In 1949, WERD became America’s first radio station owned and programmed by African-Americans. Founded by Jesse B. Blayton in Atlanta, Georgia, WERD was known for playing Black music that wasn’t traditionally played on white-owned stations, offering Black artists and DJs new opportunities to be heard. The station also played a huge role in the Civil Rights movement, allowing leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. to relay his message to his audience. The station faced opposition along the way. The city of Atlanta regulated the station to 1000 watts which was just enough to reach local Black neighborhoods but not much more. The impact of WERD would soon spread across America.

Nicknamed America’s “Fly Jock,” Tom Joyner was the #1 voice of Black radio for over 25 years. He earned his nickname because he hosted a morning show in Dallas and an afternoon show in Chicago, which required that he fly back and forth from city to city every day. Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, Tom attended local HBCU Tuskegee University. His first passion was music and he was even an early member of the Commodores. In 1983, his radio career took off and he never looked back. After 25 years on air, the first African-American to be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame has left a legacy that can be described by his own words: “Superserve the African-American community and continue to give back.”

Hitting the airwaves on WHBI in New York City in 1979, In 1979, Mr. Magic’s “Disco Showcase” debuted on WHBI in New York City. Mr. Magic had no way of knowing that his so-called disco showcase would become the very first hip-hop radio show. With his DJ Marley Marl, Mr. Magic became the voice of the streets – though that title didn’t come without competition. A rivalry began to brew between Magic and Kool DJ Red Alert. In this episode, listeners will learn about the deep rivalry between these two radio crews, the legacy that it left behind, and how Mr. Magic changed the course of Black radio and hip-hop forever.

Born Kurt Alexander, Big Boy went from working as a bodyguard for the Pharcyde to the leading voice of hip-hop radio in Los Angeles. Once he was hired at Power 106 as a nighttime and afternoon DJ, he was unstoppable. And he was loved–by guests and listeners alike. He’s a husband, a father, a son, an inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame, his name is immortalized in a star on Hollywood Boulevard – and he survived an epic battle to become the King of the Los Angeles airwaves. Big Boy is the embodiment of will and determination, a man who from the very beginning had to do what he had to do to survive, and then thrived.