I am currently an afternoon drive talent in two major markets, WDAS-FM, Philadelphia and WMXD-FM, Detroit, which is a culmination of years as a public affairs host, an engineer, a college & professional talent and program director.
When I was a junior at Morgan State University, I majored in anatomy & physiology with the hopes of becoming a physical therapist for a major league sports team. My “weak” stomach changed those plans. It was a requirement to take speech communications to graduate. I walked passed the campus radio station while Kweisi Mfume was on the air doing his talk show, Two Way Talk. I ended up working with him for a full semester, watching & learning the true skill of a professional radio personality & talk show host. His advice stayed with me – “always remember to engage and inform your community and never sell out”. People are counting on you to represent them”. My career as a talent was launched at WEAA-FM Radio in Baltimore.
I’ve spent countless hours building relations in & outside my community to stay engaged & informed. I’ve built a respected reputation for being an honest & straight shooter on the air with guests & the community.
In 1998 while living in Detroit, MI, my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I was the afternoon drive personality at WJLB-FM 98 when the then General Manager Verna Green decided it was time to create a walk to address the urgent need to motivate black women to get a mammogram & the “Sista Strut” was born. Thousands of women joined us each year to “Strut to save lives.” As a result, lives were saved and the shame of being diagnosed eliminated. My mother & I became a force & the face of the strut for many years. In 2017 during my routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. It was because of my advocacy, I know how important early detection is. Since my diagnosis, I am three years breast cancer free. Sista Strut is now in 7 iHeartMedia cities around the country saving lives. My mother, who passed away in 2019, only missed 3 walks. Last year, we celebrated 20 years in her memory.
IG, Facebook and Twitter – @FrankieDarcell
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