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.