Ryan Patrick Hooper is the award-winning host of "In the Groove" on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. Hooper has covered stories for the New York Times, NPR, Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit, SPIN and Paste magazine.

Hooper grew up reading the Sunday paper with his dad. That’s where he learned the basics of writing while dreaming of one day writing the stories himself. At 16, he knocked on the door of his hometown paper and asked for a job as a reporter. Since then, he's written extensively for the Detroit Free Press -- the same paper he grew up reading.

Since joining WDET in 2017, Hooper has expanded the station’s arts and culture coverage and received numerous awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasting along the way. Nationally, Hooper was awarded a 2020 RTDNA Regional Edward R. Murrow award for feature reporting for his story “Would You Rent a Stray Dog From the City of Detroit?“ In 2018, Hooper was named the Associated Press Michigan Editors Broadcast Rising Star in broadcast journalism. He received the prestigious Crain’s Detroit Business “20 In Their 20s” award in 2014. His commitment to volunteerism was recognized by the State of Michigan in 2007.

His juggalo-inspired I.C.Pizza costume was selected by the Huffington Post as one of the best Halloween costumes of 2014.

In The Groove: Shigeto previews new album, Hamtramck Labor Day Fest highlights + new music Friday

Busy show in the best way! New music from Dummy, Freya McKee, Mint Field & Mabe Fratti, English Teacher take...

In The Groove: Wendell Harrison performs live on WDET ahead of 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival

Gearing up for 2024 Detroit Jazz Fest — my favorite festival in all of Detroit — with a live in-studio...

In The Groove: Kasan Belgrave performs live on WDET ahead of 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival

Gearing up for 2024 Detroit Jazz Fest — my favorite festival in all of Detroit — with a live in-studio...

In The Groove: Crying to Sufjan Stevens together, Time Wharp, Norah Jones + more

Best feedback I got today was “thanks for afternoon Sufjan cry session.” You’re welcome! Played some Sufjan Stevens today. Plus...

In The Groove: New ways to listen to old Prince, a spotlight on Rich Ruth + new music from Loma

When I say a “new way to listen to old Prince,” I mean these are technically edits made by producers...

In The Groove: Portishead and their game-changing ‘Dummy’ debut album 30 years later

It’s the type of show I dream of doing — the celebration of an album that has meant so much...

In The Groove: Belated birthday candles for Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, a beautiful Beatles cover by Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding

Finally got into my full on dive bar jukebox vibes by celebrating the belated 75th birthday of Phil Lynott, the...

In The Groove: Music from Detroit Jazz Fest performer Nate Smith, Chiminyo, Tall Black Guy, Inner City + more

Working through the week with new music from Tall Black Guy, a spotlight on drummer Nate Smith ahead of his...

In The Groove: Monday mix with meditative jazz from Phi-Psonics, 4hero remixes + new Bonobo

New music from The Smile, Rosie Lowe, Bilal, Bonobo, Phi-Psonics and more, plus a celebration of break-beat legends 4hero and...

In The Groove: Throwback Thursday with Black Sabbath, the Sundays, plus new music from Lupe Fiasco, MGMT

A heavy commitment to throwback Thursday today with chilled out Black Sabbath, Otis Redding, Antena, the Crazy World of Arthur...

In The Groove: The most Shazam’d song in the world, new music from Hello Mary, Lizz Wright + more

Did you watch the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Paris? It brought out some big acts, including Phoenix and...

In The Groove: Sizzling edits of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, new music from Aaron Frazer, Group Climate + more

I came crashing into the week with a pick up of energy with Spoon’s awesome dub edits from Adrian Sherwood...