When I read that Republic Records was going to eliminate the word “Urban” from their lexicon, I had to chuckle and thought of N.Y Yankee Yogi Berra’s “This feels like Deja Vu All Over again”. I mean it seems like we’ve been here before. Howe ...
Black Music Month Remembers Tamlin Henry
Tamlin Henry was a beloved WDAS AM/FM Philadelphia icon with an envious radio career that spanned five decades. A popular radio newsman, who was affectionately known as ‘Uncle Tamlin,’ he was highly-respected and recognized for his legendary work in ...
Black Music Month Remembers Robert Ford Jr
A noted journalist in the 1970s, Robert Ford Jr. was a writer’s writer. That would prove to be just one of his many talents. With his vast musical knowledge, Ford was a black music writer for Billboard magazine who was an early chronicler of the New ...
Black Music Month Remembers Tony Baraka
Anthony (Tony) Colvin-Baraka developed an early fascination with music, entertainment and publishing, vigilantly fine-tuning them all into what would become separate, yet equally successful careers. It all began back in Michigan where Baraka atten ...
Black Music Month Remembers Pop Smoke
Today we honor Bashar Barakah Jackson, aka Pop Smoke, deceased rapper and Brooklyn native. He was shot and killed on February 19, 2020, at 20 years old. His breakout hit “Welcome To The Party” spread rapidly through New York City, becoming one of h ...
Black Music Month Remembers Monte White
Monte Keith White was a “member” of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) who was rarely seen. As the group’s tour manager from 1971-1980, White was the machine that kept the group on track and running smoothly. The brother of the grou ...
Black Music Month Remembers Randy O’Jay Brooks
When he was just 15 years old, Randy O’Jay Brooks, who grew up in the Pruitt-Igoe housing projects in St. Louis, knew that he wanted to work in the radio business. He started hanging around KATZ in St. Louis doing whatever he could to be useful and ...
Black Music Month Remembers Ellis Marsalis
Legendary pianist Ellis Marsalis, a jazz master, and musical family patriarch, is considered a New Orleans jazz legend. Recognized worldwide as a master pianist and bandleader, Marsalis was among the few musicians to pioneer modern jazz in mid-centu ...
Black Music Month Remembers Gary Jackson
Gary Jackson was one of the most prolific entertainment writers in Hollywood. With an emphasis on music, Jackson, who often vacillated from writer to senior chief editor, wielded his mighty pen at a number of prestigious entertainment magazines incl ...
Black Music Month Remembers Kenny Diamond
Much like his radio name, Kenny Diamond was priceless! During his well-lived life, he spread his talents over two careers making a name for himself in both radio and the ministry. Born Sidney Morris Wood, Jr. in Charlotte, NC, he attended Morehouse ...