We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Saahara Glaudé a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Saahara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
This is so unjob/career/profession related but, is such an act of kindness. Some years ago I visited a friend to see their new downtown condo and have lunch and parked in a time sensitive area where I did not notice the restrictions. Needless to say, my vehicle was impounded. The impound process in ATL is grueling – not to mention expensive.
There are several stages before the final one to obtain release of the vehicle. Believe it or not, the lines are surprisingly long. Certain documentation is required once you reach that final stage which includes License, Insurance and the Vehicle Registration.
I didn’t have the Registration. I had the Insurance Card reflecting the VIN Number – but, not the Registration. The woman at the window who I’d witnessed reject person after person allowed me – without all my documents – to retrieve my vehicle.
At that moment, she extended kindness to me.
After spending most of the day jumping thru hoops to have this lady allow me to skip a necessary process and obtain my vehicle was a minor miracle and great kindness on her part. I’ll never forget her and will ALWAYS read every sign when parking.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
An early marriage exposed me to the world of Jazz affording opportunities to travel the world and ultimately develop professional logistic skills after having spent countless time in rehearsals, “backstage” & recording sessions.
I have great love and admiration for Maria Callas and Édith Piaf who I greatly applaud for literally coming from nothing and rising thru impossibilities to share their extraordinary greatness. I came from a priviledge background – grew up in a city that is a center of the world but, I had to recognize and implement tenacity. That is what these two women had. Tenacity. My abilities in NO way parallel theirs but, I identify with their struggles in spite of qualifications. Women were not considered equal when I began to hone my skill set.
My Father was a proprietor & he and his partner had a Valet Shop on upper Connecticut Avenue servicing the very wealthy and powerful from the captains of commerce to politicians. I was proudly born in Harlem Hospital, New York City. Same hospital as James Baldwin and growing up in Washington DC – in the Howard U & DC Teachers College community allowed being surrounded by the elite Black Intelligencia. I did frequent nearby New York City.
Also growing up, my childhood friends became influencial as Directors and Producers for BET; others forming “Gil Scott Herons Midnight Band;” while others became statespersons. A couple of my husbands had fame and my life was filled with interesting accomplished people. I knew Civil Rights activists James Farmer, Jr., James Former and so many others.
I had an excellent formal education but nothing surpasses hands-on. My life in the world of Jazz led to being an Entertainment writer in my home of DC. When covering the opening of a Jazz club, I met young professionals from New York on the heels of kicking off a progressive listener-sponsored Jazz music information formatted Pacifica Radio Station who knew of me and my work. After conversing, they liked my voice – and knowing my industry expertise – offered me an on-air radio job to Host and Produce a weekly broadcast right there in the Nation’s Capitol. I chose my theme song as John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things” & titled the show the same.
I can not attribute this incident – being at the right place and being prepared – without highlighting how brilliant and progressive these young Black professionals were. They were quantum leaps ahead of anyone of their generation. Denise Oliver – who had been a Black Panther; Sigidi Braudy; Loren Cress Love – a former SNCC member and sister to Dr. Frances Cress Welsing. I was very young — the youngest of the crew but, because of my music knowledge was ultimately made Assistant Music Director.
I met & interviewed a lot of artists & famous folks – one of whom was Morgan Freeman the actor and we became good friends. WPFW FM radio opened the gateway for me as a mature professional. I went on to work with Homeless Activist Mitch Synder on his “Mothers March On Washington;” I was the Community Affairs Director for “The White House – Kennedy Center Salute” which is the precursor to “The Kennedy Center Honors.” I’d been in the White House numerous times as a child with my Mother but, never as a Presidential guest. The Prez at the times was Reagan and all his guests were primarily famous movie stars I’d grown up watching. A very strange experience. The artist being honored was Lionel Hampton and after the White House party we were shephearded to the Kennedy Center for an all-star concert where I stood backstage with then VP Bush watching everyone from Stephanie Mills to Tony Bennett. A lot of folks might not realize you can receive a White House invite but the President might not be in attendance. I was fortunate to attend the WH when Reagan, Carter & Clinton present. You’re highly scrutinized if you attend the WH with a Prez in attendance.
My Father – after walking away from being a master shoemaker – became a King Maker and helped get Walter Washington elected as DCs first Black Mayor. He went on to promote Marion Barry’s first election. So, thru my Father I got my political feet wet. I spent a Summer working for Congressman John Conyers in his Congressional District of Detroit Michigan where I perfected door-to-door political canvassing; and how to motivate people to vote. The great Civil Rights icon Harry Belafonté was a close personal friend of Conyers and made an appearance in support. He was truly such a refined gentleman. Delighted to have met him. One of my primary duties was escorting Mrs. Rosa Parks. KUDOS! APPLAUSE! AND ALL HAIL to Cong. John Conyers for placing Mrs. Parks on his staff as an Ambassador affording her a steady income. You gotta’ remember this was the late 1970s and many Blacks were resting on their laurels basking in the rewards of the Civil Rights battle and forgot all about Mrs. Parks and others. Not John Conyers!! I proudly chauffeured Mrs. Parks daily and ultimately escorted her to the “Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Legislative Weekend Presentation of Members” — which I ended up ultimately producing & offstage announcing a few years later thanks again to Cong. John Conyers. The CBC was then literally “a” weekend and the dinner was “The Presentation of Members” some of whom were the greats Honorable Shirley Chisolm, Charles Rangel and Ronald Dellums. The year I produced Rev. Jesse Jackson was being honored and Patti LaBelle – who I’d interviewed when she was “LaBelle” & I was a writer — performed.
In betwixt & between all I’d done up to that point, I established a working relationship w/Maury Povich’s Executive Producer – as the show was in DC – and I booked guests. I wasn’t ‘his’ booker, I was her outsource and this experience really helped me develope the art of promotion. It was a hustle! Back then things were so very different. I’d find out who was coming to town – contact them – offer them a TV slot for an arrangement fee. It gave me a birdseye view of the inner belly of Live TV!
My next DC Venture was as a correspondent for Africa Media & News Agency – the founder for whom was from Somalia – and he and I ran around DC with a camera capturing noteworthy events and sending the footage to Africa. Two of note: 1) 25th Anniversary of Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai of America (now split into Nicheren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai) on the Nat’l. Monument grounds. Driving from Adams Morgan to the Monument (about 15 min) I had to master saying the name properly – which I did and won me getting to work with AMNA nonstop. This is a Buddhist organization and famous members were Tina Turner, Herbie Hancock and Patrick Duffy. All famous – Duffy being brother to “Who Shot JR?” on TVs “Dallas.” News wasn’t like it is today and we were the only ones there with a camera. This was 1982 & the only mainstream coverage was The Washington Post for the 24,000 in attendance. But! we were there and I could easily rattle off Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai of America. 2) From there – with my previous Cong. Conyers connection, we landed the coverage of Conyers introducing to the floor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s National Holiday with Stevie Wonder premiering his “Happy Birthday Song” in the foyer hall of The House of Representatives. AMNA was so progressive and gave me the true confidence to talk with anybody and go anywhere. Just imagine if we had had the Internet!
I had an associate who headed NEA and knew of my relocating to ATL and while sitting in his office he was so gracious and got Xernona Clayton on the phone introducing us. Mrs. Clayton personally took me all over Atlanta opening door after door. Mrs. Clayton is a legendary Civil Rights cornerstone – an accomplished broadcaster – and founder and creator of The Trumpet Awards. She paid me a high honor of kindness and inclusion. I would love to this day to be as generous and giving of self as she. A truly great Lady!
My first Atlanta GA work stop was teaching broadcasting and being Program Director for WCLK radio station. I almost lost Dizzie’s (Gillespie) trumpet when producing him to benefit WPFW at the Fox Theater – continued to meet & interact with many accomplished individuals and helped establish WCLK as a Jazz-formatted station which at the time I came onboard was not. I was a schooled and highly trained “pitcher” knowing how to secure funds over the airwaves. They taught me well in DC at WPFW. Aside from programing and teaching, I hosted & produced Morning Drive and then Mayor Andrew Young made monthly appearances. Those were thrilling years. Exhausting! But thrilling!
I left Clark completely worn out and near brain dead. It was tremendously demanding. I needed a respite and went on-air at WSB – B98.5 FM – Hosting & Producing “Love Songs.” You gotta’ know here that some consider my voice distinct and romantic. That’s perception. To me I’m just talking! The first thing any broadcast leader wants to do is put me on air! At night. But, I do love this story because of the significance of my theme song. You gotta’ also remember this was “before” radio formatics and “producing” meant ‘I’ chose my own songs — NO format clock! Songs were on carts and I discovered a box of dusty carts in the back of a studio closet with “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton and of course, loved it!!! and used it as my nightly theme. This was six (6) years prior to Whitney’s historic covering.
On a fluke I ended up in Birmingham Alabama visiting the office of my friend the late Sylvia Joner (then sister-in-law to Tom) who was the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Regional Director for the South. Popular announcer Dave Donell stopped by to get his script as he was hosting the UNCF Telethon. Intro’s were made & Sylvia added my background blah, blah AND! Dave asked me to send a tape (as that’s what it took back then) because they were seeking a mainstream female talent. Dave was PD (Program Director) for the mega WENN 107.7FM. Owned by one of America’s first Black millionaires, Dr. A.G. Gaston. It was what was considered a powerhouse station. My friend Rip Daniels currently owns one of the last ones now in Billoxi MS. WENN Radio extended throughout Alabama and parts of Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi! Today it is broken up into three separate stations no longer Black owned.
Fast forward! My tape gets to George Stewart the Operations Mgr. who requests an in-person interview. I’m living in ATL & drove over to BHam and never went back. He hired me on the spot! Once the GM (General Manager) and Dr. Gaston gave their OK, I was airborn!
So many major accomplishments at WENN. Met everybody who was anybody; hosted the UNCF Telethon for EIGHT hours w/Dave Donnell; hosted a weekly video broadcast (cable TV had not yet done it’s kudzu act); broke Arbitron rating records w/a specialty show featuring Jazz – even throwing in Led Zeppelin and Bob Marley (I’m from DC!). I was even sent to Cali to tape with the legendary Lou Rawls!! Incredible years!!
My love and hearts desire was talk. I’d done weekly talk in DC – incorporated it at WCLK and though I knew all genre’s of music – my Mother was a member of the Beethoven Society & drug me to classical concerts – grew up listening to everbody from Elvis to Patsy Cline to The Temptations & absolutely loved music but, craved talk!
At WENN I was given a weekly talk show titled “WENNsday Night” and I am BEYOND proud that I premiered for the state of Alabama, a show on HIV Aids in 1989 with health experts. Elizabeth Taylor began amfAR in 1991. Needless to say, my show topic did not go over well and I was almost tarred and feathered!!
I applied to the #1 Talk formatted station WERC who had just agreed to syndicate Rush Limbaugh. They agreed to give me a weekly one hour talk show only if I’d produce & host a daily music format show on their FM station. This format was Rod Stewart! Chicago! Céline Dion! & so forth. I didn’t care because I knew that music well & would do ANYTHING! to “talk” on a major mainstream station. Another incredible experience filled with opportunity and ability to hone my talk skills.
Unless you’ve played this broadcast game, people might not understand that you literally do anything within the industry to stay in the industry. So, I did countless Voice Overs – Produced & Hosted Live concerts – mastered being a Production Manager (working w/sound & sfx) – Programming – Scripting.
At WENN Radio the great magnificent pioneering broadcaster Roy Wood, Sr. taught me how to “rip news” from the wire service and deliver a proper newscast. Roy, Sr. and Valerie were parents to comedian Roy Wood and I spent much quality time with Roy Sr. & Valerie. Roy, Jr. as a little cute child would actually be in the newsroom many times and his beautiful Mother would either be picking up or dripping him and this brother off as his Father was teaching me how to perfect the News craft. Such a brilliant trailblazer originally from Chicago. I owe my ability to newscast to the great Black pioneer of broadcasting, Roy Wood, Sr.
After doing talk mixed w/music I wrote news for the Alabama Associated Press (AP) largely thanks to Roy Wood, Sr. I broadcast this news copy at the top of the hour to over one hundred stations throughout Alabama.
From there I became the flagship talent for the brand new KISS FM. They were just gettin’ born & needed a Morning Drive Show & I recommended the “Fly Jock” – who I’d met in DC, Tom Joner. I knew he successfully flew back ‘n forth to host two different radio shows and he was good!! Because at the time the KISS folk were in it to win it & they recruited me based on my Arbitron performance, they listened to my suggestions and syndicated Tom & then he blew it out of the water!! From there, I recommended Rickey Smiley for the sister station, JAMZ because I knew him well and always supported him and he needed a break.
KISS was music – I didn’t want that. They threw me a bone and made me Community Affairs Director. Didn’t want that either so, left them for WDJC Christian Radio to become Production Mgr. for their two stations (AM & FM). I’d never been a Production Mgr. in my life!! Here’s a message to young folks: say you can do it – then conquer it to stay in the industry! I mastered mad technical & script writing skills! They had state-of-the-art top shelf equipment & I dove headlong! I worked late nights & weekends perfecting my ability to operate that equipment with excellence. Men dominated that field. When I started w/reel-to-reel and splicing magnetic tape, NOBODY wanted to show me anything because I was female. I was determined to become a proficient Production Mgr. capable of manipulating multi-tracks & infusing voice, soundtrack & sfx!
They bought another station – an FM – turned it into generic talk and put me on-air hosting & producing. Again, I’m talking with everybody & because of the technology, talking with people everywhere.
I’d developed my skills from reel-to-reel to a sound station. Splicing tape with a razor blade to a multi-track computer screen is like vaudeville to talkies; horse & buggy to the moon! There was nothing I couldn’t do in this industry. I’d played most music known to humankind. I’d sat on various boards – produced concerts – hosted TV – worked closely with Assignment Editors, etc.
It was around this time I began to pull away from radio to developed my overall production qualifications. Knowing the ins & outs of broadcasting I knew ‘how’ to properly promote anything and anybody. I felt my inner P.T. Barnum knowing “the show must go on …” I embarked on educational symposiums and co-produced two film festivals: one featuring Spike Lee and the other Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.
What’s left for an individual to do when your desire is to be home to hands-on raise your child? You don’t want anyone else nurturing your child! Whether female/male/they/them what do you do?? You form a concierge PR service and corrall alllllll your abilities. You create the media images based on the intended – you write – you script – you voice – you negotiate buys because you understand ‘how’ to get the best rates & you understand time slots – you strategize publicity growing w/the times by implementing SM – you oversee all logistics — you seize opps that will not take you form being with your child – you represent however you can. For years I molded client images from my home office. Clients like Congresswoman Terri Swell – late greats Atty. Jock Smith (landmark lawyer & co-founder of Cochran Law Firm) & Emerge Magazine Publisher Award-Winning Journalist George Curry [Both RIP🕊️] – the #1 Black Hotelier Atty. Michael Roberts – Dr. Henry Panion, Conductor/Arranger/Educator, Father of Music Technology & Music Director for Stevie Wonder – and others.
When my child went off to University, my work with Panion intensified and I produced a lot of stage performances. He acquired a deal with Warner Bros. to create label recordings. From release parties to administering Music Technology classes for rising 5th Graders to Seniors (Panion instructed on the University level) to producing concerts for The Clark Sisters & others to being Associate Producer for “Selma 50th” – televised with practically every major US Black “star” on the planet, I facilitated event after event. My greatest thrill with “Selma 50th” was being in close proximity to the humble magnificent Congressman John Lewis. That period of time was a nonstop rollercoaster!
My last production w/Panion was “Violins of Hope” [violins that survived the Holocaust] concert at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church (Birmingham AL) and violinist Felix Farrar was a featured performer. Felix and I worked on the “Tribute to Dr. Joseph Lowery w/The Blind Boys of Alabama” and “The Temptations featuring Jennifer Holiday.” We had work history and I informed him I was retiring from Panion and relocating to ATL where he resided – we set up a meet & he formed Encore Artists Mgmt. – EAM!!!
I can’t nutshell EAM but in a capsule it is a roster of the most proficient classically trained artists in the industry. Many of whom are Black. EAM comprises some — ‘again!’ “some” of the most accomplished classically trained Black musicians to date. Let me stress here, we do not have the equivalent of “The Funk Brothers” because they CAN NEVER be matched! But!!! We are outstanding! What sets EAM artists apart from all others is our artists also perform multi-genre’s. We ain’t just Bethoven! Felix has worked Broadway – various non-classical recording sessions & movie soundtracks. EAM artists boasts an array of abilities winning Billboard status – Gilmore Artist – and Artistic and Music Director for Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges in Guadeloupe honoring the Black music phenom Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Felix and EAM members just concluded “The Stevie Wonder Tour.” EAM artists can raise the roof for your dance party or, fuel your soul as you are comfortably seated. EAM artists perform with symphonies around the world and here in ATL with Atlanta Opera as well as orchestras throughout the US. Our EAM artists broke a record guest conducting NY Philharmonic twice! And another ranked in the finals of the Van Cliburn Competition and was the only American and the only Black. Check us out @ encoreartists.org
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Results!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In the field of broadcasting you have to pivot constantly to stay relevant and in the game. It’s an extremely volatile profession. You can literally be in today and out tomorrow w/changing ownership – and that means you could easily be out a job! To land on your feet, you must be able to embrace any position. I changed media hats frequently!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://encoreartists.org
- Linkedin: Saahara Glaudé
Image Credits
N/A