The National Black Network (NBN) was an American radio network that began operation on July 2, 1973, as the first coast-to-coast radio network wholly owned by African Americans.

Early years

The idea for a National Black Network was conceived by former ABC Radio and Mutual Broadcasting System President Robert Pauley in 1969 as a way to utilize Mutual's contracted but unused network lines for the benefit of African Americans. The goal was to tie together the 117 radio stations in the country to serve the African-American audience.

The National Black Network became the first coast-to-coast radio network fully owned by African Americans on July 2, 1973, in New York City. The NBN was the brainchild of white media executive Robert Pauley, who eventually handed over the idea to African-American executives Eugene D. Jackson and Sydney L. Small and African-American journalists Vince Sanders and Roy Wood, Sr.

Pauley, a white American, a president of both ABC Radio and Mutual Broadcasting System, looked for a way to utilize Mutual’s unused network lines to create 117 stations to serve a Black audience. Pauley was unable to raise the $1 million in capital he needed, and therefore turned to Eugene D. Jackson, an African-American electrical engineer and Black business consultant. Eugene Jackson and Sidney Small dissolved their partnership shortly before this merger, leaving Small to form the alliance with Ronald R. Davenport of the Sheridan Broadcasting Network.

Notable personalities

Long before Bob Law gained fame with "Night Talk", there were a number of Black radio stars on the airwaves at NBN, such as Frank Bannister Jr., who also wrote the "Black College Polls" for Jet Magazine each week. The heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali made his presence known visiting Frank Bannister after a defeat to Leon Spinks. After his death from a heart attack, Bannister was replaced by Ron Pinkney, a former colleague of Gerald Bentley and Ed Castleberry, who were already on the airwaves of NBN.

Roy Wood's "One Black Man's Opinion" was a major showcase of the former-WVON anchor, allowing him a no-holds-barred avenue to the listeners each week. Joseph "Joe" Brown hosted "Black Issues In The Black Press", another weekly news program that focused on the issues of the day. The guest and talented performers ranged from Judge Bruce Wright to Evelyn "Champagne" King.

Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin of The Temptations were seen joking and laughing it up with Ed Castleberry before airtime. Castleberry made his mark working with Larry Dean at Cincinnati's famed WCIN. Many in the business knew that Castleberry and "Gentleman" Dean were the real models for Venus Flytrap and Dr. Johnny Fever of television's WKRP in Cincinnati.

Locations

NBN moved from 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, to 10 Columbus Circle, and ended its reign at 4130 58th Street, Woodside, Queens. This was the same location that housed WWRL, a 1960s Black radio powerhouse that helped launch the career of black radio personality Francis "Frankie" Edward Crocker.

References

  • NBN history Gallery: Black History, 1973
  • Vince Sanders Broadcast veteran Vince Sanders helped co-found an organization to help black journalists
  • American Urban Radio Network About AURN
  • American Urban Radio Networks