Sonja Hamm Life Celebrated

Former morning host at Radio One gospel WPZE-FM (Praise 102.5) passed away on March 25 from colon and abdomen cancer according to her husband of 24 years Gary Hamm. The Durham, NC native started her 20 plus year radio career in Raleigh-Durham, where she hosted one of the top morning shows as well as a weekly program for the CBS and Fox affiliates. She also covered the Carolinas for BRE Magazine, before moving to Atlanta in 2004 to take over the new morning host spot on Praise. Replaced by the syndicated Yolanda Adams Show in 2007, Hamm moved to middays, eventually leaving the station last August.
Commented Praise PD Derek Harper: ““You don’t have a lot of jocks like her anymore. People felt her reach through the radio to embrace them.”
A member of Creflo Dollar’s World Changers Church International in College Park, Hamm will be returned to Creedmoor, NC for burial on Tuesday, March 31 at Christian Faith Center. Burthey Funeral Services is coordinating arrangements. WPZE promotions director, Cie Cie Wilson McGhee added that the station is also planning a memorial as well.  Condolences can be placed on her website at sonyahammlive.com.

Rick James: Don’t Leave Home Without Him

Rick James has to be seen to be believed and Motown, in conjunction with the celebration of the Motown 50, understands that phenomenon. I’m Rick James! The Definitive DVD releases on March 24, with a reissue of James Anthology on April 14, on its Hip-O/Motown/UMe label. The 135-minute digital surround-sound DVD, produced by Joe Lauro and Historic Music, features 26 performances and footage from television shows, videos (some unreleased) and interviews with the soul-pop-funk star. Included are some of his earliest performances from his 1978 Motown debut, Come Get It.  His classic “Super Freak” from the 1981 Street Songs is a must see from both his promo videos and from television shows. And it is this song that will be predominantly featured in the new VISA commercial beginning in April.

Lionel Ridenour Launches Malaco’s New Urban Division

Legendary southern music label, Malaco Music Group, has tapped 20-year music industry veteran Lionel Ridenour to head its new Urban Music Division. Predominantly known for its southern rhythm & blues and gospel hits, housing one of the largest and oldest Gospel catalogs in Savoy, Malaco, Muscle Shoals Sound and Atlanta International Records, the Jackson, Mississippi-based label has been a mainstay for the past 40 plus years. Home to such music icons as Johnnie Taylor, Little Milton, Tyrone Davis, and Bobby “Blue” Bland, Malaco adds a new energy with this appointment.
“We are excited about branching out into new territory with our Urban Music Division and Lionel Ridenour was our first choice to helm this project,” said Tommy Couch, President of Malaco.  “He brings with him to Malaco, 20 years of working with the best that Hip Hop and R&B have to offer.  We look forward to working with Lionel and the talented new artists that he will be escorting through our doors.”
Ridenour, most recently co-owner of New York-based MusicWerks Online, which he launched last year as a one-stop music label geared to indies run by seasoned veterans, has a long history in music both as an entrepreneur with his own companies like Mainframe Promotion and MusicWerks and with major labels including Capitol, Arista and Virgin. Ridenour has been involved with the success of such artists as MC Hammer and MC Ren while at Capitol, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin at Arista, LaFace artists Outkast, Usher, Toni Braxton, Monica, TLC, Pink and Babyface, Purple Ribbon solo artist Big Boi, and Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, Lenny Kravitz and Dem Franchize Boyz while at Virgin. In fact, it was Ridenour who engineered with Clive Davis the plan to bring Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Record label to Arista, from which emanated the 4x platinum Notorious B.I.G. Ready To Die.
Bringing the industry’s hottest new urban independent labels to the Music Division will be Ridenour’s focus at Malaco.  “Our plan is to create a new home for established independent labels as well as provide guidance to new labels,” he explains.  “Our division is geared up and our team is ready to provide not only distribution but national urban marketing and promotion.”

Chicago Radio Personality Richard Pegue Funeral March 9

Legendary Chicago DJ, Richard Pegue, passed away March 3 from heart failure.
Known for playing “The Best Music of Your Life,” the phrase he coined for the name of his radio show, Pegue began spinning music at high school dances at the age of 11 after receiving a reel-to-reel from his grandmother. While attending Hirsch High School, he formed the doo-wop group, the Belvederes as well as a lifelong friendship with fellow broadcaster, Richard Steele.

Between 1961 and 1965, Pegue continued singing, but also ventured in songwriting, releasing the single, “I’m Not Ready to Settle Down,” which was performed by the Cheers.

In 1968, Pegue became the music director for WVON, joining the legendary air personalities at WVON known as the “Good Guys.”  After the station was sold in 1975, he worked at several radio stations in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, including WOPA, WJPC and WGCI.

Also a record producer, Pegue was considered an expert on old classics from the ’50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. His radio show, called The Best Music of Your Life, featured music from these periods, commonly known as “dusties.” One of his claims to fame was his annual Dusty Records Convention, which he held in Chicago for more than 20 years. In fact, Chicago named a street after him during his career for his contributions.

He also produced commercial jingles, including the memorable Moo & Oink spots during the time Tom Joyner was the spokesperson for the brand.

And he contributed a regular column on the vintage music he loved so much in the weekly newspaper, Chicago Citizen, under the byline of Dr. Richard Pegue. His last column appeared this week. Even though he had suffered a stroke in 1998, Pegue stayed active. In addition to his weekly column, he started this week spinning the hits at the Charles Adler Senior Center, bringing the house down at the WVON Seniors’ Breakfast and from midnight on Saturday until 6am Sunday morning playing his dusties on Kennedy King College’s WKKC (89.3) station that is run by Marv Dyson.

He is survived by his son, Chris Michaels, who currently is an evening air personality on WGCI.

Services are scheduled for Monday, March 9, at 11am at the Apostolic Church of God at 6320 South Dorchester Avenue in Chicago with interment following at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Messages can be left on his website: www.thebestmusicofyourlife.com

Gary Beech Named New VP EMI Music Urban Marketing

Gary Beech has been named senior VP of urban marketing for EMI Music North America by EMI Music executive VP of marketing Howard Handler, to whom he will report. Previously VP of marketing for EMI Records Group from 1992-1997, Beech, who has held similar positions at both Columbia and Epic Records as well, assumes the new duties immediately. Operating from the New York offices, he will oversee the EMI urban roster that includes J. Holiday, MIMS, LeToya Luckett, Avant, Novel and EMI Label Services artists Fat Joe, Twista and Bobby Valentino.

“Gary knows artists.  Gary understands brands and how to bring them together with artists.  He is a forward-thinking marketing professional and we are delighted he’s returning to EMI,” said Handler.  “We look forward to adding his experience and leadership as we work to create even stronger connections between fans and artists and offer consumers more ways to discover music.”

Chris Brown Charged With 2 Felonies

Jive recording artist Chris Brown, appearing in a Los Angeles court on March 5, was charged with two felonies relating to the assault of his girlfriend Rihanna on February 8 following the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party. Out on $50,000 bail, Brown personally appeared in the courtroom where he was charged with the two felony counts: assault and making criminal threats.

BET Raises the Praise

Radio personality Steve Harvey hosted the Ninth Annual BET Celebration of Gospel at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles that, with a 24-piece orchestra led by Ray Chew, saw a hip-hop icon, LL Cool J, join gospel duo Mary Mary with foot-stomping high praises as they sang “We’re Gonna Make It” from the Madea’s Family Reunion soundtrack. The show that aired on January 25 delivered an allstar gospel line-up from Kirk Franklin to Heather Headley, from a collaboration by Hezekiah Walker, Marvin Sapp and DJ Rogers on “God Favored Me” to one with Donnie McClurkin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Shirley Caesar who closed the show with “I’ll Trust You Lord.”

 

Photos by Willie Tassain (323) 232-6391

Hip Hop’s First Inaugural Ball

T.I., Young Jeezy, LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Bow Wow and Hip Hop Caucus’ Reverend Yearwood were among those honored at the nation’s first Hip Hop Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. Russell Simmons, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Valeisha Butterfield and the Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) threw a star-studded black tie Hip Hop Inaugural Ball, emphasizing the importance of the younger vote. With Nick Cannon as DJ and performances from artists like Busta Rhymes and Mario, the affair paid heed to the largest young adult vote in history.

 

Photos by Johnny Nunez

Change Comes To WRNB

Radio One urban AC WRNB-FM (107.9) in Philadelphia launched a new format on January 20 tilted more towards the R&B gold from the ‘90s and old school hip hop. The station will continue to play current R&B titles, but the playlist will now be proliferated with such artists as Boyz II Men, Mint Condition, Maxwell, Keith Sweat and Jodeci.

 

“While America is experiencing change in our nation with President Barack Obama, Philadelphia and WRNB are experiencing a change as well,” explains Radio One/Philly OM Elroy Smith. “Tailoring this format and unveiling a new attitude exclusively for WRNB and Philadelphia is an exciting undertaking. This market knows what they want and our job at WRNB is to respond to their request. We are now positioned in a lane all by ourselves and the fans of the ’90s and today’s R&B will not have to sit through a number of eras to hear the sound they have asked for. Philadelphia now has a radio station that they are helping to build.”

 

The new lineup promoting the new sound is: “The Tom Joyner Morning Show,” APD/MD Mo’Shay LaRen at middays, Lady B in afternoons and DJ Todd takes nights.

 

WRNB’s new position in the marketplace is “The New sound of 107.9 WRNB, R&B of the 90’s and Today.

WPHI Speeds Up Nights

Going against the grain of traditionally slowing down the night programming, Radio One urban WPHI-FM (100.3 the Beat) is now stepping to a faster beat, says OM Elroy Smith. With a mission is to be younger, more vibrant, interactive, and up beat without ignoring the strong R&B ballads, Smith has switched the night programming with host Kendra G and DJ Touchstone. “Live With Kendra G” featuring a daily mix from DJ Mil Matik now airs at 6pm on weekdays, while DJ Touchstone hosts his own show, “The Touchdown with DJ Touchstone,” on Sundays at 10pm. The nightly R&B based show “Loveland” will no longer air.

“This is a very exciting and competitive time for 100.3 The Beat. Both Kendra G and Touchtone did an incredible job as a team from 6p-10p. Allowing them to shine individually will give this station a huge injection,” explains Smith. “Since every urban station in Philly is slow at 10P, we wanted to be different. We believe this move allows us to be hip, vibrant, young and fun; we are destined to raise the bar”.

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