#2 Donnie Simpson
I had never heard of Donnie until I watched Video Soul many years ago. He was certainly the best host the show ever had and I certainly believe part of his demise on the show was BETs foolish decisions to pair him with co-hosts. I have met Donnie once or twice and he is the very person that was on Video Soul.
I’ve just learned that there is a very good chance he will re-emerge on DC radio after his non compete is up in the next year from WPGC. Donnie, compared to most on the list (besides Wendy Williams) is still relatively young and started in radio at a very young age. Donnie Simpson (born January 30, 1954) is a longtime American radio dj as well as a television and movie personality. He hosted The Donnie Simpson Morning Show on Washington, D.C. radio station WPGC-FM from March 1993 to January 29, 2010. Simpson is the first urban-format radio personality to have an annual salary over $1 million without being syndicated. He was Billboard’s “1998 Air Personality of the Year”.
He is also known by the nickname “Dr. Green Eyes” Simpson began his career at age 15 at Urban Contemporary radio station WJLB in Detroit, Michigan, where he remained for eight years. In 1977 he relocated to Washington, D.C., where he began working at WRC-FM, known as “Disco 93.9? (now WKYS), as morning drive host and program director. He remained with WKYS for 15 years through its format migration from Disco-based Rhythmic Contemporary Hits to Urban Contemporary in the 1980s. In 1983, Simpson was recruited by Bob Johnson, founder of BET, to host the network’s primetime music video show, Video Soul. Simpson remained with the show until its cancellation in 1997. Between 1997 and 2000, Simpson hosted many network specials and tributes. In October 2004, he was inducted into the BET Walk of Fame.
Growing up in Detroit, I went to school with Donnie Simpson, who was also known as “The Love Bug” but I think you missed including a woman perhaps more influential than Donnie who was on WJLB at the same time. Martha Jean “The Queen!” I will NEVER forget the Queen on the air during the Detroit Riots in ’67 urging citizens “Go back to your homes! There is nothing for you in the Streets!” I get chills remembering her, and wonder if there are any airchecks of those chilling days. Martha Jean will always be the epitome of what urban Community Radio is all about. The soul and the Mother of the Community.
FOR BEST FEMALE SINGER: FANTASIA
AND I THINK WE LEFT OFF ” XSCAPE ” FOR BEST BLACK FEMALE GROUP
Herb Kent #10
I’m having a hard time with that. Herb has been on the air in EVERY DECADE since the 40’s that’s 70 years of broadcasting. http://www.radiohof.org/herb_kent.htm. He should be higher. And the list should be longer to include more females especially Yvonne Daniels and Hattie Leeper
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