Irene Johnson Ware, affectionately known as ‘Miss Irene,’ was a legendary staple of gospel radio. One of the first black female disc jockeys in the country, Miss Irene began her long-standing career in 1961, after graduating from Josephine Allen Institute in Mobile, AL.
Gospel radio will never be the same because no one did it better than Miss Irene, who reigned supreme clocking in more than 37 years at WGOK in Mobile, Al, as the host of “The Mandy Show,” which eventually became “The Brighter Day.” From there, Miss Irene, whose sphere of influence was vast, became the station’s general manager. This veteran of the airwaves, who was considered an “industry mother” to many, also wrote articles for Black Radio Exclusive (BRE), Record World and Chess Records.
In honor of her illustrious career, Miss Irene was inducted into the Living Legends Foundation Hall of Fame in 1992 and was a long-serving member of their Board Of Directors. That same year, she was elected president of the Young Black Programmers Coalition (YBPC), later renamed National Black Programmers Coalition (NBPC). Under her direction, the NBPC’s growth in industry visibility, membership, and financial status was noteworthy. She exemplified the terms of empowerment, mentoring and networking by positively impacting the lives and careers of women in the industry. She received numerous awards from R&B and gospel industry groups, Who’s Who Among Black Americans, PUSH, and Eastern Star.
A faithful member of the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church in Mobile, AL and well known for her “always put God first” lifestyle, Miss Irene always had words of inspiration and encouragement for all she encountered and an unrelenting drive to improve opportunities for Black professionals in the music and entertainment industry.
Irene Johnson Ware died April 21 at the age of 84. Legends are defined by their work and how it impacts the culture. We remember Irene Johnson Ware so others don’t forget.
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