This Black History Month, Urban Media Today celebrates the lives and legacies of stage and radio legends.
Ron Chavis: Nicknamed “Rockin’ Ron” Ron began his more than four-decade radio and voice-acting career at Pittsburgh’s Point Park University. Ron returned to his hometown of Pittsburgh in the 1980s performing as a longtime on-air personality at 105.9 FM WAMO
John Christian: WAMO legend known as “Sir Walter”, Christian paved the way for himself and other African-American broadcasters as a pioneering disk jockey in the 1950s.
Sammy Davis, Jr.: A singer, actor, comedian, and dancer, Davis is considered by many to have been the world’s greatest entertainer.
Rod Doss: As the editor and publisher of The Pittsburgh Courier, Rod Doss helped to elevate the status of the publication into one of the most widely circulated African American newspapers in the country.
Redd Foxx: Comedy legend and Golden Globe-winning actor best known for “The Redd Foxx Show” and “Sanford & Son”.
Jay Harris: ESPNEWS anchor with over 30 years of experience in television and radio news, including morning news anchor at WAMO-FM and national news at American Urban Radio Networks.
Lester Holt: Award-winning journalist and anchor of “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt,” the network’s flagship broadcast and the #1 newscast in America.
Tom Joyner: Dubbed “The Hardest Working Man in Radio”, Joyner’s hugely successful radio show was syndicated on 29 stations. He also hosts a namesake scholarship program and an annual cruise.
Kris Kelly: Ms. Kelly was a popular midday disc jockey and music director at WAMO-FM, before heading to Chicago to serve as double program director for WGCI-FM and WKSC-FM (103.5 Kiss FM).
Alan Lincoln: CEO and President of Riverside Sales Group LLC and its divisions, including Urban Media Today. Previously served as Sr. Vice President of UniverSoul Circus and President of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Division, where he was named “General Manager of the Year” by Radio Ink Magazine.
Richard Pryor: Pryor is widely considered the best stand-up comedian of all time and was the first recipient of the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998.
Flip Wilson: Comedian and actor best known for his own weekly variety series The Flip Wilson Show, and introduced viewers to his recurring character Geraldine.
