Amplify Color

Interval Presents
  • 4.9 (17)
  • MUSIC HISTORY
  • WEEKLY SERIES
Amplify Color

Charlamagne Tha God. Wendy Williams. Robin Quivers. The names are familiar, but the stories of their trials and triumphs in the radio industry may not be. Amplify Color reveals the empowering and inspirational stories of individuals who left an undeniable impact on the radio industry despite the challenges and battles they faced. Each week, we chronicle the history of Black radio through the story of a trailblazer who made a long-lasting impact on the medium that we know and love today. Hosted by Ryan Cameron, the “voice of Atlanta” and Georgia and Black Radio Hall of Famer.

  1. 1 | The Foundation of Black Radio

    EPISODE 1

    1 | The Foundation of Black Radio

    Radio connected people like never before. It changed the way we received information and advertising, as well as how we listened to music. Everyone got to enjoy radio … but that doesn’t mean everyone got to participate. How and why did African-Americans get excluded? In this episode we explore the origins of how the medium of radio rose to dominance and changed the world, and how African-Americans refused to be denied. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min
  2. 2 | Jack L. Cooper

    EPISODE 2

    2 | Jack L. Cooper

    Everyone on this list is forever indebted to Jack Leroy Cooper, America’s very first Black radio disc jockey and radio programmer. Despite no formal education and dropping out of elementary school, Cooper paved the way for Black folks to be entertainers on-air and to control the content that was heard. In 1929 he created the “All-Negro Hour” on WSBC in Chicago. He was the first DJ to play gramophone records on air. This was, of course, not without many obstacles as we learn the hurdles that Mr. Cooper faced to lay the groundwork for where Black folks are on radio today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
  3. 3 | WERD (America’s First Black-Owned Radio Station)

    EPISODE 3

    3 | WERD (America’s First Black-Owned Radio Station)

    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 and its founder Jesse B. Blayton would be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1995. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min
  4. 4 | Petey Greene

    EPISODE 4

    4 | Petey Greene

    “Petey Greene the Talking Machine” was Washington DC’s fast talking, provocative, but tell-it-like-it is radio disc jockey. His life is a turn-your-lemons-into-lemonade success story. Petey served 21 years in prison but it was in prison where he found his calling as a radio personality. Prison guards used to let Petey use the prison PA system for two hours a day so that he could entertain his fellow inmates with his quick wit and sharp humor. Upon his release, he landed his own show, “Rappin’ with Petey Greene,” on DC’s AM radio station WOL 1450. Though he battled many demons throughout his career, he used his own story as a message to listeners to not make the same mistakes he made in life. Extremely foulmouthed and brutally honest, Petey was loved by all, from street cronies to even the President of the United States. His life in radio proved that the power of authenticity can take one to new heights. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min
  5. 5 | Cathy Hughes

    EPISODE 5

    5 | Cathy Hughes

    When she was just in her early 30s, Cathy Hughes created the largest African-American broadcasting company in the United States. This did not come without extreme adversity. When looking to buy her first radio station, she was denied bank loans 34 times. In this episode, listeners will hear how Cathy’s persistence and determination led not only to the creation of a new radio format, but to Cathy becoming the second wealthiest Black woman in America. Her impact and legacy have changed Black radio forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min
  6. 6 | Dyana Williams

    EPISODE 6

    6 | Dyana Williams

    Though June has been known as Black Music Month since 1979, it wasn’t until Dyana Williams met with President Clinton years later before The White House officially recognized it. Today Dyana is known as an activist for the rights of Black musicians. She got her start in radio back in the 1970s when she joined the staff of 96.3 WHUR-FM in Washington D.C. Two years later she returned to her hometown of New York City to become an on-air personality and the first Black-Latina woman to host rock music station WRQX-FM. Her career in radio has left a legacy of fighting for Black musical creatives and is proof that radio personalities can have a positive impact on our world outside of the airwaves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min
  7. 7 | Tom Joyner

    EPISODE 7

    7 | Tom Joyner

    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, only one thing could derail the King of Black Radio … technology. With his salary dictated by listenership and with the popularity of radio on the decline, Black radio’s “Fly Jock” decided to retire from the airwaves. He was the first African-American to be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and he left a legacy that can be described by his own words: “Superserve the African-American community and continue to give back.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min
  8. 8 | Mr. Magic

    EPISODE 8

    8 | Mr. Magic

    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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min
See All Season 1 (15)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Charlamagne Tha God. Wendy Williams. Robin Quivers. The names are familiar, but the stories of their trials and triumphs in the radio industry may not be. Amplify Color reveals the empowering and inspirational stories of individuals who left an undeniable impact on the radio industry despite the challenges and battles they faced. Each week, we chronicle the history of Black radio through the story of a trailblazer who made a long-lasting impact on the medium that we know and love today. Hosted by Ryan Cameron, the “voice of Atlanta” and Georgia and Black Radio Hall of Famer.

Information

  • Creator
    Interval Presents
  • Episodes
    16
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Interval Presents
  • Show Website
    Amplify Color

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