Saturdays | 7 – 10 pm
John Penney was born and raised in Ithaca, New York, and began hosting and programming weekly jazz and folk music programs on student owned commercial radio station WVBR-FM at the age of 15.
In 1967 WVBR became one of the first FM radio stations in the country to program “progressive rock.” John was instrumental in the creation of the format and became one of WVBR’s most popular on-air personalities, frequently featuring live studio performances on his show. He served as Music Director beginning in 1970, and continued to program jazz, folk, and rock programs through 1971.
In 1978, at the age of 25, John became the National Promotion Director of Amherst Records in Buffalo, New York, where he was instrumental in establishing the career of the platinum selling band Spyro Gyra. He also became the most popular jazz host on public radio WBFO, as measured by Arbitron and listener donations.
In 1984 John moved to Detroit as the Michigan Regional Representative for Action, and in 1989 was hired by Warner Elektra Atlantic as a sales rep. During his 15 year career with WEA John gained a national reputation as a creative and innovative marketer, among other things designing and executing the company’s first regional catalog promotion with Wal-Mart, which was used to leverage the first national event.
John joined the air staff of public radio WDET-FM in Detroit in 1986 as host of a music variety program. John pioneered the concept of presenting “all the varieties of music” in such a way as to demonstrate the continuity between diverse musical forms by making the connection between current and historic recordings. His program became one of the most popular on the air.
John is a popular and sought after MC for live events, and for years was a fixture on stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival in Hart Plaza. He helped to create an innovative format for radio broadcasts of the festival, and served as national co-anchor for five years. John began his association with the AMRF in 2004 when Ron Harwood asked him to MC the 6th Annual Motor City Boogie Woogie and Blues Festival. He became consultant/Director in September of 2005. John is also collaborating with Ron on a book about the life and times of classic blues singer Sippie Wallace and her siblings.
John’s Latest Playlist
Jazzfest Detroit Playlist, Saturday 9/19/2020
7:00
Walter White, “Atlantic Bridge,” BBXL
Sarah Vaughan, “Autumn Leaves,” Crazy and Mixed Up
Steve Turre, “Light Within,” Delicious and Delightful
Antonio Adolfo, “Encontros E Despedidas,” Bruma
Michael Zaporski & Future Visions, “Psych-Loan,” Two Worlds
Mary Stalling, “Stolen Moments,” Songs Were Made for Singing
Black Art Jazz Collective, “Ascension,” Ascension
Pieces of A Dream,” “All About Love,” Pieces of a Dream
Dave Bennett, “A Long Goodbye,” Blood Moon
8:00
Joshua James, “Polly,” Distance Learning
Stanley Turrentine, “River’s Invitation,” Joyride
Christian McBride Big Band, “Medger Ever’s Blues,” For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver
Donald Byrd, “The Loner,” Slow Drag
Bobby Watson, “Mohawk,” Keepin’ It Real
Xavier Davis, “Oh Henry,” Rise Up Detroit
Miles Davis, “Iris,” ESP
9:00
Abbey Lincoln, “Throw It Away,” A Turtle’s Dream
Chick Corea Trio, “Alice In Wonderland,” Trilogy
Mungus Big Band 93, “Nostalgia In Times Square,” Nostalgia In Times Suare
Walter White, “Cantaloupe Island, BBXL
Harry Edison Orchestra, “Used to Be Basie,” Sweets
Dena Derose (w/ Sheila Jordan), “All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm/Little Willie Leaps,” Ode to the Road
Oscar Peterson/Ray Brown and Milt Jackson (Karreim Riggins), “Ad Lib Blues,” What’s Up? The Very Tall Band
Henry Mancini, “Return of the Pink Panther,” The Pink Panther
The last song played by Mr. Penney Saturday Aug 15 had “Black Lace” in the title and refrain. Can you post the full title and artist?
Hi Wendy, that was Rene Marie performing “Black Lace Freudian Slip” from the album of the same name.
This morning, 8/1/2020 the coaches of a swim team I coach with were talking about a song played between 6-7 am. I am having a hard time finding it but it sounded interesting. It was a song that transitioned ages from chanting to Bock to modern music. I was interesting in bearding. The other coaches could only tell my it was on this station. Can you help, do you know this song?
Hello Joe, the playlist for that time is below. We didn’t see any pieces then that would have included chanting but we did have the program “Millennium Of Music” running before that which certainly has chanting – https://www.millenniumofmusic.com/ Maybe it was a combination of those two?
06:01 AM Csardas
Composer: Vittorio Monti
Soloists: Avi Avital – mandolin
DG 19758
6:06 AM Umbrian Scene
Composer: Ulysses Kay
Conductor: Arthur Fagen
Orchestra/Ensemble: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Naxos 559870
06:20 AM Tom and Nancied
Composer: Michael Thurber/Tessa Lark
Soloists: Tessa Lark – violin
Redonky Tonk 2019
06:25 AM Piano Sonata No. 50
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Soloists: Leif Ove Andsnes – piano
EMI 56756
06:37 AM Theme and Variations
Composer: Amy Beach
Orchestra/Ensemble: Shanghai Quartet
Soloists: Eugenia Zukerman – flute
Delos 3173
07:01 AM Lakme: Flower Duet
Composer: Leo Delibes
Conductor: Stuart Morley
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Mozart Players
Soloists: Claire Jones – harp
Silva 6051
I have been given a lot of jazz CDs collected over years by a friend. Perhaps some of them would be worth adding to a jazz archive. I sent an email some time ago to that organization With which I think John Penny is affiliated. I received no reply. I wonder if there would be an interest in someone taking a look at the CDs with an understanding that I would donate any of value to the archive.
Hi Judy, thank you, we will ask our Jazz hosts if they would be interested…
I was listening to your station on Saturday, February 8, 2019 at 8:26 p.m. and there was an instrumental playing . Is there anyway you can tell me what this song was and the artist ? I enjoy listening to your show.Thank you.
Hello Ray, thanks for listening. Checking with John Penney for the details…
Hello…there was a song played Sat September 9 Btwn 7:30-8:00! I searched all of the songs on Johns playlist starting from 7 ending at 8 and the song that was played still couldn’t be found there. Is there anyway I can get Johns playlist from 7:25-8:00p.m that night? Please and thank you 🙂
Hello, MoLina we will ask John Penney and get back to you…
Hoping for details about the lovely covers of “In a Mellow Tone” to open the Jazzfest program on Saturday, July 6th. Thanks.
Hello Catherine, John Penney chose Duke Ellington to perform “In A Mellow Tone”.
Sorry it took me so long Catherine. First version was Duke 1940. He wrote the music, Milt Gable. Second was the vocalese version by (Dave) Lambert (John) Hendricks and (Annie) Ross. Third was a Coleman Hawkins cover, and finally George Duke. Thanks for listening!
There was a song playing at 8pm called “love wants to dance;” I don’t remember the date but it would not have been further than 6/10/2019 from today.
Could you please give artist name for this song and where to purchase it, further, what was the song name and artist that played after that song?
Thanks
Hello Mark, that might have been Maxine or John. We will ask. Thanks for listening!
I really enjoyed the jazz on Saturday, May 25th. In particular, there was an instrumental piece playing around 9:50-9:55 pm that I liked, but I did not know the name. Could you let me know the names of the song(s) playing around that time? Thank you!
Hello Jonathan, we will check with host John Penney…
Hi, I was following up to see if you could find the song title. Thank you.
Hello Jonathon, we asked John Penney but unfortunately he could not recall and didn’t have it written down. Sorry 🙁
Well, thanks anyway for checking.
Sorry! Thanks for tuning in.
We were listening to your station on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 9:09 p.m. and there was an awesome song playing (no vocals). Is there anyway you can tell me what this song was, the artist, etc? Thank you.
Hello Robin, around that time was “Groovin’ High” by the Keith Jarrett Trio from the album “Whisper Not Live in Paris 1999”. Thanks for listening!
The music on the 25th of May was a very refreshing change. Very funky and not decades old.
Whoever put it together, Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Jim, that was John Penney himself!