WLIB 1190 New York – Malcolm Davis / Jeff Barnes – 1981

Courtesy: Rob Frankel

Back in the early 1970s, many African Americans in New York felt the radio stations were not addressing their concerns, or covering issues they were concerned with. Several Black leaders in New York decided to do something about it, by getting together, pooling resources, and buying a radio station. Percy Sutton, Malcolm X’s former attorney and then Manhattan borough president, formed Inner City Broadcasting Corporation. With the backing of a group of black investors (including radio vet Hal Jackson) they bought WLIB, and later, it’s FM WLIB-FM, who’s calls were changed to WBLS. Thought the 70s, the station competed head to head against 1600 WWRL, but in the early 1980s, the station decided to go in a direction to serve New York’s West Indian & Caribbean population, playing reggae, calypso, soca, and other sounds from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Haiti.

This air check features WLIB from 1981, during its Caribbean days, with Jeff Barnes on air. Jeff used to be a radio announcer in Jamaica. It also features Malcolm Davis. -Ellis

  From the Ellis B Feaster You Tube Radio Aircheck & Classic TV Channel.