Chicago’s Black History Month
Chicago is at the top of the heap in celebrating Black History Month with its very own President of the United States. The city has been home and temporary home to some of the most famous people in the world during their heyday and celebrations will be honoring some like Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Michael Jordan, Walter Peyton, Ernie Banks, George Johnson of Johnson Products, Ed Gardner of Soft Sheen Products, John Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, poet Gwendolyn Brooks, Soul Train founder Don Cornelius, Johnson Publishing, Jesse Jackson, Minister Farrakhan, Elijah Muhammad and dozens of recording industry celebrities.
Goes to Chicago Music Awards
Chicago 4th Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle presents an Aldermanic Resolution honoring Kingdom Records for having only the second Chicago Gospel artist in the last 25 years with back to back Gold records for its powerhouse praise & worship choir Shekinah Glory Ministry (SGM).
Jamillah Muhammad Hit By Clear Channel Cuts
Even though Tuesday, January was the inauguration of the first African-American President of the United States, it proved to be the day Clear Channel confirmed cuts throughout its company. Veteran broadcaster Jamillah Muhammad, who had a 19-year tenure with Clear Channel, was among those who were let go from her position as PD of urban AC WMXD-FM (Mix 92.3) in Detroit.
In a prepared statement, Muhammad, who also produces the Premiere syndicated night show “The Keith Sweat Hotel,” stated: “After a tenure that expands 19 years with Clear Channel Radio, filled with top ratings and outstanding services, my position with the company has ended. Due to the unpredictable economic climate, Clear Channel Radio went through a series of downsizing that included my position. I have been blessed to build and share with Clear Channel Radio many relationships that have benefited them and my success in the business. On one of the most historic days in America, I am filled with hope for change and eagerly anticipate a future that will make use of my passion for music and a challenging leadership position utilizing skills acquired during my tenure at Clear Channel Radio.”
She can be reached at Radiobaby@aol.com or (313) 549-5701.
Richard Steele Birthday
Herb Kent hosted a birthday party for fellow radio announcer Richard Steele. The duo represent between the two of them 100 years of continuous radio broadcasting. Kent, who just celebrated his 80th birthday, will celebrate 65 years of broadcasting this March. Kent has co-written an autobiography, “The Cool Gent: The Nine Lives of Radio Legend Herb Kent,” co-written with David Smallwood, that includes a foreword by Mayor Daley. Recording artist Bobby Hutton, shown here with Richard Steele, performed for Steele’s birthday. Also attending were many friends from radio and TV.—Photo by Jerome Simmons
Chicago Music Awards
Fresh from winning the Praise & Worship CD of the Year at the Stellar Awards, the Shekinah Glory Ministry returned home to Chicago the next day to be honored at the 28th Annual Chicago Music Awards with Best Gospel CD for their double CD Jesus on Kingdom Records/Universal.
Elder Phil Tarver, the Praise and Worship leader of Shekinah Glory Ministry, commented: “We are taught that the more God exalts you the more you should humble yourself. We are humbled but honored to know that more than a few folks are enjoying what we do as we continue our mission of creating music that pierces the kingdom of darkness and enlarges the Kingdom of God.”
Established in 2000, Kingdom Records has recently expanded its roster beyond Tarver and Shekinah Glory Ministry to include Gospel’s lady of soul Cynthia Jones, Kim Stratton and Tonya Baker, the latter who recently debuted with her first single “Vengeance Is Mine.”
MLK Flag Now Waves Over Milwaukee Public Schools
Celebrating the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Milwaukee Bucks players recently purchased MLK flags for each Milwaukee Public School and presented the flags at halftime in their recent game against the Dallas Mavericks, which they coincidentally won 133-99.
“This flag will be history for them,” said Bucks guard Ramon Sessions. “I feel like kids need to know a lot more about what King did. When I was growing up, we really didn’t touch on it as much as I would have liked to know about it, but as I got older I learned more. It’s definitely something you should teach kids and it’s part of history.”
The MLK flag, designed by Ross Flags and Design, LLC (www.rossflags.com), a family-owned operation in California, is the only official MLK flag sanctioned by the King Foundation. Designed by Dwayne and Maria Landry Ross, who had been victims of a racially motivated hate crime, this flag is a dream come true for them as they see it as a visual aid in promoting peace and remembering the tenets of King’s dream.
Hallelujah! Yolanda’s In St. Louis
Syndication One’s “Yolanda Adams Morning Show” has been added to Clear Channel gospel KATZ-AM (Hallelujah 1600) in St. Louis, according to PD Darrel Eason. This marked the 30th affiliate carrying the award-winning syndicated show since it aired two years ago.
Winans Clear
Vickie Winans and her daughter-in-law, Vicky Johnson, have combined their respective resources—Winans’ fashion jewelry Accents by Vickie Winans and Johnson’s Glamour Hair Salon—into one shop. The two celebrate the grand opening of the new store at 2801 Southfield Road in Lathrup Village, Michigan on December 22 with Christmas sales and cheer for all. Winans’ son Marvin will perform along with her brother, smooth jazz artist Tim Bowman. And Winans will be playing holiday songs from her latest Christmas
Chicago’s Most Inspiring
Clear Channel’s gospel/inspirational WGRB-AM (Inspiration 1390) in Chicago is now on HD radio via its simulcast on sister urban AC WVAZ’s HD2 channel at 102.7. This marks a major move for the inspirational station. Says Sonja Blakey, PD/afternoon personality: “It’s an exciting time for Inspiration 1390 to broadcast on FM radio. Gospel music on FM radio has been long-awaited in Chicago, ‘The Gospel Capital of the World,’ and WGRB is proud to bring it to Chicagoland.”
History Plays Out in “Cadillac Records” Just Ask the Good Guys
Fittingly, The Good Guys and WVON hosted a special presentation of the film “Cadillac Records” at the Ice Theater in Chicago. The film chronicles the rise of Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) and his Chicago-based Chess Records, which touted the careers of such artists as: Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer), Howlin’ Wolf (Eamonn Walker), and Etta James (Beyonce Knowles).
Following the screening, the Good Guys–Pervis Spann, the Blues Man; Lucky Cordell, the Baron of Bounce; Herb Kent, the Cool Gent; and Richard ‘the Best Music of Your Life’ Pegue—reflected on the history they knew firsthand about Leonard Chess and his brother Phil who migrated from Poland and ended up making a fortune in the black community with not only Chess Records but also WVON radio. Leonard purchased WHFC in September 1962 for $1 million, which included an FM signal as a throw-in, which he later changed the call letters to WVON, which signed on the air on April 1, 1963.
Once known as ‘The Voice of the Negro,’ WVON has evolved into the ‘Voice of the Nation,’ as the drum major for the African-American community of Chicago where it continues today to provide an interactive forum for Chicago’s African-American community as ‘The Talk of Chicago.’
