Radio DJ

Daybreak In Dixie

Hosted by David Blakney

WDET

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WDET · MI

Bluegrass

Music

Bluegrass

Traditional BluegrassModern BluegrassProgressive BluegrassGospel BluegrassInstrumental BluegrassOld-Time

Reports to charts

Bluegrass Today WeeklyBluegrass Unlimited

About the show

David Blakney is a highly celebrated, award-winning cross-border broadcaster and a monumental pillar of the North American bluegrass radio community. Based in Essex County, Ontario, David's deep, lifelong connection to bluegrass music officially took off in 1985 when he began assisting host Larry McDaniel on the historic Arkansas Traveler program on Detroit’s iconic public radio voice, WDET-FM. He has been an uninterrupted force on the bluegrass airwaves ever since. On June 16, 1991, David stepped behind the console to launch his own signature program, Daybreak in Dixie, on CJAM 99.1 FM, a powerhouse community station broadcasting to the massive, combined international markets of Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. His multi-decade dedication to preserving and promoting acoustic music has earned him widespread acclaim across Canada and the U.S.. Most notably, David has been voted Best Bluegrass DJ at the prestigious Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards (CCBA) across three separate years (2012, 2013, and 2016). On-Air Style & Sound Where Traditions Meet Today: True to his personal broadcasting mandate, David builds his weekly sets to balance respect for the founders who defined the music alongside the fresh, innovative artists recording today. Canadian & Global Pride: While tracking the biggest hits moving across the United States, David places an extra-special focus on spinning and championing premier Canadian bluegrass bands and regional pickers. The High Lonesome Sound: Airing every Sunday morning from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST, the show provides a beautiful, relaxed weekend soundtrack completely dedicated to Bill Monroe’s structural "high lonesome sound".Official Chart Reporting Authority: David serves as a trusted national tracking voice for the industry. He tracks his weekly broadcast spin data and officially reports his playlists directly to the historic Bluegrass Unlimited National Survey

Recently added to rotation

Tracks this DJ pulled from Radio Now — a peek at what they are playing.

  1. Ride

    Sheila Vee · Americana

    11/9/2026
  2. Roll Like Thunder

    Sheila Vee · Traditional Bluegrass

    11/9/2026
  3. Dismal Holler

    Aaron Jones · Modern Bluegrass

    11/9/2026
  4. Before I Met You

    Brand New Box of Matches · Traditional Bluegrass

    11/2/2026
  5. Snow On The Lilies

    Dreyden Gordon · Traditional Bluegrass

    11/2/2026
  6. We Don't Talk Anymore

    Larry Keel · Modern Bluegrass

    10/31/2026
  7. Bethel's Bell

    Jackberry Jayne · Modern Bluegrass

    10/30/2026
  8. All Alone To Cry

    Dreyden Gordon · Traditional Bluegrass

    10/30/2026
  9. I'll Take The Blues

    Nick Dumas · Traditional Bluegrass

    10/30/2026
  10. The Turnaround

    Darin Parise · Traditional Bluegrass

    10/30/2026
  11. Pedal to the Metal

    Darin Parise · Traditional Bluegrass

    10/30/2026
  12. Same Old Town

    Jason Carter · Modern Bluegrass

    10/25/2026