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For more than 40 years, he has graced the airwaves of WDET-FM with his radio show, “Destination Jazz: The Ed Love Program.”
Now, the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre is paying tribute to the radio personality with a Wednesday concert featuring jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson, virtuoso bassist Ralphe Armstrong and saxophonist James Carter.
“This concert is not just a tribute, but a testament to the enduring power of jazz and the profound influence Ed has had on the Detroit music scene,” said Shahida Mausi, the president of The Right Productions, which manages The Aretha. “His dedication to the genre and his ability to inspire both artists and audiences alike is unparalleled.”
Love began his career with WDET in 1983, but he got his start in 1951 at the age of 19 at KIND-AM in his home state of Kansas. For the rest of that decade, Love had stints in West Virginia, Philadelphia and New York before moving to Detroit in 1960, where he’s remained ever since.
Here’s a snippet of my interview with the 92-year-old Love, where he talked about his decades-spanning career, his love for jazz and his favorite artists. If you want to check out “Destination Jazz,” the show airs 5-7 p.m. Sundays and 12-2 a.m. Tuesdays.
BridgeDetroit: When you started your career at KIND-AM, did you think that you’ll still be doing radio more than 60 years later?
Love: I didn’t think I would be living all this time. When I got to 50, I didn’t think I’d be living. When I got to 70, I didn’t think I’d live to 90. And now that I’m 92, I know I don’t have long. But when I was at KIND I was hoping that I would be on radio all of my life, no matter how long, and it looks like it’s going to be that way. I have two loves, one is family and the other is radio. And I’m fortunate that I’m playing the music that I love on the radio.
BridgeDetroit: What keeps you going at WDET?
Love: It’s just a love of radio and a love of playing jazz on the radio station. I’d be having so much fun that I would often say, ‘Whenever I die, I should just die here on top of the control board.’ That would be ideal. That would be dramatic.
BridgeDetroit: Jazz isn’t big on the radio like it used to be. Why do you think that is?
Love: Because most radio people in management are not jazz fans, so that’s one reason. And they figured that a lot of people don’t appreciate jazz, but I know differently. But a lot of management in radio, they don’t, pardon my language, have the balls or the guts to program jazz.
BridgeDetroit: Who are some of your all time jazz favorites?
Love: For female vocalists, there’s Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holliday and Betty Carter. And then on the tenor saxophone, John Coltrane. On trumpet, Dizzy Gillespie and on piano, Bud Powell.
As always, hope you enjoy the rest of your week!
Cheers,
Micah
313 Scene
- The damaged Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum was demolished last week. Museum founder Olayami Dabls is now focused on the future and the prospect of a brand new building.
- BridgeDetroit intern Juniper Favenyesi writes on how Belle Isle, the Detroit Sound Conservancy and Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit are among the cultural assets getting a piece of $2.6 million in philanthropic support.
- Acclaimed Detroit blues singer Thornetta Davis will headline the second edition of the Bourbon and Blues Festival, which is set to return to Eastern Market Aug. 25. Active since the 1980s, the Queen of the Blues has provided backing vocals for Bob Seger, Big Chief, and Kid Rock, in addition to recording a couple of solo records for the Sub Pop label.
- In an unannounced move, rocker Jack White’s latest album landed July 19, but only for unknowing customers who happened to be shopping at his Third Man Records stores in Detroit, Nashville and London. There, unobtrusively slipped into checkout bags with any purchase, was a plain-sleeved record package containing a 12-inch labeled simply “No Name.”
- Big Sean has announced the release of “Better Me Than You,” his first album in four years. The Detroit rapper’s sixth studio set is due out Aug. 9. The 36-year-old is also readying the release of his first book, “Go Higher: Five Practices for Purpose, Success, and Inner Peace,” which is due out Oct. 8.
What’s Going on in the D?
- Midtown Detroit, Inc. kicked off its Midtown Street Fair series. On Saturday, the organization is holding its Canfield Street Fair from 12-5 p.m. The free event will include a DJ, cornhole, shopping and an ice cream dye workshop.
- The inaugural NOVA24 Photo and Film Festival is going on until Aug. 1 in venues across Detroit, highlighting the city’s film and photography scenes. The festival includes a full schedule of exhibitions, film screenings, artist talks and workshops.
- M.A.P Fest (Music, Art and Poetry Festival) returns to Avalon Village in Highland Park 2-9 p.m. Saturday. Local music artists including Rockim Williamson, Asaka The Renegade and AyeWhy. Poets Solfull Poetry, Hakeem The People’s Poet and P Tha Poet will also be gracing the stage and attendees can check out live art demonstrations from the Jewels of Detroit Art Alliance, VRS Chuck and other artists. General admission tickets are $20, while VIP tickets are $50.
- Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey and the Department of Elections will host a “Get Out the Vote” block party from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on W. Grand Boulevard between Second and Third Avenue. Guests can expect entertainment, family activities, food trucks, games, prizes and more. Residents also may vote early for the upcoming state primary.
