Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1952-11-15
heatrieaIly
Yours
By RIA BARLEY

NEW YORK - (GlobaD -
New York's powerful 50,000-watt
radio station, WNEW, has on its
staff, Bob Hodges as an executive
in the capacity of Radio Producer.
WNEW is the nations leading in
dependent radio station. The of
ficials Of the Station declare that
Hodges is among the most talent
ed producers in the business. He
is second in command to Ernest
Hartman, the Station production
chief. Hodges is the only Negro
producer of non-Negro shows in
radio.
Hodges is responsible for an
average Of 20 programs weekly.
WNEW is liberal and progress
siVe station and is owned by the
New York Daily News, the news
paper with the largest circulation
in America. They produce such
shows as Lucky Millinder's "Luc-
ky's Lounge; the Art Ford Show,
the Bob Haynes Show, Max Kase's
Sports Show Kase" and Sunday
afternoon program, Pops Concert
with Percy Faith. Hodges produc-
es all Of these shows.
Hodges began working at WIN
EW II years ago as a messenger
boy and moved up the ladder grad
ually. He has been in turn, a mail
room clerk, record librarian and
news editor. Martin Block, the dean
of disc jockeys, first got Hodges
his break at the Station. Hodges
first wrote letter to Block, stat
ing his qualifications and asking
for job . any job at the
station. Hodges pointed out in the
letter to Block that he was a Negro
and wanted to get into radio. Block
showed the letter to general man
ager Bernice Judis, who called
Hodges in for an interview and
hired him the same day.
MGM's Herb Kennys platter of
Calling You" backed with 81
Don't Care" will be a smash hit
. Billy Ward and his Dominoes
continue to tear up old house rec
ords to shreds as they travel
through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Pennsylvania and Louisiana.
At the completion of their APP
pearance at Carnegia Hall on Oc-
tober II with Mahalia Jackson,
he Keys Of Harmony, spiritual
quartet, signed with Tuxedo Rec
ords It's rumored that Ruth
Brown will soon be announced as
co-headliner with Billy Eckstine in
huge one-nighter package -.
Billy Eckstine, MGM recording
artist, is breaking all-time records
on his present tour The Milt
Buckner Trio, rated by many jazz
critics as the "swingingest outfit"
in show business.
Louis Armstrong, now touring
Europe with his All Stars, has
been packed for stands in Casa
blanca and Algiers, following his
continental trip. Possibility is that
after the North African trek he'll
return to German for three fare
we'll concerts !. Nat (King) Cole
Sarah Vaughan-Stan Kenton pack
age did a blazing $22, 800 in it's
one-nighter at Pittsburgh on Oc-
tOber % at the Gardens Cole
man Hawkins opens a new club,
the Playhouse, in New York
Enrol Garner follows the Hawk
there November 13 E. =. Buddy John
son and his Ork are on one-night-
ers throughout the southwest.
MGM recording artist, Joni jam
es has a big "hit" record, ''Why
Don't You Believe Me?"
Johnny Hodges is still clicking
with his ork in Canada Lucky
Millinder is being urged by radio
station WNEW to do a six night
disc jockey show, instead of the
one on Saturday night he does at
present . Earl Bostic clicked at
Harlem's Apollo Theatre last week
B. Henry Glover of King Rec
ords on Southern tour seeking tai
ent.
MGM Records proxy, Frank
Walker, is now on a Southern
tour, scouting around.