The Station Who Played It ‘Smooth’: Detroit’s V98.7 Remembered

The Birth of V98.7: Detroit’s Smooth Jazz Awakening

When WVMV V98.7 first arrived on the Detroit airwaves in December 1995, it ushered in more than just a new radio format—it introduced a new feeling. With one elegantly chosen track, Sade’s “Smooth Operator”, the station set the tone for what would become a deeply beloved sanctuary for listeners across the Motor City. The timing couldn’t have been more poetic. The former WLLZ, once a classic rock powerhouse, relinquished its electric guitars for a softer cadence, transforming into a station that offered warmth, mood, and sophistication in place of grit and distortion.

From its very first broadcast, V98.7 embraced its identity as more than just a frequency. It was mood music for the commute, sonic comfort during the workday, and a companion for quiet dinners, rainy evenings, and long drives down Jefferson Avenue. With its richly curated playlists that blended smooth jazz, soulful R&B, and adult contemporary gems, the station took its listeners on emotional journeys—often without a single spoken word.

Detroit’s relationship with jazz has always run deep, and when WJZZ flipped formats in 1996, V98.7 stepped into the void, becoming the city’s sole smooth jazz station on FM. This wasn’t just about filling airtime—it was about stewardship. V98.7 carried Detroit’s jazz legacy forward, creating space not only for global icons like Kenny G, Luther Vandross, and Fourplay, but also championing regional talent and rising stars.

The station took its role in the community seriously, regularly sponsoring concerts, promoting smooth jazz artists when they came to town, and partnering with venues from Chene Park to the Fox Theatre. These weren’t just appearances—they were events. Acts such as Najee, Joyce Cooling, Bob James, Grover Washington Jr., Maysa, and Brian McKnight performed with the station’s backing, often greeted by packed houses of devoted fans who had first fallen in love with their sound through V98.7’s airwaves.

Through it all, V98.7 became known not only for its music, but for its atmosphere—a velvet-toned experience that defined Detroit radio for fourteen memorable years. It didn’t chase trends. It nurtured a mood. And for those who tuned in faithfully, it created a feeling that never quite left, even after the station transitioned off the FM dial.

WVMV V98.7 | Detroit’s New Home for Smooth Jazz (Promo) | December 1995

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

Signature Voices and Programming: Sound as Identity

While V98.7’s personality-driven programming was more understated than some of its FM contemporaries, its signature voice was unmistakable. The station didn’t rely on flamboyant DJs or talk-heavy segments. Instead, it cultivated an atmosphere—a carefully constructed soundscape where the music was the main character, and everything else worked in elegant harmony to support it.

Central to this identity were the Groove Addicts-produced jingles (Los Angeles-based), which became as iconic as the tracks they introduced. These sonic motifs didn’t just punctuate playlists—they elevated them, wrapping each transition in cinematic polish. With their jazz-inflected melodies and smooth vocal beds, the imaging created an immersive experience that was distinctly V98.7: sophisticated, mellow, and confident.

Throughout the week, the station offered a tapestry of programs tailored to Detroit’s rhythm. Artist spotlights brought deeper context to familiar names, often showcasing the work of genre-defining musicians like Grover Washington Jr., Bob James, Paul Hardcastle, and Sade. Listeners could experience themed blocks featuring a single artist’s catalog, interwoven with reflections on their career and cultural impact—light commentary that never overshadowed the music.

Weekends took on their own sonic signature with extended jazz blocks, often leaning into more instrumental selections ideal for unwinding. These segments embodied the station’s ethos: less talk, more tone. Special programming emerged during holidays, seasonal changes, and cultural observances—curated selections that celebrated everything from Valentine’s Day love ballads to late-summer grooves and jazzy Christmas sets.

Even without a long list of high-profile DJs, voices like Alexander Zonjic, Madison Leigh, and Jon Bond, heard during weekday and weekend segments, brought warmth and consistency. Madison’s calm, polished style mirrored the station’s musical sensibility and helped define its presence without demanding attention. It was all part of V98.7’s larger mission: to serve as a sonic companion rather than a distraction, letting the music take center stage while providing just enough narrative to guide the listener’s journey.

In this way, V98.7 redefined what it meant to curate a radio experience—not through personality-driven shows, but through voice artistry, texture, and mood. It wasn’t about celebrity—it was about atmosphere. And for Detroit’s smooth jazz fans, that atmosphere became a refuge.

WVMV V98.7 | Karla Fox | April 13, 1999

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

The Voices Who Played It Smooth: V98.7’s On-Air Companions

Beneath every velvet groove and softly shimmering sax solo on V98.7 were the voices who gave the station its human soul. These were not merely announcers—they were sonic stylists, companions who helped shape the mood, guide the day, and turn music into a shared experience.

In the early morning hours, V98.7’s sunrise trio offered a signature blend of elegance and familiarity. The charismatic Alexander Zonjic, renowned flutist and host, brought both musical credibility and magnetic charm. Beside him, Madison Leigh offered gentle grace and flowing transitions that soothed commuters before the morning rush. And completing this ensemble was Kevin Sanderson, whose voice became the connective thread—calm, confident, and unmistakably Detroit.

Sanderson wasn’t just an on-air personality—he was also the station’s production voice for concert promotions, lending his polished tones to ads and liners that elevated V98.7’s brand across the metro area. Whether announcing a summer jazz fest at Chene Park or previewing an upcoming charity CD, Sanderson’s delivery became synonymous with smooth sophistication. He also anchored the morning news, sports, and weather segments, rounding out the broadcast with essential updates in a voice that felt as trustworthy as it was stylish.

Throughout the rest of the day, listeners were greeted by more V98.7 staples: Jon Bond, Sandy Kovac, Aubrey Lee, Kelly Holmes, and Karla Fox, each adding their own flair and calm professionalism. George Moore brought warmth and personality to evening slots, while Dave Koz—whose syndicated Sunday show had national reach—felt deeply rooted in the city’s weekend routine.

Together, these voices created a tapestry that was intimate, elegant, and emotionally resonant. When the FM era came to an end in October 2009, their silence was more than a format shift—it was the closing of a chapter. But in memory and music, they still play on.

WVMV V98.7 | Alexander Zonjic | Anita Baker Interview

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

Live Music and Artist Sponsorships: V98.7 in the Spotlight

Beyond its polished airwaves and carefully curated playlists, V98.7 was a powerful presence in Detroit’s live music scene, bringing smooth jazz artists off the stereo and onto local stages. The station didn’t merely play music—it cultivated experiences. It served as a bridge between listeners and performers, transforming concerts into shared memories that lingered long after the final encore.

Throughout the late 1990s and into the 2000s, V98.7 regularly sponsored appearances by some of the genre’s biggest names. Kenny G, who helped launch the station’s very first broadcast, returned again and again in concert—with his signature saxophone serenading audiences across Detroit. Sade’s mystique, Najee’s soulful saxophone phrasing, and Joyce Cooling’s West Coast guitar licks found an eager audience thanks in part to V98.7’s enthusiastic promotion, both on the air and in print. Local Detroit newspaper ads often carried the station’s branding, encouraging fans to tune in and show up.

The list of artists was practically a who’s-who of smooth jazz royalty: Anita Baker, Grover Washington Jr., Bob James, Ken Navarro, Fourplay, Dave Koz, and Brian McKnight, among others to numerous to list here. V98.7’s involvement went far beyond simple sponsorship—it created buzz, drove ticket sales, and infused each event with a sense of identity. Listeners associated these performances with the station’s sound; it was as if V98.7 had curated the event itself.

Venues like Chene Park, with its riverside views and summer breeze, and the ornate elegance of Detroit’s Fox Theatre, became natural homes for these sponsored concerts. At Chene Park especially, V98.7’s presence turned ordinary weekends into seasonal rituals—where the music was matched by the mood, and the station felt like a co-host.

Attending a V98.7-sponsored show wasn’t just about seeing an artist; it was about stepping inside the station’s world. Fans might hear a concert teaser on the radio that morning, receive a branded giveaway at the venue, or share a story with fellow listeners who had tuned in to hear the artist just hours before. It was community through music, and V98.7 orchestrated it beautifully.

Cultural Significance: The Soundtrack of a City’s Soul

To understand the cultural imprint of V98.7, one must look beyond its broadcast tower and into the daily lives of the Detroiters it serenaded. This wasn’t a station people simply listened to—it was one they felt. For nearly fifteen years, V98.7 served as a sonic backdrop to countless moments across the metro area, becoming woven into the fabric of the city’s rhythm and routine.

In downtown offices, the station drifted softly through cubicles and conference rooms, offering a polished ambiance that spoke to both professionalism and ease. Its mellow grooves provided a welcome counterbalance to the clamor of morning traffic, budget meetings, and ringing phones. In upscale restaurants across Birmingham, Royal Oak, and Greektown, V98.7’s smooth jazz selections added elegance to the atmosphere—subtle, sophisticated, and undeniably cool.

For Detroit’s night owls and romantics, the station became something of a confidante. Whether it was Luther Vandross playing softly on a moonlit drive down Woodward Avenue, or Kenny G echoing through late-night kitchens, V98.7 offered a kind of emotional companionship. It didn’t intrude—it accompanied. Listeners found solace in the warm instrumentation, often relying on the station for reflection, intimacy, or even inspiration.

In a city famed for Motown soul and techno innovation, V98.7 carved out its own niche—an oasis for listeners who desired sophistication without pretension. It offered jazz not as an academic exercise, but as an emotional balm. And through its thoughtful branding, curated playlists, and understated charm, V98.7 didn’t just broadcast music—it helped Detroit define its sound for an entire generation.

WVMV V98.7 | Alexander Zonjic, Madison Leigh, Kevin Sanderson | Detroit’s Smooth Jazz | November 26, 2002

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

The HD2 Era: V98.7’s Quiet Continuation (2009–2023)

When WVMV’s FM signal bowed out in 2009, many feared Detroit’s smooth jazz legacy had come to an end. But instead of a full stop, the music found a quieter continuation—reincarnated as a subchannel tucked within WDZH HD2, a digital corner of the radio dial that carried the familiar warmth of V98.7 into the next decade and beyond. There was no grand announcement, no fireworks or fanfare. Just a seamless transition into HD radio and online streaming, where the station’s identity remained lovingly intact.

For loyal listeners, this wasn’t merely a format shift—it was a lifeline. The channel continued to stream the core blend of smooth jazz and adult R&B that had come to define V98.7’s signature sound. Tracks by artists like Keiko Matsui, Norman Brown, Peter White, Gerald Albright, Walter Beasley, Al Jarreau, and countless others played uninterrupted, offering the same elegantly arranged setlists that once graced FM airwaves. Though live DJs and local commentary were no longer part of the experience, the station’s atmospheric DNA persisted. Detroiters recognized the Groove Addicts-produced jingles as a cherished vestige of the station’s past—aural landmarks that made the HD2 stream feel not like an imitation, but a continuation.

The HD2 format became a quiet refuge for fans who still craved sophistication in a world of increasingly fragmented radio. Whether tuning in via HD receivers or streaming through the Audacy app, listeners carried the signal with them into offices, living rooms, and cars. For many, it was the last true smooth jazz station Detroit had to offer—a ghost frequency that whispered rather than shouted, but never truly disappeared.

WVMV V98.7 | Detroit’s Smooth Jazz Sign-Off | October 2, 2009

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

That is, until early 2023.

WVMV Playlist/Song History, Friday morning, February 28, 2023.

Without warning, the familiar soundscape began to unravel. On Friday evening, February 24, the station’s quiet fade commenced—no farewell broadcast, no retrospective montage, not even a moment of acknowledgment. The channel simply began to dissolve. And although the format was officially dropped that night, it continued to stream for a few more days, culminating in one final act of digital poetry. On the morning of Tuesday, February 28, at precisely 10:50 a.m., the last song logged on the playlist history was titled “West Bound” by Nate Harasim—a poignant parting note by a Michigan-born smooth jazz saxophonist. The timing was quiet. The symbolism? Devastating.

The playlist history stopped, remaining frozen. Only minutes later, at 11:21:46 a.m., the Motor City Radio Flashbacks website captured a screenshot of this final playlist—an unintentional memorial to a station that had shaped the emotional and musical landscape of Detroit for decades. In that moment, the station’s disappearance became official, preserved not by corporate announcement but by local passion.

Seeking clarity, this author called Audacy in Southfield, MI., office on March 4 in hopes of an error, or, technical explanation. Instead, I received closure—V98.7 was no longer operational. The music stream had been replaced by “Soundscapes,” a generic, ad-supported feed that lacked all the hallmarks of the station’s curated soul. The rich programming, the signature artists, the smooth transitions—all gone. In their place: limited, background noise without context, warmth, or curation, as it was even a much shortened rotation was offered. For longtime fans, it wasn’t just the end of a station—it felt like a desecration of its legacy.

The HD2 incarnation may have lived in the margins of the digital dial, but for those who followed it, its final silence left a resounding echo. And yet, in true Detroit spirit, the story didn’t end there. Because while the station was gone, the music—and the passion behind it—would find another way to be heard.

Reviving the Rhythm: Detroit Smooth Jazz Lives On Through Spotify

When the final notes of V98.7 faded from Detroit’s HD2 airwaves in early 2023, it wasn’t just the end of a station—it was the silencing of a community’s soundtrack. But thankfully, the music we religiously heard at V98.7 on HD2, the music didn’t vanish. It found new life on a different frequency: Spotify.

In March and April of 2023, I personally undertook a remarkable preservation effort. Not left to mire in my despair, I was able to acquire the entire V98.7 HD2 playlist the station used in their play-rotation, essentially complete, and having aired during the past five years (from 2018 to 2023). I curated and uploaded the entire V98.7 HD2 playlist on to the Spotify platform which comprised over 800 smooth jazz and R&B tracks, organizing them into fourteen themed playlists under the banner WVMV Detroit Smooth Jazz. Each volume—numbered 1 through 14—features 55+ tracks, carefully selected to reflect the station’s signature sound.

What Makes This Revival Special

• The playlists mirror the WDZH HD2 rotation, offering longtime listeners a familiar experience.
• Artists like Reza Kahn, Kim Waters, Ronny Jordan, Richard Elliot, Boney James, David Sanborn, George Benson, and many others are featured prominently.
• While the original Groove Addicts jingles couldn’t be included, the musical essence remains intact—warm, polished, and unmistakably Detroit.

How to Listen

• On mobile: Download the Spotify app via the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
• On desktop: Visit Spotify’s web player and sign in or create a free account.
• Search for Jim Feliciano (or you can click my name in the preview provided below or on Spotify) and scroll to Public Playlists. Click Show All to view all 14 volumes.

This grassroots revival isn’t just a playlist—it’s a living archive, a tribute to the station that once serenaded Detroit with elegance and soul. It’s proof that while the signal may be gone, the spirit of V98.7 still plays on.

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Final Notes: A City Without Its Serenade

WVMV Smooth-Jazz V98.7 Bumper Sticker (1998)

For nearly three decades, V98.7 was Detroit’s smooth jazz heartbeat—a station that didn’t just play music, but curated moods, memories, and moments. From its FM debut in 1995 to its HD2 swan song in 2023, it offered a sonic refuge for listeners seeking elegance, emotion, and escape. It championed artists, hosted concerts, and gave voice to a genre that thrived in the Motor City’s soul.

Yet today, Detroit stands silent in the smooth jazz space. While cities like New York City, Atlanta, San Diego, and Washington D.C. continue to nurture the format, Detroit—once a proud home to WJZZ and V98.7—remains without a dedicated smooth jazz station on FM or HD radio. The genre still lives on in festivals, streaming platforms, and the hearts of fans, but the absence on local airwaves is deeply felt.

And so, this tribute is more than a retrospective—it’s a call to remember, to preserve, and perhaps one day, to revive. Because smooth jazz wasn’t just a format in Detroit—it was a brand that once thrived and was embraced by the city’s music culture. Thanks to places like the USA Radio Museum and revival efforts like WVMV Detroit Smooth Jazz on Spotify, that feeling still lingers—softly echoing across time, waiting for its next smooth jazz cue to return back to the Motor City airwaves it once called home.

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