And They Still Remember Me..

It's been over 8 years since I've played Dusty Music on the radio in Chicago. Before I started playing Gospel music I was on the turntables playing Dusties. The reason why I am writing today is because I must have done something good as a Disc Jockey because several on-airs at the radio station tell me of how some of the listeners still recall - "Reggie Miles" playing music. And that just blows my mind.

Here's how it started. I was finishing edits on my research paper, I opened Facebook and a chat message appeared. It was from a DJ who I remember listening to the Dusty Show I hosted many years ago. The conversation was a written exchange of respect for both past and present.

The gentleman informed me that a listener stated she just loved the way I played music. I was amazed that after all these years a person still remembers the way I played music. And it made me wonder if I was just that good or is radio just that bad? And let me make this point clear, I'm not referring to the personality that informed me of the inquiry. As a matter of fact the gentleman is outstanding as a personality and a student of Dusty Music.

When I manned the tables and controlled the microphone -- Radio was different. Today with radio listeners have to digest what is served there are no choices on the air. Radio sounds the same across the nation. How boring. Back in the day, I was a "free form" DJ that tried to structure a presentation that was different from the rest. Man I hated to be a follower on the box. When I started playing Dusties, Richard Pegue and Herb Kent ruled. And I wanted a place among them. I had one mantra and that was to be Lottie Dottie able to play something for everybody. DJ's are not like that anymore they are specialist in specific styles. Entertaining a group from 6 - 60 is no more. You have to be one or the other. And I prided myself on being able to play something to move anyone whether if was Disco, Steppers, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Gospel or Blues.

What really separated me from other jocks on the radio and in the streets was not my knowledge of music but my ability to dance and party. I could dance with the best of them. I knew what it took to keep the party going. My mother was my biggest fan and teacher. I played the music that she liked even as a young child. The experience taught me how to read people and feel what they are feeling. Every now and then I would break a hit but that was not my strong suit, I played the hits on the box and kept the floor packed at sets. I tried to reach and connect with people (the ladies) that were in the set. First!

During the early days as a "steppers jock"and a radio personality, I was never intimidated by other personalities. As a matter fact, I would get fired up at the thought of being paired with the best of best. I loved being on box and in control of the party. People that did not know me, went around telling stories about me being "arrogant." Reality is I'm a kind person who can be a bit focused however some people did not want to understand that I was all about focusing on my craft and touching the individual. I put my heart into every moment of playing the role as a radio and DJ personality. There is a difference between a DJ and Personality. I am Blessed to be both.

So being remembered is such an awesome thing to me because out of sight means out of mind. And to have someone remember what you've done when someone else is doing the same thing. My God what a tribute.. To God Be The Glory.

My Love Letter to Disk Jockeying

I recently viewed one of my favorite films. I love the movie "Brown Sugar." Each time I see it I get misty eyed at the end when the main characters find their way back to each other. This time while looking at the movie "Brown Sugar", I kept hearing the question "When did you fall in love with "Hip Hop?"

Of course, I do not know one thing about hip hop today. The greatest rappers to me were the early radio announcers who talked or rapped skillfully to the beat of the music and the "Last Poets." At least when they cursed and said the "N" word there was something in their poetry that led a person to think about the social and cultural conditions of Black people as a whole. Wait a minute, before you dismiss me as a "Hater." I'm not making a judgment on the Hip Hop art form today. I've learned to live with it. Reality in music for me though is the Temptations, The Dells, The Impressions, The Emotions and other great groups. I do not have a frame of reference for Hip Hop other than the early artists like Kurtis Blow, Rappers Delight, and Kool Moe D. Now back to the movie.

I wondered why I kept hearing that question then it dawned on me to change the words from "Hip Hop" to "Disk Jockey" And the question became When did I Fall in Love with Disk Jockeying? As I watched the movie I began thinking of what attracted me to radio and the life of a DJ. I also thought about why I no longer listen to the radio. And just like the way the main character quit his job working for the record company. I compared his feelings to my feeling of why I don't listen to radio. As in the movie the main character thought the company that he worked for was not being true to what "Hip Hop" really is. And that's how I feel about radio today. Radio is not true to the people and DJing has become mixing to the beat of beats as opposed to mixing to the beat of life.

Radio is not true to what radio really is. And the Disk Jockey's too, if they are called that today? The DJ's certainly are not true to what Disk Jockeying really is/was. Well what is a Disk Jockey? According to professor Gilbert Williams, The radio disc jockey wakes us in the morning, puts us to sleep at night, and in between, his time, weather and music announcements take us through the day. But the black disc jockey has been more than an announcer. He has transcended his job as a radio station employee and becomes in many cases, a cultural hero, an individual admired and respected for his work in the black community, his concern for his fellow man, and his ability to effectuate changes in society.

By that definition, that is why I fell in love with being a DJ. I thought that I would be able to make a career. When I feel in love with DJing and radio, my dream did not include syndication, deregulation, consolidation, and concentration. All I wanted was to help my fellow man and effectuate changes in the society. When commercialism takes center stage you can forget any lofty ideals. If it doesn't make money! Well it ain't happening! - Back to the question When did I fall in Love with Disk Jockeying?

I guess for me it was when I heard 1450 AM WVON and a talented man on the microphone named Herb Kent. Of course Herb was not the only DJ on the station he was just my favorite. Herb was the "Pied Piper" to the teenagers. I couldn't wait to get older and go to high school and attend one of those "Sock Hops" and a set at the "Times Square." Herb Kent gave the teenagers something to do at night. He would always tell the time like this It's 17 Tilden Blue Devil minutes after 8 o'clock. He gave the time like that with all the High Schools in Chicago. He also gave the teenagers entertainment, recognition, laughter, and encouragement. Who can forget the battle of the Ivy Leaguers and Gousters, the Wahoo Man, the Green Grunchin, the Gym Shoe Creeper and the Rib Supreme Commercials.

Before the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Banks and Company, Bob Wall and a host of others there were the "Electric Crazy People." Rudolph Browner, Orlando Reyes, Little Miss Corn Shucks and many other characters. Mr. Kent ruled the airwaves at night in Chicago. He made an evening show sound like a well produced morning show of today. Then suddenly technology entered radio and FM became the norm and with FM, a storm moved quietly across urban stations all over America.

Cathy Hughes after visiting a conference at the University of Chicago discovered "Lifestyle Psychology" and came up with the idea that "slow music" is what people want to hear at night. And at Howard University's radio station WHUR the "Quiet Storm" format was launched starting with the classic song "Quiet Storm" by Smokey Robinson. Needless to say, the rest is history and I stopped listening to radio after 7 pm. I was not and still am not a fan of the Quiet Storm format only because good slow music should be played within every hour not just at a specific time during the evening. A good party is combination of fast, medium and slow music.

Back to when I fell in love with Radio and DJing, on weekends at WVON, Richard Pegue who took radio to another level with a style and combination that no one other than WKKC's "P.J. Willis" was able to duplicate. Richard performed a unique combination of the classic golden era of radio with contemporary radio. Pegue's "Scandal Report" is often imitated through many of the television news magazine shows. His signature Be, Beep, Be Beep Beep lines and sound of the teletype in background imitated the golden age announcer Walter Winchell. The Scandal Report was filled with entertainment information of celebrities and local heroes. People could not wait for the weekend Scandalous Scandal report by Pegue.

The Quiet Storm format and the superior sound quality of FM along with other variables led to the end of Night Time Morning Style Radio of Herb Kent. The late 70's saw the beginning of the end of WVON, the Good Guys and WGRT/WJPC. Losing AM Radio WVON and WGRT/WJPC was my first heartbreak. I stopped listening to commercial radio and set sights on being my own DJ at WKKC. It wasn't until WBMX surfaced as the front runner in Chicago under the programming leadership of Lee Michaels that I began to listen to radio. FM radio really had good sound and it was competitive. The WBMX vs WGCI FM radio wars were great for Chicago radio. Today the same owner of multiple stations won't allow the stations to compete against one another and ultimately the listeners loose. What's the difference between WGCI and WVAZ?

Like the main character in the movie Brown Sugar, I wanted to "start my own" station because the industry has jilted me several times and forgot about what radio and the DJ really mean to the people. Unfortunately the American Dream was taken from me also and many other wanna be station owners with the passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. One must have major capital to start and own a radio station and to compete in the industry today one needs at least to own 10 stations. Where will I get the capital I mean millions to start a station in Chicago? I've always thought I could program a station with the best of them. And now technology affords anyone with a desire to start a radio station on the Internet to do so. The problem is that there are so many available one doesn't know which to choose. It's like a DJ and radio has become a dime a dozen.

Forgive me, I'm just not as excited about all the choices. Many people are reveling in their efforts as owners of an Internet Radio Station however for me it's nothing like the thrill of a real time experience of answering a live phone call, sharing some advice and telling listeners what time it is, the weather or about something that is happening in the community. There is nothing like breaking a new song watching the phone lines light up and people asking "who is that, who is that?" The Internet is great but the thrill is gone/delayed. I like my thrills in real time. The fun is not there for me. Internet radio is a lot of work. And being a DJ is/was something that came natural to me.

So I fell in Love with Disk Jockeying at the home at a very young age when my mother taught me how to play her favorite records on the ancient stereo console. I quickly learned how to operate the 45 spindle and keep the red and yellow record disks available. My mom was truly a party person and I mastered the art of reading her and what she wanted to hear that was the only way I could stay up late past my bedtime anyway. We all know that is a child's desire to stay up late. I took that experience of learning to read my mother and worked that in the Clubs.

I mastered a unique blend of radio DJ and club/tavern DJ. The secret was my voice. I saw "DJ Scotty" perform one evening and when I heard him use his voice as an instrument to make the party. I was hooked on seeing a packed danced floor and people bobbing their heads to the music. DJ Scotty sounded professional and he could relate to people in the Club that was amazing. I fell in love with creating and maintaining the flow of the evening. 25 years of my life I partied not realizing the terrific cost of the journey. I tried to make my life a party.


So today I look at the craft very differently. I respect those individuals that took the craft to another level by making the "turntables" an instrument. More power to you. I can mix but I choose not too. The guys that inspired me used their voices as the instrument. I learned to use my voice as the instrument. I like the combination of good music and good conversation. When a Disk Jockey is on top of his game he makes the party not only with what he plays but also with what he says. As much as some people complain about DJ's talking the reality is Black folks like to be talked to. It's not what you say it's how you say it. Check out the Rappers? That's all they do is talk! And to be on the real some of the very first Rappers were the legendary DJ's of the 60's. Part of my technique on the box has always been talking to the rhythm of the music.

Finally, despite how the art of DJing and Radio has changed in my heart I realize. I miss her, still love her, and if I had the chance I would go back to her.

Real Radio that's what it is all about.

Learning By Experience Put the Students on the Air

It's a new year and I will be more aggressive writing about issues that touch me. After 12 years of teaching, I have learned and experienced enough about teaching to have something to say about what is a good education in media communications. Here is my first issue of the new year. Why aren't more students on the air at WKKC FM?

WKKC FM is licensed as an Educational Non Commercial Station. According to the FCC, 73.503 Licensing requirements and service. A noncommercial educational FM broadcast station will be licensed only to a nonprofit educational organization(City Colleges of Chicago) and upon showing that the station will be used for the advancement of an educational program. What that means is WKKC meets the FCC requirement by serving as a laboratory for students to gain practical experience that will benefit them in their careers. What students lack in ability should not be judged it should be the basis for the training program.

A college radio station is the place where the students can discover both freedom and responsibility in broadcasting. If students are not on the air how is WKKC FM meeting the FCC license requirement of an educational non commercial station advancing a program?

Here is what happens for students Howard University. Each year the General Manager of WHUR manager and the Faculty Adviser of the Department of Radio Television and Film chair a committee that selects student managers to run the station. The selected students are then trained during the summer in the operation of running a radio station. Each student manager is mentored by a professional counterpart from the station benefactor WHUR 96.3 FM, the 2009 Winner of the NAB "Urban Station of the Year" Award. The selected student managers are paid during the summer internship and receive a stipend for each semester.

At the beginning of the academic year the student managers select from a pool of over 125 applicants the personnel to man the station. This procedure though not perfect keeps the mission and purpose of the station in line with the mission and purpose of the Department of Radio Television and Film in that the student station is dedicated to embodying professional, ethical and legal standards while promoting a leadership experience for its students and providing broadcasting services to the Howard University campus and the world via the Internet.

The student managers along with the professional mentor and Howard University faculty work together in training the student managers to run the student radio station. Students run the day to day operation of the station and are accountable to the faculty adviser. Instructors who teach audio production classes assigns projects to produce content for the student station. Exceptional audio production students also are given extra opportunities to create and produce content for the HD radio stations of Howard University. There is a commitment to encourage students in the classroom to be "content" creators. In media today, the mantra is "content is king."

Student policies and procedures vary from school to school but educators agree that the student need is the most important. Every effort should be made to educate and train media communications students through hands on experience with an emphasis on leadership and critical thinking. The beauty of College Radio is that it is a place where desiring students can learn, stumble, fall down, and get up with the assistance of academicians and professional staff that care. Not the cold shoulder of the industry that will consolidate, downsize, voice track and syndicate operations closing doors of any opportunity. Teaching radio is more than preparing the student for a board operator position. There is still a need for communicators. It is the job of the academic institution to educate and train the students.

College radio may be the only place where a student can develop into a personality. Niche radio is for commercial radio stations. College radio can be eclectic. Why not encourage the desire of a young student or any student for that matter? Put students on the air and connect the faculty with the station to assist in teaching them. It's about teaching and "learning" the art of being a good broadcaster.

Here's a historical fact. Students in the early 70's at the old Wilson Jr. College worked together with faculty and petitioned the FCC to obtain the license for WKKC FM. Students wanted a radio station to learn and practice radio broadcasting in the program. Over the 35 year history of WKKC FM, the students desire to learn and participate on WKKC FM has not changed just the people and philosophies of those that run the station.

Thank God, that the Local Community Radio Act was passed and more "community stations" can surface in the area. Maybe some other schools will get a chance at owning a LPFM station.

Just my take.

An October to Remember

The month of October in the year of 2010 is one that will
not be forgotten. Two giants in their respective fields made their transitions both of whom I knew. One I knew very well. The sense of loss after a loved one is sometimes hard to overcome and when multiple occurrences happen restoration in more challenging. O but thanks be to God for grace, mercy and knowing how much each one of us can bear.

On October 8th 2010, Albertina Walker the "Queen of Gospel" made her transition. "Tina" as she was affectionately called was more than just the queen of Gospel. She was a star maker, humanitarian, and a down to earth individual who you could touch. Albertina Walker loved the Church, Gospel Music, and the Gospel Music industry. At this time, I'm not going to list all of the things that she accomplished. I'll say this there will never be another "Queen of Gospel" like Albertina Walker and the Queen that passed the crown to her Mahalia Jackson both of whom hailed from Chicago. Gospel music is one of the best things to come out of this great city. The history of the proliferation of Gospel music comes directly through Chicago with such giants as Thomas A. Dorsey, Sallie Martin, Roberta Martin Kenneth Morris, and a host of others all of whom helped to shape the foundation of Albertina Walker.

I had the privilege and honor to speak to her regularly being a member of Gospel Music Workshop of America and the vice president of the Chicago Area Gospel Announcers Guild. She was always at every major affair and attend the GMWA convention religiously. She encouraged the founder of the organization the late Reverend James Cleveland to start the organization. Her support of the GMWA was unyielding. Throughout my 15 years as a member of the GMWA Alberina probably did not know my name but she called me baby and that was good enough for me because she always smiled when I came around. Now that smile and her not knowing my name was not fake, when I got married in 2004 she did not attend the ceremony but she showed my family love with a generous gift. Three years later in 2007 when daughter Morgan was born she again showed her love and blessed us with another generous gift. I can't tell you a specific reason why she blessed us. Albertina was just that kind of person.

I made it to Chicago to look at her and say thank you one last time. My heart was very heavy as I stood there thanking God for knowing her. Albertina gave me a tremendous opportunity to produce a tribute of her life from photographs that was one of my most treasured moments with the Queen. Each year at the Gospel Festival in Chicago, I would see her smiling and would go to her just to hear her say "I'm Still Here." Yes Albertina you will always be in my heart. God Bless You Queen Albertina.



God does what he does, in the way that he does and no one can question his actions or his wisdom. God doesn't make mistakes. Two weeks later on Friday October 22, 2010. Bishop Arthur M. Brazier quietly went to sleep. Not since the passing of my beloved grandfather Jesse McGee Bey had I felt such a tremendous loss. Bishop Brazier I honored and respected as a man and my pastor.




The Apostolic Church of God where Bishop Brazier was pastor for 48 years changed my life. I remember like yesterday after becoming a member of the Church, it wasn't two weeks later that the head of the Church engineering staff saw me in the Church corridor and asked are you Reggie Miles? I said Yes, He went on to say "your reputation precedes you and we have something for you to do in the Church." The engineer took me inside the television audio control room and boldly told me. "This is where you will be working!" I was so stunned and overwhelmed at the hand of God working in my life at that moment I said, Yes and faithfully manned that post for 8 years becoming a qualified audio engineer.

Now Bishop Brazier is a very special pastor. The Apostolic Church of God has over 20,000 members. He was a good shepherd. Many people would say "with so many members how can he be a good pastor?" Bishop Brazier made it a point to return all of his calls. I called him in his office and he got back to me in the same day. One of the proudest days of my life happened when I received a letter from Howard University and Bishop read the letter to the Congregation telling everyone that I had been selected to join the faculty at Howard University.

The next proudest moment is when Bishop Brazier stood with me at my wedding in 2004 at my wife's church with her pastor doing the ceremony. Bishop Brazier with all his things that he had to do made the time to be at my wedding. In the 8 years since being in Washington there was never a time when Bishop would not tell me "Brother Miles when are coming back home. We need you!"

During the years of his illness I saw Bishop get weaker and prayed for more time with him. It hurt really deep to see him grow weaker but he prepared us. And he let us know that he wanted to see Jesus. However even with knowing and the preparation of the inevitable the sense of loss still has a way of making its presence known but the devil is a liar. Bishop Arthur M. Brazier lives in my heart and I will continue my support of the Apostolic Church of God and my pastor Dr. Bryon T. Brazier. This was an October that I will never forget !!

It Worked Out For My Good

It was in the winter of 1995 and one morning I turned on the radio to 89.3 FM and heard Gospel Music. I was shocked and excited because I was a new Christian and a member of The Apostolic Church of God. I was working at the Church in the audio ministry and attending Columbia College.

The morning I heard Gospel Drive changed my life. The next day, I went to see Kevin Brown and we began talking about the new "Christian" experience. Kevin invited me to join the Gospel Drive team and every morning at 6:00 AM "without pay" I faithfully made my way to WKKC FM and began producing the "Gospel Drive Show" and following the program I would head to Columbia College for school.

The Gospel Drive program exploded in Chicago. Now I can't give you any specific numbers regarding how many people were listening but I will say that program captured the South Side of Chicago took the reputation of WKKC in another direction and influenced the decision of some commercial station managers to consider the Gospel format in Chicago. Gospel Drive became so visible that the administration was worried that the playing of Gospel music on WKKC would violate the First Amendment of the Constitution and bring lawsuits to the station. The paranoia by the administration of Kennedy King College towards Gospel music became an issue and would ultimately lead to a management change in 1997.

I continued volunteering at WKKC FM and in the summer of 1996, was given an internship at CBS during the 1996 Democratic Convention. I along with several other KK College students enjoyed the paid internship put together by the City Colleges of Chicago. In the fall 1996, because of my excellent work ethic I was given a part-time position as an audio engineer in the Theater.

Although my title was theater engineer, I was charged with assisting in the operations of WKKC FM under James Kelly who became the point person for the radio station. Mr. Kelly's new designation came from the Director of Broadcasting. I was being thrust in the middle of Kennedy King College/WKKC politics and did not have any interest in being part of the mess. I determined that I wanted to join my mentor and teacher Professor Hemphill as a colleague at Kennedy King College.

On Thursday June 5, 1997 everything changed for me at WKKC. Kennedy King college politics were raging like a forest fire. James Kelly had been suspended from WKKC FM over religious statements made by an announcer and there was student unrest over his suspension. At the City Colleges of Chicago board meeting several students protested the suspension of Mr. Kelly and other things. The actions of the students resulted in the resignation of the Director of Broadcasting. WKKC was in turmoil and at 5:30 PM the Director of Broadcasting resigned and I was asked to oversee the operation of WKKC FM.

The decision to accept overseeing WKKC was the best and worst decision I made in my life. The best part of the decision would be realized after I was terminated. The worst part was ongoing. I had just graduated from Columbia College and was very inexperienced. In the early days of managing I had to teach myself and learn everything about the business of commercial radio, non commercial radio, and educating students in a very short time. I was alone being baptized by fire, a real on the job training experience however Mr. Hemphill was there for me and held me up through everything.

Accepting the management duties of WKKC was the worst situation for me because my decision created many enemies. Every moment of my 6 year employment at WKKC was being scrutinized. I'm not sure if there was ever a day that I rested being in that position. I was never paid just value for my efforts or recognized for anything other than the last days at WKKC but that did not stop me from doing my best. I knew from the moment that I accepted the position that I could/would not be able to match the accomplishments of my predecessors however I envisioned my place to be in the classroom.

As the point person of WKKC I left the programming as it was. There was no need to change the format it was not broken. WKKC FM's programming was eclectic. I hated the urban radio stations in Chicago. They all sounded the same and I felt they were not serving the community. There was nothing unique about any commercial radio stations playing urban music in Chicago. Their uniqueness was lost due to the philosophy of media deregulation, consolidation and the pursuit of corporate profits.


The early days of managing WKKC were filled with challenges. The Dean instructed me to write a "Station Manual" to structure the operation of WKKC. Student access and participation was paramount. The procedures for being on radio were clearly defined. I believed in learning by doing. Any student who desired to be in radio, I encouraged to create and develop themselves into a unique personality and "not worship" anybody on the radio. And at the same I stressed the importance of being a critical thinker and innovator.

The opportunity to teach surfaced after enrolling in graduate school. I found solace in the classroom. Professor Hemphill guided me on being an instructor. It was in those sessions that I felt the magnitude of being a teacher and I relished the responsibility. Mr. Hemphill directed me in balancing the management of the station and the classroom experience. We talked on a regular basis and Virgil helped me to develop an educational framework for training and managing the station. Each semester students in the advanced radio production class produced a public affairs program. I was on a mission to involve as many students on the radio station that I could and everyone had to spend time in the news department.

WKKC became the "Station Making the Difference!" My perspectives about radio changed in graduate school as I began to look at radio's future differently. It was in a future of technology course with Dr. Mel Muchnik that I saw the future of radio on the Internet. Dr. Muchnik assigned a book entitled "Being Digital" by Nicolas Negroponte which had a profound effect on me. After reading the book, I spoke with my graduate adviser the late Professor Eli Segal and decided that I would write my thesis on "Webcasting" a project based on putting WKKC FM on the Internet.

The first changes were made to the station slogan and WKKC 89 point three FM to WKKC 89 dot 3 FM, the signaling of WKKC heading towards the Internet. Now back in 1997, people were deeply entrenched in terrestrial radio and discounted the presence of the early Internet. Most people called me crazy for making the change but today those same people realize I was being a visionary. Everything is on the Internet. Researching the Internet, developing the infrastructure for placing WKKC on the web, finding funding for the project then writing about it earned me a Masters Degree in Media Communications from Governor State University, unfortunately despite having everything technically to complete the project the journey stalled for numerous reasons beyond my control.

The students coming to the Broadcasting Department at Kennedy-King College were full of hopes and dreams. Enrollment under my watch tripled from 100 to 357. As I studied the broadcasting industry in graduate school. I realized that because of industry deregulation and consolidation that the job market would become smaller and smaller however that did not discourage me from telling students the truth of the industry and still encouraging them to be the best that they could be. Everyone one my former students will tell you that I said to them "kick everybody's a-- there is no one better than you on the radio!" Today several students under my watch are working or have worked in the industry.

WKKC was awarded the Black College Radio Station of Year and the award came as a surprise us. While I did not make the trip to Atlanta in 1997, the reaction of the students when they returned inspired me to continue the annual journey to the BCR. In traveling to the Black College Radio Convention the students met students from other HBCU's and built relationships especially with students of WTST Tennessee State University's Student Run Internet radio station. One of most rewarding things about the college experience is networking with students from other campuses.


The students of Kennedy King College continued making the trips to the Black College Radio Convention becoming enterprising and raising funds to help sponsor the trip. The broadcasting club organized fund raising activities during the basketball season. Everybody worked together. WKKC FM was broadcasting home games of the basketball teams and the Broadcasting Club was allowed to sell concessions to raise money for the Atlanta trip. As manager of WKKC FM, I had a focus on public affairs programs as well as music. I added several talk shows to the line up along with more gospel music and because of those efforts I received the "Station Manager of the Year Award" from the Black College Radio Convention in Atlanta.


The Kennedy-King College experience suddenly came to an end on January 3, 2003. It was a surprise to me, but insiders knew that the "termination" was going to happen at the beginning of the year. I was crushed. I remember the students coming to my house asking me what do you want us to do. I told them nothing. What it is, Is What it is. I'll be fine. I just couldn't understand why there was an attempt to "destroy" my reputation after I had worked so hard trying to develop a program to educate students and build the college.

In addition the dream of giving back to the community as a professor ended. Despite the accomplishments I made as a teacher/manger it amounted to nothing because I was an "AT WILL" employee which meant I could be terminated for good, bad, any, or no reason. However, the experience I gained from Kennedy King College prepared me for where I am today. I could not have had a better opportunity than I had at Kennedy King College. The experience lead me into research and scholarship on Internet radio, college radio management, media ownership and digital production. I managed a nationally recognized college radio station, taught in a Junior College completed an MA degree and established a reputation in the Gospel Music industry all at the same time. What others meant for harm turned out to be "for my good!"

In my years at Kennedy King College I met some very influential persons Alex Snipe, Drew Dawson, Chris Squires, Jamillah Muhammed, Lee Michaels(WCAO), Taft Harris and many other broadcasters. I authored how to set up an Internet Radio station, installed the first computer automation system for WKKC FM and began the 24 hour broadcasting schedule. Under my leadership, Crawford Broadcasting recognized the impact of WKKC's gospel programming and offered me a job on Power 106. I had the opportunity to go to many professional and educational conventions and met Sherman Kizzart, Michael Jaye Jackson, Dr. Turk Logan, Professor Shannon Levingston and Shirley Ellis. All of these individuals impacted my career in one way or another. When I arrived in Washington, DC I was hired at WCAO Heaven 600 in Baltimore and all of this came from the hard work during the WKKC experience. And most of all the students at Kennedy King College under my watch were some of the best students I have experienced. They cared for me and those that did not respected me.

I have to call out a few KK students especially Bruce, Kevin, Nicole, Drewsean, Traci, Latrice, Donnie, Paki, Karla, Arnetta, Shanaka, Richard, Tommy, Davonna, Tangy, Thomas, Fredrika, and so many others. If I forgot you (and I know I did) it's because I'm getting older. Also the high school students who were in the knowledge quest program.

"They Don't Know Who We Be" -- LOL !

Many thanks to Shannon Thomas, Maeola Davis, Chris Base, Rick Crum, Lamont Watts, Kevin Brown, Darryl Dennard, Fletcher Garrett, Derrick Smith and David Franklin for helping me out during my watch. Also, Al Greer who in his creative genius and amazing voice produced some incredible 89 dot 3 imaging drops. (We're 89 dot 3, because it's impolite to point!). Finally I have to mention a few of the WKKC Veterans who manned their posts and helped with the new recruits. Thanks Mike Brown, PJ Willis, and Keith Reed.

The WKKC experience was rough, but when I got the call from Howard University stating that I was selected to join their faculty the Kennedy King College experience was worth it! And I would not change it for the world.

Thanks KKC/WKKC -- To God Be The Glory!