WCIN The Pulse of the City

We couldn't wait until Friday and Saturday nites at Midnite..cause it was time for

"THE NIGHT TRAIN" with T.C.

That little piece of leather that's well put together

"He ain't Heavy....He's my brother"....Gilbert Young captures Black History

Gilbert Young (1941- )

            Gilbert Young is a nationally renowned artist, muralist, and art conservator.  Born and raised in Cincinnati Ohio, he served twenty-seven years as director and conservator of the multi-million dollar University of Cincinnati Fine Art Collection. Some of his monumental mural projects can still be viewed in the greater Cincinnati area.



Gilbert Young



In 1994 Young was named Artist-in-Residence to the University of Cincinnati. He re-located to Atlanta, Georgia in 1995 and became Artistic Director for the International Paint Pals Art Competition in conjunction with the 1996 Olympics. He was commissioned by Procter & Gamble to design the Salute to Greatness Award presented by the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, and was featured in Ebony Man magazine as a “Talented & Impressive Black Artist.”  Young is the first artist to perform live on stage accompanied by an entire symphony orchestra while creating a commemorative work. The painting of maestro Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati POPS orchestra was recently installed in the new School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. Gilbert was recognized in “Who’s Who in Black Atlanta,” the 2010 edition, and in  July, 2011 he was honored by recording artist Big Boi and the Big Kidz Foundation as one of five “Champions of the Arts” along with Academy Award winner Monique, and actress/director Jasmine Guy. This year, 2012, Gilbert was inducted into the 66^th edition of “Who’s Who in America.”

Young is a frequent lecturer, and has been invited to speak at colleges and universities around the country including Harvard Law School, Spelman College, and Morehouse College.  In 2001 he was presented with the prestigious Heritage Award for Outstanding Visual Arts at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York. In 2004, he received the Pallet Award for Lifetime Achievement in the arts during the Heritage Arts Festival in Atlanta. And in 2010 he was honored with a Resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, naming him State of Georgia Artist in Residence.

Young is the only artist in the world to paint a portrait of an American President that is signed by the subject. The piece, entitled “History + Hope = Change,” may be viewed at www.gilbertyoungart.com. A portrait of Mrs. Obama is in progress.

His work can be found in galleries throughout the United States, in select cities around the world, and in many private and corporate collections including St. Petersburg Russia’s City Hall and the Paul R. Jones collection of African American Art at the University of Delaware—one of the oldest, largest, and most complete holdings of African American art in the world.

Gilbert Young resides in Atlanta with his wife Lea Winfrey Young and Gilbert Montana, the youngest of the artist’s five sons.

Gilbert Young

1941-

n Exhibitions at five venues, hosted by City Arts Factory and The Grand Bohemian Hotel, Orlando, FL 2011

n Inducted into “Who’s Who in America,” 2012, 66^th Edition

n Honored by Resolution from Georgia House of Representatives, naming Gilbert Young State of Georgia Artist in Residence./Atlanta, GA 2010

n Featured in “Who’s Who in Black Atlanta”/Atlanta, GA 2010

n The only artist in the world to create a painted portrait of a U.S. President, and have it signed by the subject. “History + Hope = Change is signed by Barack Obama (see attached)

n Featured artist, The Atlanta Dogwood Festival Rhythm & Blooms Fundraiser/Atlanta, 2007

n Pallet Award for Lifetime Achievement, Heritage Arts Festival, Atlanta GA 2004

n First African American to create a painting live on stage with an American Symphony Orchestra. The Cincinnati POPS featuring Grammy Award winning conductor, Erich Kunzel/Cincinnati, OH 2004

n Presented with the prestigious Heritage Award for Outstanding Visual Arts, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York, February 2001

n Gilbert Young Enterprises, publisher and distributor of fine ethnic art, Cincinnati/Atlanta, 1991-2008

n Artistic Director and Supervising Judge for “Paint Pals,” an International Olympic Youth Art Competition and Exhibition, organized in honor of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.  The project supported efforts by The Atlanta Project, founded and directed by President Jimmy Carter/ Atlanta, GA 1996

n Artist in Residence, the University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati OH, 1994

n Conservator and Director of the University of Cincinnati fine Art Collection/ Cincinnati, OH,  1967-1994

n “Talented & Impressive Black Artists,” Ebony Man Magazine, 1995

n “Who’s Who in Black Arts”, 1992

n “Portraits of Excellence, A photographic History: Cincinnati’s Prominent Blacks of the Eighties”/Cincinnati OH 1988

n Chairman of Mixed Media, a professional artist association/ Cincinnati, OH 1980

n National Youth Director, National Conference of Artists, Cincinnati Chapter/ Cincinnati OH 1980

n Director of Martinique Cultural Exchange Exhibition, an exchange of art and artists with the Island of Martinique/Cincinnati, OH 1980

n Consultant to the Harriet Beecher Stow House Renovation Project, to create a cultural arts center for the visual and performing arts/Cincinnati, OH 1978

n Director of Metro Mural Project I, II, III, (1975, 1976, and 1977) providing creative summer employment for youth while producing monument works of urban art/Cincinnati, OH

COMMISSIONS

n Commission to create the “Hattie Dorsey Award” in honor of Hattie Dorsey, president of the Atlanta Neighborhood  Development Partnership, Atlanta, GA 2006

n Commissioned portrait of Attorney General Thurbert Baker, Atlanta GA 2002

n Commissioned by American Greeting, Inc. to create “The Art of Gilbert Young” calendar, distributed in five countries, Atlanta GA 2002 and 2003

n Commissioned by Procter & Gamble to create the “Salute to Greatness Award” for the Martin Luther King Jr., Center for Non-violent Social Change, Cincinnati/Atlanta 1995

n Commission to create a portrait of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Cincinnati OH 1995

n Commission to create a commemorative poster for the American Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati OH 1994

n Commission from Cincinnati Metro for ARTSCINCINNATI94, original artwork on metro transportation, Cincinnati OH 1994

n Commission to create a portrait of Theodore M. Berry, Cincinnati’s first African American Mayor, Cincinnati OH 1990

n Commission to create a sculpture of Oscar Gamby, Jr., Cincinnati OH 1981

n Commissioned portrait of Dr. Robert H. Chess, Cincinnati OH 1981

n Commission from Dayn-Mark Advertising to produce the image “The Drum,” for BellSouth campaign, Atlanta, GA 1999

n Advertising Age “Image of the Week” Award for “The Drum.” Atlanta, GA 1999

n Applause Magazine Image Maker Award, Cincinnati OH 1994

n Post-Corbett Award for Outstanding Visual Arts, Scripps Howard/Cincinnati Post, Cincinnati OH 1993

n Commissioned Kentucky Colonel by then Governor of Kentucky, Lexington KY 1999

n Commissioned Kentucky Colonel by Governor of Kentucky, Lexington KY 1995

n Nip Magazine 25^th Anniversary Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts, Cincinnati OH 1980

Numerous honors, certificates, recognitions, and awards as well as Proclamations and keys to the cities of Cambridge, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Columbus, Louisville, Greensboro NC, and Detroit for outstanding achievement in the arts.

COLLECTIONS

n Comfort Inn & Suites/Savannah, GA; University of Delaware Paul R. Jones Collection; The Erich Kunzel School for the Creative & Performing Arts; Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company; Cincinnati Bell’ Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; Xavier University (Ohio); Santa Barbara Recreation Department; Procter & Gamble; LoGo Entertainment Group; JC Penny; Howard University; University of Cincinnati; University of Cincinnati African American Heritage Center; National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center at Wilberforce; Morris Brown College; The Academy of Art, St. Petersburg Russia; BellSouth Corporate Offices/Atlanta; Cincinnati Metro.

Numerous private collectors

Numerous feature articles and exhibitions.

Dr. C. Keith Melvin....Black History Maker and Survivor



Dr. C. Keith Melvin

 Dr. Melvin is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and completed his high School education at Withrow High School.  Dr. Melvin continued his education and completed his Bachelors' Degree at Fisk University in Tennessee and Medical Degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1980.  He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati. He was only the second African-American male to complete an Internal Medicine residency at Jewish Hospital, the oldest Jewish Hospital in the country.  Dr. Melvins' distinguished career has included practicing Emergency Medicine, Critical Care medicine and General Internal Medicine for 28 years.
He currently practices Internal Medicine with Mercy Medical Associates of Cincinnati.  He also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine educating medical students in the 1st through 4th years of Medical School.


Dr. Melvin was appointed a Fellow of the American Academy of Cardiology.  He is considered a distinguished National Grand Rounds Lecturer for the network of Continuing Medical Education.  He has lectured in over 25 states from coast to coast and has been the host of and has appeared frequently on local radio and television talk shows.

Dr. Melvin is a membr of several medical associations and organizations where he serves on several Boards and Advisory committees.  He is the recipient of numberous awards including, MLK Keep the Dream Alive Award, Health Care Hero Award, Unsung Hero Award, Top Ladies of Distinction-Service to Seniors Award, Stroke Campaign Ambassador Award, Health Champion of Cincinnati Award.

Dr. Melvin has given the keynote address at numerous graduation ceremonies and community forums.

Dr. Melvin was featured on the cover of Living Longer Magazine.  He was also selected as one of Americas' Top Physicians and Top Internists.  The Cincinnati Enquirer has named Dr. Melvin as one of Cincinnati's "McDreamy Doctors".

Of very special note, Dr. Melvin is also a cancer survivor since the year 2000.

The Honorable Judge John Andrew West...Black History in the making



The Honorable Judge John A. West



Judge John Andrew West is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.  He is married to Miriam E. West,(former Director of Mentoring for the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative), and is the father of Hamilton County Magistrate Melissa E. West.



Judge West received all of his formal education locally, graduating from Walnut Hills High School, The University of Cincinnati, and The Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

During the span of his professional career, Judge West has held a wide variety of positions.  He taught History at Roberts Junior High School; served as Program Coordinator for the Citizens Committee on Youth; worked as a Purchasing Agent for the Large Jet Engine Division of the General Electric Company; served as a Staff Attorney for the Model Cities Law Office; and practiced law for twenty four (24) years before being appointed to the Bench of the Hamilton County Municipal Court in 1996.  Five years later in February of 2001, Judge West joined the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court General Division.

Judge West is a former member of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees for the Cincinnati Bar Association, as well as a former of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association.  Judge West is also the Co-Chair of the BLAC-CBA Roundtable, an organization dedicated to increasing the presence of African-Americans in the mainstream Cincinnati legal community and is a founding membr of the Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati (BLAC). In addition to being affiliated with local organizations, Judge West has also served as a Board Member of the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Arts Association, the National Conference of Community and Justice, the Melrose Street YMCA, and is a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities.

Judge West has received numerous awards for his community involvement and service to the legal profession.  Among the many awards are: Profiles in Courage, Men of Style and Substance, University of Cincinnati College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award and the Theodore M. Berry Award from the Cincinnati Branch NAACP.

Judge West is also a former member of the Civil Service Commission for the City of Cincinnati and currently serves on advisory boards for the Salmon P. Chase College of Law and for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati.

Judge West has dedicated his life to helping others succeed, and in 1997 he was recognized as the "Best Judge" on the Hamilton County Municipal Court bench by Cincinnati Magazine.

This site proudly honors Judge John Andrew West for his contributions not only to the judicial system but to the community at large.

Dr. Caesar Stevens Bassette, Jr. MD..Tuskegee Airmen Ground School Instructor and the WCIN connection.

Dr. Caesar Stevens Bassette, Jr. teaching morse code

Dr. Caesar Stevens Bassette, Jr. MD was born to the late Dr. C.S. Bassette, Sr. MD and Pearl B. Bassette on November 7, 1917 in Hampton, Virginia.  He was one of four children. He departed this life on August 7. 2008. He married Theresa A. Gavin on August 31, 1942 in Tuskegee Al. The couple was blessed with two children, Cherie and Steven ( Fredd E. Redd). Dr. Bassette began a life of service at an early age, serving as his high school president and president of his graduating class at Hampton Institute in 1937. During World War II he served in the U.S. Air Force as a Tuskegee Airmen Ground School Instructor where he taught morse code to the pilots. Dr. Bassette earned his medical degree from Howard University in 1950 and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in 1956. He moved to Cincinnati in 1956 to begin a medical practice that spanned 43 years. Following his retirement in 1989, he continued to provide medical care to patients at Lincoln Heights Medical Center for 10 years. Dr. Bassette was the first African-American physician to receive Obstetrics and Gynecology admitting and staffing privileges at all major hosptials in Cincinnati. He was also the first African-American physician to be honored by the Cincinnati Obstetrics and Gynecology Society in 1998 with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The Cincinnati Medical Society named a scholarship in his honor for African-American medical students in 2007. He had been an amateur radio operator since the age of 17. He used his knowledge of morse code to communicate with contacts throughout the world, including the Arch Duke of Austria. Dr. Bassette was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorported, and a life-time member of the NAACP. He was a member of the Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky Electronic Commission, Incorporated. His many awards include the 48th Annual Governor's Award ( from Gov. George Voinovich); the first Annual Civil and Human Service Award; honoree at 21st Black Business and Professional Day at Allen Temple A.M.E Church; The Ohio House of Representative; Zion Baptist Church's Tuskegee Airmen Appreciation Certification Award and the Key to the City by former Mayor Roxanne Qualls.

I am honored to feature Dr. Bassette for his accomplishments and also to acknowledge him and his lovely wife, Theresa, for a great job of parenting two of my favorite people who continually  pay tribute to the love they received from their parents.

Dr. Odell Owens....Medical History Maker...and more!

This featured Black History Maker is one that I can say we go way back to the days of Woodward High School.  He is one that we all knew would do special things in life...and I am proud to say that we were absolutely correct.  I remember going to his families home for breakfast after his graduating class returned from Lesourdsville Lake back in 1966. We have remained friends throughout all the years and I'm glad to post this short (yes, compared to all that he has done...this is short) list of his accomplishments. This is taken from the site of Cincinnati State College where he is it's current president.

Dr. O'Dell Moreno Owens

 

Dr. O’dell Moreno Owens is a native Cincinnatian. Following graduation from Woodward High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Antioch College. Dr. Owens spent his third year of college at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, as a foreign exchange student.
Dr. Owens attended Yale University Medical School where he earned his M.D. degree. In his spare time as a medical student he served as president of his medical school class, captain of the medical school basketball team, a member of the Board of Trustees of Antioch College. He earned a masters degree in public health from Yale University, and continued his studies at Yale as an intern, resident and chief resident in obstetrics and gynecology. He was awarded the Irving Friedman Award as the Outstanding Chief Resident in the department of OB/GYN at Yale Medical School.
Dr. Owens then accepted a combined position at Harvard Medical School. He served as a clinical instructor in the department of OB/GYN at Harvard Medical School, and was a Fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility for two years.
He returned to his native Cincinnati in 1982 to establish the first division of reproductive endocrinology in the department of OB/GYN at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. During his four years that he served in the medical school, he established an in-vitro fertilization program and achieved Cincinnati’s first successful conception and delivery. In November 1988, Dr. Owens announced Cincinnati’s first pregnancy from a frozen embryo.
Another of Dr. Owens’ research interests is laser surgery. In 1987, at the request of the Chinese Medical Society Dr. Owens was asked to participate in an international symposium and lecture series on laser surgery in China. In July 1990, Dr. Owens was asked by the American Laser Society to join a group of physicians to tour the laser facilities in four major cities in the Soviet Union. In 1992, Dr. Owens was selected by the American Jewish Committee to visit Israel as part of a national group of African-Americans to evaluate the Israeli/Arab conflict firsthand.
In 2004, Dr. Owens was elected as Hamilton County’s Coroner, and was re-elected in 2008.
His community and education involvement includes the following:

• He currently holds the position of President for Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams), a collaborative of the Cincinnati Public Schools system.
• He is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of RISE Learning Solutions, Inc., a national non-profit organization that uses technology to bring world-class training to adults who care for pre-school aged children. (Project GRAD and RISE are both initiatives of KnowledgeWorks Foundation.)
• Previously, Dr. Owens was Senior Medical Director of United Healthcare of Ohio.
• He is currently a member of the board of directors for US Bank, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, and the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.
• He is the former chairman of the Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Advisory Committee, the Cincinnati Board of Health and University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees.
• He is actively involved in the Cincinnati community working with disadvantaged youth to motivate them to reach their full potential, and in that role has made frequent television appearances.
• In 2008 he was elected president of the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.
   

During the bicentennial year, the Bicentennial Commission honored Dr. Owens as one of the Bicentennial’s 200 Greater Cincinnatians in recognition of his community service. In October 1988, Black Enterprise Magazine selected Dr. Owens as one of the top 15 black doctors in America. Dr. Owens has been appointed an Honorary Kentucky Colonel. He also has been honored with the Tree of Life Award by the Jewish National Fund, the Lincoln Award from the Northern Kentucky University, three Honorary Ph.D.’s, and was the youngest person inducted into the Ohio Independent College Hall of Excellence. Dr. Owens says he would like his epitaph to read, “He made a difference.”

Peter J. Randolph...A Cincinnati History Making Attorney



Peter J. Randolph



PETER J. RANDOLPH was born and raised in the West End of Cincinnati, Ohio by his parents, Lewis Herman & Zella Mae Randolph on October 11^th, 1931.  He was the fourth of eight children (four boys and four girls).  He grew up in the Roman Catholic faith and attended Holy Trinity grade school, DePorres High School and received his B.S. Degree in History and Political Science at Xavier University in Cincinnati.  He received his Doctorate of Law from the University of Cincinnati.  He has always been successful in balancing the three most important elements in his life: family, legal career and community involvement.

He was the first Black high school student in Cincinnati to become “Mayor of Cincinnati for a Day” in 1949 and he was the first “Mayor for Xavier University’s Operation Youth” in 1950.

After receiving his LLD from the University of Cincinnati, he served two (2) years in the U.S. Army.  After an Honorable discharge he took his bar examination and passed on the first attempt.

He became a Referee and Attorney Examiner Claims Hearing Officer for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Industrial Commission.  Now 40 plus years later he is one of the few Black Attorneys in Cincinnati specializing in Workmen’s Compensation Law.  His law practice covers the areas of Workmen’s Compensation law, Probate law and Personal Injury law.

He is married to Mary Ann (Littlejohn) of the West End and of that union he has four children:  Lisa Marie, a former bailiff for Municipal Court Judge Cheryl D. Grant but is now his Paralegal and has her own photography business called RANDI’S FROZEN MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY, www.randifrozenmoments.com.  Lisa was also a disc jockey at WCIN Radio during the 1990’s and she was affectionately known as “RANDI”;  Paula Ann (Hollins) a supervisor at the UPS Company in Gary, Indianan; Peter J. Jr., an associate property manager for “Simply Self Storage” and manager of R & Y Apartments complex; and Jason Alexander an attorney & sole practitioner in real estate law with his own law firm named Jason A. Randolph, Attorney at Law, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Jason does real estate throughout the entire state of Georgia.

He feels that his greatest achievement in law, to date, has been the 1989 MALLORY vs. EYRICH case.  Prior to that case the Hamilton County Municipal Court in Cincinnati, Ohio, had no elected Black Judges over a 20 year period (1965 through 1985).  In 1989 he joined a team of 6 Black attorneys who took on the State of Ohio and 18 defendant attorneys.  After a 7-year struggle, the Black lawyers were victorious.  As a result of the MALLORY case today there are six elected Black Judges to the Hamilton County Municipal Court out of the 14 judges with the possibility of more in the future. 

Today there are four Black Judges in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.  He feels that the catalyst to the increase in the amount of Black Judges was the MALLORY case in which his wife, Mary Ann, was one of the plaintiffs along with former State Senator, William L. Mallory, Sr., who had previously served 28 years in the Ohio House of Representatives.

He is a past president of the Evanston Community Council; Life member of the N.A.A.C.P.; past director of the Board of Seven Hills Neighborhood Association; Member of the Black Male Coalition; First Grand Knight of St. Martin DePorres Council Knights of Columbus; Member of the Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati (BLAC); Member of the American Trial Lawyers Association; Member of the Ohio State Bar Association; and a member of the Cincinnati Bar Association; former president of the Wesleyan Cemetery and an Archon in the Alpha Delta Boule’.

Attorney Randolph has been inducted into the National Bar Association’s Hall Of Fame.  He has received many other honors and recognitions, such as the Certificate of Recognition from the Ohio State House of Representatives for outstanding services in the community; the Cincinnati Chapter of the Urban League’s Glorifying the Lions Award for outstanding services in the community; honored by his parish, St. Mark’s Catholic Church as a Martin Luther King Honoree, just to name a few.

Where it all started





Bugs Scruggs, Eddie Castleberry, Jockey Jack



From the time WCIN did its first broadcast in 1953 from this location in Cumminsville, the station proved itself to be an integral part of the Cincinnati community and the national music industry. The first program early that October morning was an hour of gospel music. In coming years WCIN would lead in promoting some of the best music talent in the industry: introduce Cincinnatians to greats like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin: and set important precedents that have made radio a viable part of the music industry. Key to establishing a so called Black radio station was a provision of opportunity for local African-Americans in radio. Those people who served as dj's, sales people, program directors, and station managers and owners have gone on to establish themselves as industry stories.

A tiny building on Beekman Street served as the first home of WCIN radio station. Disc Jockeys like (Jockey)Jack Gibson, Ed Castleberry and Charles "Buggs" Scruggs weren't just announcers.  It was Jack Gibson who introduced the smooth as silk rap style of announcing that many of todays dj's have knowingly and unknowingly emulated. It was Ed Castleberry that captured the respect of top performers, politicians and other movers and shakers of his time.  The Reverend Jesse Jackson once said that his first interview was "not with Walter Cronkite or Dan Rather" but with Eddie Castleberry.  It was the combined efforts of Scruggs, Gibson and Castleberry that led to the formation of JEB Productions; a catalyst in bringing top name performers like Ike and Tina Turner, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and many others to the Regal Theater located in the West End of Cincinnati.  These pioneers put Cincinnati on the map, musically speaking. It wasn't long before WCIN had established itself as a force in Cincinnati. People, Black, White, young and old supported WCIN. In fact, the Goodwill Spectaculars held at the Cincinnati Gardens brought out a cross section of  15,000 Cincinnatians to a young Sam Cooke who had just recently separated from the gospel group, the Soul Stirrers. The list of Achievements goes on with the late Tom Knox whose radio workshops trained and prepared a countless number of people for a career in broadcasting. WCINs contest phone line was so popular that telephone lines around the city were jammed when CIN announced a contest. That prompted the Cincinnati Telephone Company to create the 749 contest line that most radio stations now use.  The creation of a news department was also a radio first by WCIN.

During the time of its existence, WCIN went through many changes. The beginning in the 50s'; Motown of the 60s; disco of the 70s; an all classical music program in the late 80s and finally back to its roots with an oldies music program. Regardless of the agenda of the various owners WCIN always stood the test of time. WCIN opened the door for other Black formatted stations to exist.

(The above article taken mostly from "The history of WCIN" that was published in the souvenir booklet for WCINs 40 year anniversary)

Again...this blog is dedicated to keeping the memory of WCIN alive and most importantly the impact that the UNITY it brought about had on our community.

Updates on "Where are the jocks now" are coming in future blogs. Your feedback on how WCIN impacted your life is welcome.

Nikki Giovanni.....internationally heralded poet.

Known throughout the world for her motivating and inspiring poems...Nikki Giovanni puts a smile on my face as I remember her from her days that she attended St. Simons Episcopal Church School in Lincoln Heights. I remember her strong, no nonsense presence that has propelled her to national and international prominence. What really makes me feel good is whenever I see her, see remembers me and acknowledges me.  My mind says.."Wow, a superstar knows you!!" I'm sure she brings a feeling of pride to all those who "knew her when". I'd like to recognize her, especially during Black History Month and beyond.

Everybody remembers Bob "Sweet Daddy" Long

Another historic icon that broadcasted from behind the microphone at WCIN 1480AM on your radio dial. The ride to work or the time you spent getting the young ones ready for school were always entertaining when "Sweet Daddy" was on the air.

The loss of a legend....Don Cornelius.

I was going to start off this, the first day of Black History Month, with another post....but the news of Don Cornelius' untimely passing struck deep in my spirit. He was responsible for a piece of our history that will live on forever. How many of us would tune in on a weekly basis to see what artists would be featured, to figure out the scramble board before the dancers could (even wonder why some of them took so long to figure it out), look for our favorite dancer or the long haired oriental girl and especially see who was going to be in the "Soul Train Line".  Those memories have been captured and stored on youtube for our enjoyment. And now, with the passing of the iconic Don Cornelius, our minds will be continually echoing that famous ending...

"And you can bet your last money, it’s ALL gonna be a stone blast, honey….and, as always, in parting..we wish you LOVE….PEACE and SOUL!!!!

R.I.P. Don Cornelius