Don Ferguson, also known as Don Was, began his music career as a founding member of the group Was (Not Was) in his hometown of suburban Detroit. He formed the band with his childhood friend David Weiss, adopting the stage names Don Was and David Was. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Was (Not Was) released four studio albums that showcased their unique blend of soul, funk, R&B, rock, and dance music, combined with satirical and unusual lyrics.
Their 1988 album, What Up, Dog?, spawned the US and UK hit singles "Spy in the House of Love" and "Walk the Dinosaur." As a highly acclaimed and commercially successful producer, Was has been honored with multiple Grammy Awards and an Emmy Award for his production work, which includes collaborations with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Bonnie Raitt, Gregg Allman, Brian Wilson, Ziggy Marley, and countless others.
Albums produced by Was have achieved dozens of multi-platinum, platinum, and gold certifications, selling more than 90 million copies worldwide. As the president of Blue Note Records, Was is the company's leader and ambassador, responsible for presenting the label's artists to a global audience.
