Don Was

Don Was
Ron Baker (https://www.flickr.com/photos/kingsnake) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Don Was
Birth name	Don Fagenson
Birth date	1952-??-??
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres	Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Pop music, Jazz
Occupations	Record producer, Musician, Bandleader, Songwriter, Music executive
Instruments	Bass guitar, Keyboards
Years active	1970s–present
Associated acts	Was (Not Was), Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris

Don Was Don Was is an American record producer and musician from Detroit, Michigan known for producing landmark albums and for co-founding the band Was (Not Was). He has worked with major artists across rock music, country music, jazz, and soul music, and has served as a music executive and soundtrack curator. Was's career spans collaborations with legacy acts, contemporary performers, and work in film and television.

Early life and education

Born in Detroit, Was grew up amid the city's Motown scene and industrial culture, which influenced his musical development alongside exposure to The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Parliament-Funkadelic. He attended schools in Michigan and studied music and humanities while engaging with the Detroit music scene, participating in local ensembles and early recording projects. His formal and informal education connected him to regional institutions and networks including Wayne State University and Detroit-area studios where he learned arranging, production, and the business practices that later shaped his career.

Music career

Was began performing in local bands in the 1970s, playing bass guitar and touring regionally with acts drawing from R&B, funk, and rock music. He co-founded the experimental outfit Was (Not Was) with songwriter David Was and collaborated with session musicians from Muscle Shoals, Stax Records alumni, and Detroit session players associated with Motown Records. During the 1980s and 1990s he expanded into arranging and producing, working in studios in Los Angeles, New York City, Nashville, and Detroit and building a reputation for cross-genre projects infused with jazz sensibilities and pop arrangements.

Record production and collaborations

As a producer, Was has been credited on albums by Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Iggy Pop, Bonnie Raitt, The B-52s, Warren Zevon, Roy Orbison, Mavis Staples, John Mayer, Rickie Lee Jones, Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams, John Mellencamp, Public Enemy, B.B. King, Tom Waits, Ike Turner, Mariah Carey, Jeff Beck, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Miles Davis-influenced sessions, and contemporary acts associated with labels such as Columbia Records, Warner Bros. Records, and Capitol Records. He produced critically acclaimed albums that blended traditional instrumentation and modern studio technology at studios like Sun Studio, Hitsville U.S.A., Electric Lady Studios, and Abbey Road Studios. His collaborations often involved arrangers and engineers from Nashville, Los Angeles, and London and featured guest appearances by artists from the Grammy Awards circuit and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame community.

Work with Was (Not Was)

Was (Not Was), co-founded with David Was, released genre-bending records that incorporated pop, dance music, funk, and satirical lyricism. The band's albums featured contributions from session players linked to Motown Records and musicians who worked with Prince, David Bowie, and Stevie Wonder. Singles and tracks from Was (Not Was) charted in markets including the United Kingdom, United States, and Germany, and were included in film soundtracks and compilations associated with labels like Island Records and Geffen Records. The group toured with ensembles tied to festival circuits such as Glastonbury Festival and venues associated with international promoters and cultural institutions.

Film, television, and other media

Was has produced and arranged music for film and television projects, collaborating with directors and composers connected to Hollywood, Burbank studios, and independent film festivals. His soundtrack work includes sessions with film composers and contributions to scores and song placements in motion pictures screened at events like the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. He has appeared as a musical consultant and performer on Saturday Night Live, worked with producers for series on networks such as HBO and Netflix, and curated music for documentary projects exploring the histories of Motown Records and American popular music. Was has also engaged in educational programming and public broadcasting tied to institutions such as NPR and PBS.

Awards and recognition

Was's work has been acknowledged by major industry organizations including the Grammy Awards and nominations tied to production, engineering, and album categories. He has received accolades from trade publications and honors that connect him to halls of fame, lifetime achievement recognitions, and institutional acknowledgments from cities like Detroit and arts organizations including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and music industry academies. His production credits have been cited in retrospective lists by Rolling Stone, Billboard, and music archival projects associated with national museums and university collections.

Category:American record producers Category:People from Detroit