Blues new releases being aired at WHFR-FM 89.3:

Highway 61

Happy Thanksgiving from your WHFR Family -- We Are Thankful for YOU

From our WHFR Family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. We're grateful for you, our loyal listeners! To kick off the holiday season, tune in to the WHFR Journal tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 p.m. as we will have a special and fun PRX show called "Holiday Cookies", providing some holiday recipes to try out and enjoy during the season. Enjoy!

Turkey Day

Photos from the 40th birthday are up!

We have added a gallery for all of the photos that were taken at the WHFR 40th birthday party. If you would like to take a look, click here.

This Just In: Episode 73

Episode 73 of This Just In, WHFR's pre-recorded new music showcase, airs November 24th, 2025 from 8-9pm and November 25th, 2025 from 3-4pm.

This week's playlist:

Khruangbin - People Everywhere ii [Psychedelic / Funk]

Jim Jarmusch & Anika - Spooky [Soundtrack / Cover]
Jim Jarmusch & Anika ft. Kaleidoskop - These Days (Berlin Version) [Soundtrack / Cover]
El Cortina - Gettalong [Rock]

WHFR PRESENTS: THE MUSIC OF YUSEF LATEEF PART THREE

WHFR PRESENTS continues with part three of THE MUSIC OF YUSEF LATEEF as his career rolls through the 1960s with recordings from the catalogs of Impulse and Atlantic Records. Living, performing, studying and teaching in New York City, Yusef would further his musical relationships with Detroiters Roy Brooks and Hugh Lawson as well as new collaborators in New York such as Reggie Workman and Cecil McBee. He would further his explorations of music and musical instruments from around the world and incorporate them into his unique approach to jazz.

YUSEF LATEEF

WHFR Journal This Week: Native American Heritage Month Special, Friday, 11/21 at 1pm

Join us for the WHFR Journal this week as we air a brand new special episode of "Embodied" from our friends at PRX in honor of Native American Heritage Month this November 21st. The episode, "How Fake Claims To Native Identity Cause Real Harm" reveals how people have been pretending to be Native American for decades. While talking about ethnic fraud is tricky, one Native scholar says it’s necessary. Tune in Friday at 1pm and learn more, only on WHFR-FM.

Native American Heritage Month

This Just In: Episode 72

Episode 72 of This Just In, WHFR's pre-recorded new music showcase, airs November 17th, 2025 from 8-9pm and November 18th, 2025 from 3-4pm.

This week's playlist:

Panda House - Overexposure [Local / Post Hardcore]
TIDALS - Clover [Local / Metal]
After - The Field [Dream Pop]
GUM - Expanding Blue [Indie / Psychedelic Rock]

40th Birthday Celebration Kickoff

What a lovely celebration we had on Friday to commemorate our upcoming 40th birthday on December 20th! Check back for pictures and fun stories from this amazing night as we honored our alumni and thanked our community and civic partners for their support over these past 40 years. More on-air festivities to come, so stay tuned.

40th poster

WHFR PRESENTS: THE MUSIC OF YUSEF LATEEF PART TWO

Picking up from his 1960 session that produced "The Three Faces of Yusef Lateef," WHFR PRESENTS will continue the YUSEF LATEEF project with his music from the early to mid-'60s. Yusef would continue his explorations into musical instruments and culture from around the world with recordings from Prestige, Impulse and other record labels. He would move to New York City in 1960 but continue to work with many of the great Detroit musicians, some of whom would have also moved to NYC.

YUSEF LATEEF

WHFR Journal: Our 40th Birthday, Helping Our Community, and the Healing Power of Music -- Friday at 1pm

Tune in to the "WHFR Journal" Friday, Nov. 14 at 1pm as we hear from our Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Michael Nealon about his favorite parts of what makes WHFR so special. We'll also talk with Crimestoppers of Michigan President and CEO Dan DiBardino about ways to support the cause of making our communities safer as well as an upcoming holiday event for kids. We'll wrap the show with a PRX special about the Healing Power of Music -- something that we believe in here at WHFR.

WHFR 40th logo

WHFR's 40th Birthday and Alumni Reunion Live Broadcast

WHFR's 40th Birthday and Alumni Reunion Live Broadcast: Friday, November 14, 2025 | 5:00–9:00 p.m.

WHFR is turning 40 years old, and we’re celebrating with a special Alumni Reunion Live Broadcast!

Former WHFR DJs, staff, and volunteers from the past four decades will join us for an evening of music, memories, and on-air magic. They'll be back on HFC's airwaves, sharing stories from their time at WHFR, and will bring a few favorite tracks from their show days to spin live on the air!

40th logo

This Just In: Episode 71

Episode 71 of This Just In, WHFR's pre-recorded new music showcase, airs November 10th, 2025 from 8-9pm and November 11th, 2025 from 3-4pm. This week, we spotlight new music from female artists!

This week's playlist:

Rachel Bobbitt - Hands Hands Hands [Alternative]
Khatumu - Matador [Indie Rock]
Leigh-Anne - Dead and Gone [Pop]
KeiyaA - make good [R&B]

WHFR PRESENTS: A MULTI-PART FEATURE ON YUSEF LATEEF

Although he was born October 9, 1920, in Chattanooga Tennessee, we in Detroit can claim YUSEF LATEEF as a cultural treasure, having lived his formative years in our city. The multi-instrumentalist and spiritual inspiration was born William Emmanuel Huddleston, his family moving to Detroit before his 5th birthday. Yusef met and performed with many of the jazz greats who played and/or resided here in Detroit, such as Elvin Jones and Paul Chambers while working on his degree in music at Wayne State University.

YUSEF LATEEF