You may know Don Was best these days as a Grammy Award-winning music producer, especially on the heels of his work on previously unreleased tracks included on the recent reissue of the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street", but promoting his hometown and its deep well of new and vintage talent remains particularly close to the metro Detroit native's heart.
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Was about the upcoming 18th annual Concert of Colors (July 16 to 18) and what is a highlight of the three-day diversity and world music festival for me, the Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue.
Was' enthusiasm for the Revue, a "Super Session" featuring an eclectic bill of metro Detroit artists from multiple eras and musical genres was readily apparent to me when I watched him introduce each act and back many of them on bass during Revues in 2008 and 2009. His enthusiasm for the upcoming third annual Revue was every bit as apparent during my phone conversation with him.
"It's my favorite night of the year," he said. "There's a great spirit and great music."
Was appeared on the main stage at the 2005 Concert of Colors with Algerian singer Cheb Khaled, who benefited from Was' talent as a producer on the "Love to the People" single for the US release of his "Ya-Rayi" album.
The festival's chill vibe impressed Was, but it was a post-concert dinner that really wowed him.
"I went out to dinner afterwards with [Concert of Colors founder] Ismael Ahmed, and we just clicked," said Was. "He's the man I wish I was."
So several years later, when his friend "Ish" asked Was if he'd like to put together a program Concert of Colors, the answer was an enthusiastic "yes!"
"The thing I love about the Concert of Colors is that it uses music as a metaphor for society," said Was. "It's like a band where the whole is more than the sum of its parts."
Was believes that the Concert of Colors is especially important to Detroit.
"I think it's amazing that while Detroit is in such an economically disastrous situation, the people here have such a great spirit. That great spirit can overcome adversity."
The ability of the Concert of Colors to persevere and continue to thrive over the past couple of years is also meaningful to Was.
"That bodes well for the future of the city," he said. "The Concert of Colors is a real testimony to Ish and the other organizers there."
Was produced the first Detroit All-Star Revue at the Concert of Colors in 2008. That first revue was a hit and quickly became a Concert of Colors tradition.
This year's third annual Detroit All-Star Revue features performances from Alberta Adams, Dennis Coffey, Marshall Crenshaw, Doop & the Inside Outlaws, Electric Lion Sound Wave Experiment, Ingray, Motor City Horns, Niagara, Outrageous Cherry, Jimmy Ruffin, The Satin Peaches, SRC Gary Quackenbush, Jere Stormer, Sun Messengers, and Kim Weston.
"Part of the charm of the show is that it's meant to be a real collage of styles. This is the indigenous music of Detroit," said Was, noting that the Concert of Colors is a world music festival.
Was spends time throughout the year searching out talent for the Revues on the Internet, at clubs, through word-of-mouth, and through generally networking with friends.
Marshall Crenshaw grew up in Berkley around the same time Was grew up in Oak Park and is a long-time friend, while guitarist and legendary Funk Brother Dennis Coffey's wife provided the connection to Kim Weston. Jimmy Ruffin contacted Was earlier this year about producing something for him, and Was seized the opportunity to ask Ruffin if to appear in this year's Revue.
Encouraging pride in the "D" and nurturing Detroit's rich music scene are but two goals of the Revue.
"We want people to have fun and feel good when they leave," added Was.
Was spends a lot of time in Detroit and remains busier than ever these days.
He hosts "The Motor City Hayride" on Siirus XM Radio's Outlaw Country Channel every Saturday evening at 10 p.m., taping many of the shows here with guest including Tiger pitcher Nate Robertson, author Elmore Leonard, former UAW president Ron Gettelfinger, and singer Mitch Ryder.
Was also teams up with Ford Motor Company this year on a video contest aimed at finding new indie talent. The Gimme the Gig contest, tied to the launch of Ford's 2011 Fiesta, continues through December when Was selects a winner and produces some of their music.
Was, who won a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year in 1995 and who produced Bonnie Raitt's 1990 Grammy Award Album of the Year "Nick of Time", continues to work with a variety of artists in a variety of genres. Check out some of his recent projects and see clips from the 2008 and 2009 Detroit All-Star Revues at The Wasmopolitan Cavalcade of Recorded Music on My Damn Channel.
Thanks again to Don Was for a great interview and to Kim with the Concert of Colors for helping to make it happen.
Be sure to check out my earlier article, Concert of Colors lineup revealed with Zozo Afrobeat show at Detroit Institute of Arts, for more about the festival and links to the artists performing throughout the three-day event.
Note:
"Where I live" posts are part of a series of periodic stories about special events and people in, and around, metro Detroit. "Where I live" posts are stories I'll post in addition to my regular schedule of stories about attractions around the larger Midwestern region. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
© Dominique King 2010 All rights reserved
Very nice interview, and it sounds like a really wonderful concert.
Posted by: gypsyscarlett | July 01, 2010 at 02:04 PM
Gypsy-Thanks, I was pleased with the way it turned out as well.
This is one of our favorite summer events--great music and a great vibe. We look forward to it all year long :)
Posted by: Dominique King | July 01, 2010 at 06:36 PM
Great story. I'm a fan of Don Was from when he and his brother put out a couple of albums as Was (not Was).
Posted by: Anne Harris | July 09, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Anne-Yeah, I remember Was (not Was) :lol:
Was is a pretty chill guy, and I thought we had a great interview. It was a lot of fun to do this story.
Posted by: Dominique King | July 09, 2010 at 02:37 PM