Former BET, PBS and NPR/Public Radio International host Tavis Smiley’s Smiley Audio Company will launch its new Black Talk format on 1580 KBLA Santa Monica/Los Angeles on Saturday, June 19.
The Juneteenth launch follows Smiley’s purchase of the station last fall from Multicultural Radio Broadcasting for $7.15 million.
Smiley has tapped Elston Howard Butler to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of KBLA and parent Smiley Audio Company. Butler joins KBLA from Stevie Wonder’s Taxi Productions Adult R&B 102.3 KJLH Inglewood where he has served as Market Manager since January 2019. He has also served as VP/Sales for iHeartMedia Riverside CA, Local Sales Manager for 790 KABC Los Angeles, and held sales positions at CBS Radio, Evergreen Media, Cox Radio and KJLH in Los Angeles.
KJLH has also unveiled its daily on-air schedule which features a few other KJLH veterans.
Dominique DiPrima will move from the 430-6am slot on KJLH to anchor “First Things First With Dominique DiPrima” from 6-9am at KBLA. DiPrima, who had been with KJLH since 2005, previously hosted “Street Science with Dominique di Prima” at 92.3 and 100.3 KKBT where she also was a part of Steve Harvey’s morning show.
Smiley himself will host from 9am to 12pm. He will be followed by Danny Morrison from 12 to 2pm. Morrison will continue to host mornings at Cesar Chavez Foundation Rhythmic CHRs “Forge 95.3” KBHH Kernan/Fresno and “Forge 103.9” KBDS Taft/Bakersfield.
Reach Media’s syndicated DL Hughley Show will follow from 2-4pm. Comedian Alonzo Bodden will host afternoons from 4-7pm. Dr. Jeshana Johnson will host “Let’s Get Intimate with Dr. Jeshana Johnson” from 7 to 9pm. Another KJLH alum, Don Amiche will host “Don Amiche vs. Everybody + Crysta and Kiara” from 9pm to midnight. Amiche spent 11 years at KJLH from 2007 to 2018 and most recently was a producer for Westwood One’s Pat McAfee Show. He has also worked on-air at KJMZ Lawton, KQXC Wichita Falls, KZZA Dallas, KWIN Stockton, XHTZ San Diego, and served as Creative Services Director for KNX Los Angeles.
At the stroke of midnight on June 19, 2021 – that is, Juneteenth 2021 – Los Angeles will have its first and only “Unapologetically Progressive” talk radio station for the African-American listening audience!! Helmed by media personality, author and philanthropist Tavis Smiley of Smiley Audio Media Inc. KBLA Talk 1580, is the only Black-owned and operated talk station in Southern California!
Smiley is excited to announce that he’s tapped Elston Howard Butler to serve as president and general manager of KBLA Talk 1580. Butler will also serve as president and COO of the holding company, Smiley Audio Media Inc.
A 33-year seasoned radio executive, Butler has long been one of the market’s top leadership executives, known for generating exponential growth across multi-media platforms. Most recently, Butler served as market manager for Taxi Productions’ Radio Free 102.3 KJLH — overseeing a staff of 53 employees. Over the course of his broadcast media career, Butler has also been a winner for ABC/Disney and iHeart Media.
“I’m having a great run, but I’m not tired yet,” said Butler. “The eyes of the future are looking back at us, hoping and praying that we get it right this time. I have been in and around LA my entire life, and now more than ever in this moment of racial reckoning for America, I feel a deep responsibility to help put our city on the right track.”
For Butler, the timing couldn’t be better to launch a talk radio station, geared toward people of color and progressives. “For me, that starts with helping to build a new talk radio station that will sound like our city and reflect the way it looks. KBLA Talk 1580 is a talk radio station that will give everyday people a voice, and advance conversations that matter,” said Butler. “I am grateful to Tavis Smiley for his vision and stewardship of this historic Black-owned and operated media venture. The city is ready, our talented team is ready, I am ready.”
Butler is a recipient of the National Salute to Black Achievers in Industry Award, co-founder of the Black College Expo and sits on the board of the Black Media Collective.