WHFR News

Take a look (a "listen," actually) back on 2024 with WHFR! During the week of December 29th, 2024 through January 4th, 2025, all your favorite WHFR shows will present special "Best Of 2024" programming.

How will each of our DJs choose to remember the year that was? They may be playing their favorite singles of 2024, recounting the bands they saw live over the year, or even just playing a few tracks off their favorite 2024 albums.

Tune in to find out and see what special twists our DJs have in store for you. Happy New Year from your friends at WHFR!

Please join Highway 61 for the best in new Blues releases and local area Artists' music every Friday, 2:00 – 4:00pm, with host DJ~KittyLuv;) 'making~waves'.
 Here is our latest Top Ten Blues new releases being aired at WHFR-FM 89.3:

1. BEN LEVIN: Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue (VizzTone Label Group)
2. JAKE SHIMABUKURO AND MICK FLEETWOOD: Blues Experience (Forty Below)
3. BENNY TURNER: BT (Nola Blue Records)
4. JOVIN WEBB: Drifter (Blind Pig Records)
5. V/A: I Believe I'll Run On: A Tribute To Wilson Pickett (Nola Blue Records)
6. SHEMEKIA COPELAND: Blame It On Eve (Alligator Records)
7. MISSISSIPPI MACDONALD: I Got What You Need (APM Records)
8. RONNIE BAKER BROOKS: Blues In My DNA (Alligator Records)
9. OLLEE OWENS: Nowhere to Hide (Ollee Music)
10. ELIZA NEALS: Colorcrimes (E-H Records)

DJ~KittyLuv;)

WHFR Blues Music Director

Episode 28 of This Just In, WHFR's pre-recorded new music showcase airing Mondays from 8-9p, airs December 23rd, 2024.

This week's playlist:

Steve Davis - We See [Jazz]
Gary Williamson Trio - Windows [Jazz]

The Bad Plus - French Horns [Jazz]
Sam Amidon - Friends and Neighbors [Alternative Folk]

Jonathan Roy - Waiting For A Call [Indie / Alternative]
David Kushner - Empty Bench [Alternative Pop]
The Letter E - Goodbye [Indie Rock / Instrumental]

Julien Baker & TORRES - Sugar in the Tank [Country]
Two Shell - Magic Powers [Electronic]
Francis Michaud - Charnel [Pop / World]
Arturo Sandoval - My Funny Valentine [Jazz / World]

Farazi - Yanlış [Hip Hop Instrumental / World]

Tune in to This Just In each week as we feature a unique playlist of music recently received at the station, in a variety of musical formats.
To submit your music for airplay consideration, please visit the Contact Us tab on our website: https://whfr.fm.

Hotwax Radio

The White Rabbit and Hotwax Radio invites you to enjoy an exclusive Christmas celebration show on Sunday, December 22nd, starting at 7:00pm.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole and let the White Rabbit awaken your festive spirit.

Chase away all that humbug with songs, sounds, and good rollicking fun!

Don’t be late!

WHFR PRESENTS: SPIRITS REJOICE HOLIDAY SPECIAL

WHFR's SPIRITS REJOICE Radio Program will not air in its regular time slot on Christmas Eve, but will present its annual holiday show on Sunday, December 22, from 4:00-7:00pm EST, on the WHFR PRESENTS Radio Program.

Feel and hear the sounds of spirit, peace and love via the jazz and improvised music idiom with artists such as Pharoah Sanders (pictured above), John Coltrane, Bill Evans and many others as they help create a special aura for the holidays.

Happy Holidays to all and remember to smile upon your brothers and sisters of the world.

New (Old) Phillip Marlowe Holiday Show on WHFR Sunday Night Mysteries

This classic 1947 detective episode DIDN'T EXIST before our friends at Project Audion recreated it from the script! Their production came to life just this past week.
That, plus during our first hour, a little heard Suspense episode (from much later in 1961) will be heard...but we're just getting started:
In addition we'll feature the Orson Welles Campbell Playhouse production of "A Christmas Carol" starring Lionel Barrymore (Drew's great uncle) as Scrooge (from his original film role).
We'll also feature "The Plot to Overthrow Christmas" from legendary radio writer Norman Corwin, narrated by Orson Welles.

This all happens during our 12/22 WHFR Sunday Night Mysteries show...9PM ET until 12 Midnight, broadcasting at 89.3 on the FM dial in Dearborn/Detroit, and streaming everywhere via whfr.fm.

For anyone with gift anxiety, or for anyone who feels like you can’t win for losing, this is the conversation for you. Full of reminders and insights as we gear up for the season, This PRX program will offer some tips (or at least some moral support) on the topic. Airing today at 1:00 p.m. on WHFR. Enjoy and happy holidays!

“Is it my imagination or has WHFR become stronger and clearer in the last few years -- both on the FM dial and the stream?”

It is NOT your imagination, and it is just in time to celebrate our 40th year of being a radio station at Henry Ford College: An extensive amount of behind-the-scenes technical work has been underway.
From the microphones to the antenna to the streaming equipment – everything is being reviewed, re-wired repaired and in many cases replaced. We began by replacing our transmitter, antenna and everything connected to it. We are at the same power, yet we have extended our listenable FM range by several miles due to improved efficiency and equipment. We are also showing up on the display of your car radio sending you greetings!

Our streaming equipment and all equipment connected to our broadcast audio chain are also all new. The streaming equipment uses the same processor technology used for FM broadcast.
In addition, thanks to the generosity of one of our loyal supporters, we also have new state-of-the-art remote equipment. Whether it is live music or one of our DJs, it will have pristine and reliable qualities we have never had before, in full stereo no less. We expect to unveil that during our upcoming events in 2025.

Our main studios have many behind-the-scenes improvements ranging from re-wiring to computer upgrades, all of which are on-going, and we are just getting started. Your continued support is what makes these improvements possible.

Leading this renovation is our Production Manager & Chief Engineer Bob Burnham (shown working on satellite and other equipment in our main processing rack).

Photo by Assistant Engineer Jennifer St. James.

Bob Setlik, most well known to many as the owner of Car City Records in the Detroit area, has left us at the age of 82. Mr. Setlik graced the airwaves at WHFR for many years as the host of the avant-garde music program Delusions and Furies (in tribute to the great Harry Partch recording Delusion of the Fury).

Recently residing in Indianapolis, Indiana, Bob enriched the lives of thousands of music lovers with his diligent efforts in the record business, the sharing of new sounds, and his work in radio. He could easily meld the sounds of avant-garde classical and jazz music with traditional gospel, old country folk along with Iggy and the Stooges for good measure. Bob was a good friend to many of us and we honor his memory.

Tune in to WHFR Radio for a special tribute to Mr. Setlik on Sunday, December 15, from 4-7pm EST, on the WHFR Presents Radio Program. WHFR can be heard in the Dearborn/Detroit area at 89.3fm and worldwide via the internet at whfr.fm.

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WHFR PRESENTS airs every Sunday beginning at 4:00 pm with a rotating cast of WHFR DJs, taking in-depth looks into the many genres of music that WHFR has to offer. Tune in at 89.3 on the FM dial in Dearborn/Detroit and surrounding communities, or listen anywhere via our online streamer.
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