Black Radio Rochester: Recent Episodes
RCTV and WXIR
"Black Radio Rochester" is a podcast series about Rochester's first African American radio personalities, Howard Coles and Alma Kelso. Based on original archival research, the podcast is hosted by local high school students who interweave Coles and Kelso's stories with their own perspectives on Black history, social change, music, and media representation. A new episode drops right here and on WXIR 100.9 FM every Thursday at 5pm throughout Black History Month 2022!
Well-spoken. Polished. Dignified. Howard Coles challenged the racist media stereotypes of his day through his self-presentation. But the fight over how African Americans are represented in the media continues to this day.
Hosted by Paris Horman, De’Vonne Warren, Sean Thomas and Jordan Nunn Produced by Darien Lamen Theme music by Gary Lamaar
Special thanks to Joan Coles Howard, Kathleen Washington, and Rashida Burch-Washington
Additional music by Golden Gate Quartet “Didn’t That Man Believe,” 2nd South Carolina String Band “Dixieland,” Ketsa “Testing” and “Answered”
Archival audio courtesy Rochester Museum and Science Center Howard Coles Collection (Heartbeat 1953)
Additional archival audio from Gone With the Wind (1940); Amos ’n’ Andy Show “The Butler Did It” (1944); Check and Double Check (1930)
Original release date: 2/24/22
The arc of the moral universe is long. And it often needs help bending toward justice. Howard Coles and Alma Kelso used the media of their time to do exactly that in matters of housing discrimination, migrant farmworker rights, and police violence.
Hosted by Paris Horman, De’Vonne Warren, Sean Thomas and Jordan Nunn Produced by Darien Lamen Theme music by Gary Lamaar Voice acting by Rashida Burch-Washington and Darien Lamen Special thanks to Joan Coles Howard, Shane Wiegand, and Carvin Eison
Additional music by Lenny Dee “Honeydripper” (1954); Jelly Roll Morton “King Porter Stomp” (1924); Ink Spots “Rock and Roll Rag” (1956), Joe Liggins "Honeydripper" (1945), Castle Films “America’s Call to Arms” (1943); Paul Robeson “Get On Board, Little Children” (n.d.); James Brown “Say It Loud” (1968)
Archival audio: Rochester Voices interview with Howard Coles (1980) and July ’64 (2006)
Original broadcast date: 2/17/22
R&B music was the soundtrack to Black life in the 1950s. It knitted Rochester's growing African American population into a community. And Howard "King" Coles could always be trusted to play the hits people wanted to hear.
Hosted by Paris Horman, De’Vonne Warren, Micah Anderson, and Jordan Nunn Produced by Darien Lamen
Theme music by Gary Lamaar Sound design by Darien Lamen Additional music by Lenny Dee ("Honeydripper"), The Native Boys ("Laughing Love"), Lloyd Price ("Lawdy Miss Clawdy" and "Stagger Lee"), El Quintos, The Platters ("Magic Touch"), Marcos Bolanos Archival audio courtesy of the Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Howard Coles Collection Additional archival audio from "Rochester A City of Quality" (1963) and "July 64" (2006)
Special thanks to Joan Coles Howard, Doug Curry, and Rashida Burch-Washington
Original air date 2/10/22 Learn more at: rctvmediacenter.org/blackradiorochester
A group of high school students uncovers the hidden history of Rochester's first African American radio personalities. In the process, they join a generations-old fight to preserve Black History.
Hosted by Paris Horman, De’Vonne Warren, and Micah Anderson Produced by Darien Lamen
Theme music by Gary Lamaar Additional music by Ketsa and Cora Williams Archival audio courtesy of the Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Howard Coles Collection Additional archival audio from Rochester Voices Howard Coles interview (1980)
Special thanks to Rashida Burch-Washington, Joan Coles Howard, Stephanie Ball and the RMSC
Original air date 2/3/22 Learn more at: rctvmediacenter.org/blackradiorochester