I want to open by informing everyone about a tribute to the life of Roy Benn who passed away on February 21st, 2004.  Roy was one of the best and hardest working promoter in this area who successfully ran "Streets of DC promotions" here in DC, MD and NY.  His sudden passing has left everyone in our community in shock.  This Sunday, March 28th, 2004, at 6pm, Kili's Cafe will host a special tribute in his honor.  There will be lots of entertainment from the top Caribbean bands in Washington DC and Maryland, who have committed their time to honoring Roy, along with some top DJs.  Additionally, the God Father of Go Go - Legendary Chuck Brown will be the host of this event.  I know many people played a major role in supporting and pulling this event together and the one important person that touches me by their support is Kathy Hughes the owner of Radio One and TV One.  Even though Ms. Hughes is at the top of one of the Largest media empires in America, she hasn't forgotten the people she met and worked with along the way.  

I've admired Kathy Hughes for many years and I've watched her growth and success.  Many of you across the country may listen to 1 or more of her many radio stations, and now you can even watch TV One on Comcast Cable (her newly owned TV Network).  Ms. Hughes has touched my life in many ways and has inspired me, and it's probably one of the reasons why I'm doing what I'm doing now.  Even though we've never met she's been a part of my life for the last 20 years.  Let me take you back for a moment to where it all began.  In the 70s we had a little radio station here in DC located on the Campus of Howard University called WHUR 96.3 FM (still known as WHUR), Ms. Hughes was the program director, and during this time there were lots of competition in radio in DC.  We had a popular station called OK100, which played the top songs of the day, and around the same time WKYS 93.9 FM had just started broadcasting.  WHUR 96.3 FM was the urban adult station, but their was a void in the night time slot, so Ms. Hughes along with the late Melvin Lindsey created a programming format that would change night time radio locally and around the country for many years to come...they called it "The Quite Storm", and it seemed when 7:00 pm hit, every radio in every home and cars would be tuned on to "The Quite Storm".  It became known as the sound of Washington.  After doing this for a while Ms. Hughes moved on to a small radio station which (I believe) she purchased with her ex-husband.  The station WOL 1450 AM, which had been one of the original black music stations in DC was located in Georgetown, and many of you may know that Georgetown is a very ritzy part of DC, however this station was playing black music and discussing issues of the community.  Due to this Ms. Hughes decided the station should be located in the heart of the black community (that it served), therefore she moved the station to 4th and "H" Street, NE, Wash. DC, where it was located until the mid 90s.  What I remember most about this location, was how close you felt to the DJs because a big bay (glass) window was placed in the front of the studio so the DJs and the community could see each other.  Ms. Hughes would host the morning show which at that time I would listen to every morning, and she would refer to the audience as "the family".  There was something about her energy and commitment to the community that motivated me, and I knew she was destined for "big things".  

Eventually the station changed to all talk as time went by, and still is now, it can also be heard nationwide on XM Satellite Radio - where it is called "The Power".  My wife and I moved away in the mid 80's, but Kathy Hughes and WOL was always on my mind, because from LA to Florida there was nothing like Kathy Hughes and WOL.  While I was away I heard Ms. Hughes was trying to purchase another radio station, this time an FM Station, and I understand it was a struggle to raise the funds necessary to make this happen, but she was persistent and she had the support of "the family".  She finally got her second station which was Majic 102.3 FM (still is today), and the format has always been oldies.  This was the beginning of Radio One.  I think both of these stations were broadcasting out of 4th and "H", NE. 

In the mid 90s WKYS was owned by NBC and for some reason they were liquidating many of their radio stations, WKYS was always the # 1 or # 2 Urban station in DC, and here comes Ms. Hughes again!  She wanted it, and by this time with the success of Majic 102.3, she had proven that she could operate a major station in a major market, therefore somehow she got WKYS, and from that point on she acquired stations after stations.  Now, I don't even know the number of stations she owns, but I'm sure it's well over 70 (which is what it was 3 or 4 years ago).  Currently, she is in the process of conquering TV... just a few months ago she started TV One in a partnership with Comcast, which is another major accomplishment.  Again, this is an example of "if you believe, and you put forth the effort...you can achieve anything you can conceive".  Ms. Hughes has been a great inspiration to me, and I'm sure to many others.  We at Arious Entertainment are striving to build our company into a major empire like Radio One, and just like Radio One "if you are reading this you're our family", and we need you to help us grow!!!!

I'm very happy that Ms. Hughes is a  part of this celebration "In honoring the life of her late friend Roy Benn", and hasn't forgotten the people whom she met along the way.  We in the Community truly appreciate her support!  

Those of you who are out there who are concerned about what's going on in our Community, check out my favorite Radio Station WOL 1450 AM, and if you are not in DC check it out on XM Radio "The Power".  One thing I always remember Ms. Hughes would say throughout her show is "Information is Power", and indeed it is, you'll definitely get a lot of information here on this station, and not propaganda.

This weekend Check out your favorite spots, or Kili’s Kafe for Happy Hour on Friday, and Caribbean Saturday's with Sprang International .  Please remember on Sunday evening March 28^th, you must attend the memorial concert for Roy Benn at Kili's Kafe, 2009 8th Street, N.W., Washington, DC.  Show us that we have a "family" who will come out and support each another.   Click here for details on Roy Benn's Tribute.

Scroll down and Check out the "Big Ups" and "Shout Out" section.

Take care and enjoy your weekend...until next week...

Nuff Respect!

THIS FRIDAY

INTERNATIONAL CARIBBEAN HAPPY HOUR & DANCE PARTY

FREE ADMISSION 5PM TO 8PM

FREE BUFFET 5PM TO 8PM

2 FOR 1 DRINKS 5PM TO 8PM

SATURDAY

 CARIBBEAN NIGHT

DINNER  - 6pm TO 10pm

CALYPSO     SOCA     REGGAE 

DJ SPRANG INTERNATIONAL

21 & UP

SUNDAY, March 28th, 2004

"Tribute to the life of the late Roy Benn"

DOOR OPEN 6PM

Click Here for Details!