#9 Gary Byrd
Another great Radio DJ from my hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. Gary Byrd was friends with my former babysitter Barbara Smith and her husband former Buffalo Bill the late Allen Smith. Gary used to give Barbara promotional singles and albums back in the day and I only knew what they were because they were always black and white labels.
I know O.J. Simpson was over Barbara’s and Allen’s all the time and I believe Gary was too but I was too young to remember him. Gary catapulted his career beyond radio and did what DJs did back in those days, he became a recording artist. I found this single by him from 1983 it’s VERY long (lol). The beat reminds me of Chic and it was made when rap delivered a positive message, something that would probably be deleted from a programmer’s computer today (lol). The single “The Crown” was a smash in the UK but failed to chart in the states. It was produced by Stevie Wonder. I could find no bio info on Gary Byrd online, I emailed him and have not heard back from him yet. Once I get info, I will post. Click NEXT below the post for the next DJ
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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