The Treatment
Don Was
As Blue Note Records celebrates its 75th anniversary, label President Don Was reflects on his own 35 years in the music business.
By Elvis Mitchell • • 29m ListenGrowing up in Detroit, Don Was remembers the first time he ever heard jazz music in his mom's car, listening to legendary jazz DJ Ed Love (who's still a fixture on WDET). Since that seminal moment, Was has gone on to be one of the biggest music producers in the business, working with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Bonnie Raitt. (He produced her Grammy-winning album Nick of Time 25 years ago this year). Now, he's the president of Blue Note Records, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Since its inception, Blue Note has continued to push the threshold of jazz by signing artists who are constantly experimenting with new forms. "Change is kind of built into jazz on a cellular level," says Was, "It's supposed to constantly be evolving."
