Don Was is an American musician, bassist, and prolific record producer who has shaped the sound of popular music across multiple decades. Born Don Edward Fagenson on September 13, 1952, Was rose to prominence in the 1980s as a member of the innovative new wave band Was (Not Was), establishing himself as a creative force that transcended traditional genre boundaries. Beyond his work as a performer, Was has become one of the industry's most sought-after producers, working with an extraordinary range of artists including The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Elton John, and Garth Brooks — a diverse catalog that has resulted in close to 100 million album sales worldwide.
As a record producer and music director, Was has won six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 1989 for Bonnie Raitt's career-revitalizing album Nick of Time, and Producer of the Year in 1994. His creative vision has extended into film and television, earning a BAFTA for Best Original Score for the 1994 film Backbeat and an Emmy Award in 2014 for Outstanding Music Direction for the CBS television special The Beatles: The Night That Changed America. In 1995, he produced and directed the documentary I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, a portrait of Brian Wilson that won the San Francisco Film Festival's Golden Gate Award.
Since 2011, Was has served as president of the legendary jazz label Blue Note Records, overseeing the label's artistic direction and legacy. His influence on contemporary music remains substantial, having worked with artists spanning rock, country, pop, and jazz. Recently, he toured as a member of Bob Weir's Wolf Bros from 2018 until Weir's death in 2026, continuing his commitment to live performance and collaborative artistry.
