In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, remembering the sweet voice of Raul Malo in 2 studio sessions from 2009 and 2010. He died this week at age 60.

Also, new music from the duo TOMORA, Daniel Caesar, and Mavis Staples. Then we take it back to December 1965 (which is still with us every day), a Parliament classic from December 1975 and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for December 13, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Ring The Alarm” – TOMORA
• “Conqueror” – Aurora
• “Florescence” – Big Gigantic & Lady Blackbird
• “If I Told You” – Lady Blackbird
• “The Gingerbread Monster” – Emma Guzman
  
• “Think For Yourself” – The Beatles (“Rubber Soul,” Dec. 1965)
• “Get Off Of Me Cloud” – The Rolling Stones (“December’s Children,” Dec. 1965)
• “My Generation” – The Who (“My Generation,” Dec. 1965)
• “Linus & Lucy” – Vince Guaraldi Trio (“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Dec. 1965)
• “Call On Me” – Daniel Caesar
• “Satisfied Mind” – Mavis Staples
  
• “Poison In My Well” – Maggie Rose & Grace Potter
• “You Always Win” – Raul Malo (Acoustic Cafe performance, 2009)
  

• “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Ella Fitzgerald
  
• “Wonderful Christmastime” – The Accidentals
• “Who’s That” – Brother Wallace
• “What Good?” – Arkells
  
• “Giving Up” – Michigander
• “Give Up The Funk” – Parliament (“Mothership Connection,” Dec. 1975)
  
• “Screwdriver” – Prince (“Hit N Run Phase 2,” Dec. 2015)
• “Looking Out For #1” – B.T.O. (“Head On,” Dec. 1975)
• “Beck N Call” – waterbaby
• “In The Saddle” – Whitney
• “Ignorance Is Bliss” – Alice Merton
• “Living For Today” – Raul Malo (Acoustic Cafe performance, 2010)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

Celebrating the birthday of Detroit jazz legend Dr. Donald Byrd, plus the 60th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which gave us the greatest Christmas music of all time via Vince Guaraldi Trio (really loved this article giving background to how this special came together, thanks to Cola-Cola and sparse jazz). On top of all that, new music from Momoko Gill, Georgie Sweet, Gerald Clayton, Adrian Sherwood, SOYUZ and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for December 9, 2025

• “2close2farr” – Momoko Gill
• “All That We Were” – Georgie Sweet
• “Into Harmony (feat. Julia Biel)” – Hector Plimmer
• “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” – Vince Guaraldi Trio
• “Linus and Lucy” – Vince Guaraldi Trio
• “Cinnamon Sugar” – Gerald Clayton
• “Garden of Inspiration” – Adrian Sherwood, African Head Charge & Speakers Corner Quartet
• “Coltrane (Crooked Man Remix)” – Cymande
• “Not Dead Yet” – Lord Huron
• “I’d Have To Be Crazy” – Willie Nelson
• “A Bowl And A Pudding” – Wilco
• “Across The Universe” – Fiona Apple
• “Foolish Fool” – Dee Dee Warrick
• “Tomorrow (feat. Raheem DeVaughn)” – The Roots
• “17 Days (Piano & a Microphone 1983 Version)” – Prince
• “Alien (Hold On to Your Dreams)” – Gil Scott Heron
• “Billy Jack” – Curtis Mayfield
• “Someone I Know” – Margo Guryan
• “So Nice (Summer Samba) [Azari & III Remix]” – Astrud Gilberto & Walter Wanderley Trio
• “Roller Coaster” – Brijean
• “Closer” – Maria Chiara Argirò
• “Road To Self (KO)” – Kamasi Washington
• “Cristo Redentor” – Donald Byrd
• “Wind Parade” – Donald Byrd
• “Black Byrd” – Donald Byrd
• “P7 Blues” – SOYUZ
• “Plasty” – LL Burns
• “Canopy” – Resavoir & Matt Gold
• “I Couldn’t Love You More (Jam Master’s Deep Rework)” – Sade
• “Rush” – Gerald Clayton
• “Xoxoxo” – corto.alto
• “My Little Drum” – Vince Guaraldi Trio
• “Skating” – Vince Guaraldi Trio

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.