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: Concert of Colors highlights with Don Was and Makoomba; new music from Clairo, GUM + more

One of my favorite weekends of the year — Concert of Colors — is coming up this weekend. It’s completely...

In The Groove: Obsessed with Remi Wolf’s ‘Big Ideas,’ plus the Spanish quartet Melenas in heavy rotation

Giving into our obsessions with Melenas and Remi Wolf’s new album, Big Ideas, out now on Island Records. Had to...

In The Groove: Common and Pete Rock go old school on new album, remembering Minnie Riperton + new music discovery

A new music Monday with artists like Ruby Rushton, Divorce, Laura Marling, Andrew Bird, Melenas and a few others making...

In The Groove: Detroit’s finest with new music from Deon Jamar, Shigeto + Kesswa world premiere

What a wonderful celebration of Detroit music today. Almost made me cry in the studio listening and thinking about how...

In The Groove: New music discovery from Sun Byrd, Hello Mary, Bacchae, Phantom Handshakes

Beautiful moments in public radio listening as we go from vintage Brazilian funk courtesy of Azymuth into a Fleet Foxes...

In The Groove: Belle Isle Bangers for 4th of July, plus Tall Black Guy’s wonderful world of edits

For the inaugural In The Groove on 4th of July, I wanted to be in the studio live so I...

In The Groove: Canada Day jams, plus new music from Wilco, Suki Waterhouse, Oliver Night

New week, new music from heavy hitters like Wilco, Suki Waterhouse, Oliver Night with Bel Cobain, Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti &...

In The Groove: Detroit trumpeter Allen Dennard, the chefs from Vinyl Tasting preview ‘Purple Rain’ dinner + new music

It was awesome to have two special guests on the show today alongside new music from Peter Cat Recording Co.,...

Artist Lisa Waud brings ‘silliness and joy’ to ‘Portrait’ flower art installation

Detroit botanical artist Lisa Waud is wrapping up her residency this weekend with “Portrait,” an interactive flower installation on the...

In The Groove: Anderson .Paak heads back to ‘Malibu,’ a celebration of The Roots + more

Today on the show… exploring new music from Bartees Strange, Wu-Lu, Sio, Crows, La Luz and more. Plus, a celebration...

In The Groove: Dr. Dog is back, plus a mixtape of rock legends taking on Motown classics

New music discovery with fresh cuts from Philadelphia band Dr. Dog, getting ready to release their first new record in...

In The Groove: New music from Fontaines D.C., King Krule, Dummy, Detroit’s Mango Star + more

Back in the mix and it feels good. A heavy dose of new stuff and first spins on In The...