After 32 years as a morning radio personality in Washington, D.C., Donnie Simpson bid an emotional farewell to his listeners. According to the Washington Post, Simpson wept as he played Lionel Richie's "Jesus Is Love," his traditional closing song. This followed a parade of calls from celebrity well-wishers and other supporters.His four-hour show on WPGC-FM (95.5) spilled over an extra two hours to accommodate the phoned-in farewells from Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Wyclef Jean and other musicians whom Simpson has championed during his decades on the radio and as host of Black Entertainment Television's 'Video Soul.'....
Simpson, who will be 56 on Saturday, was gracious and warm throughout his final program on the air. He thanked his listeners repeatedly, as well as his wife, Pam, his producer-son, D.J., and his colleagues.... SOURCE: Washington Post
Following the show, he treated fans and friends to lunch at Ben's Chili Bowl, the same popular diner visited by President Barack Obama days before his inauguration.
Simpson leaves WPGC after disagreeing with its owner, CBS Radio, over the direction of the show. The station has been his home on-air since 1993. According to BV Buzz, Simpson will not be allowed to work at another station until his contract expires in March 2011.
In the video above, he spoke with Fox 5 DC's Tony Perkins about his feelings during his last day on WPGC. "It's time. You just get to that point where you know it," he said. Simpson added that he has no plans yet to retire.
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Sheryl Huggins Salomon is contributing editor of Black Voices, where she writes about politics and society. She is co-editor of the 'Nia Guide for Black Women' series of self-improvement books and the former publisher of Shade magazine. Follow her on Twitter or contact her at BVCEditor@aol.com.
Comments: (22)
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By: lotus on 1/29/2010 6:52PM
While I have not kept up with Donnie Simpson since he left Video Soul at BET, I am sure he is going to be missed by his listeners. Back in the day at BET, I used to love watching him VJ on BET.
He has been in the business for a long time and he will come back. It is amazing how people try to come in and tell you how to run a show and they are not from the same culture, they are just going by statistics etc. But, I know they will find some body waiting in the wings.
All the best to you Donnie, you still look handsome!
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By: ThePlayer on 1/29/2010 9:04PM
As Paul Mooney famously states, "this is your N***** wake up call. We have to own our own media outlets.
Same thing happened to Tom Joyner last year in some cities. Hopefully these powerful media personalities will get together and purchase some media outlets throughout the nation to curtail their collective being cutoff from their listening audience.
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By: DUDE-NURSE on 2/02/2010 12:35PM
PLAYER YOU USED AN EXPLETIVE TO SAY YOUR FEELINGS AS SHOULD BE SAID ; I MAY NOT HAVE WENT TO THAT EXTREME HOWEVER YOU ABSOUTLY DID HIT THE NAIL SQUARE ON THE HEAD , ALSO TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT YOU STATED JUST WHAT HAPPENED TO AN ALL TIME FAVORITE OF A STATION HERE IN BIRMINGHAM AL. A FEW YEARS AGO ,(AS MY PARDNER STATED ) WHO THE F---- WENT TO SLEEP AND LET DEM WHITE FOLKS COME IN AND BUY WENN 107.7 FM RADIO STATION ) AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THEY CHANGED THE FORMAT RADICALLY FROM A SOULFUL RYTHYM AND BLUES STATION TO A COUNTRY WESTERN PLAYING COTTON PICKING ALL WHITE FORMAT STATION....PEOPLE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING....HE ALSO STATED AS YOU DID ; THAT THERE IS ENOUGH BLACK PEOPLE THAT ARE WELL OFF ENOUGH TO HAVE , IF NOT BOUGHT THE STATION OUT-RIGHT TO HAVE POOLED THEIR FUNDS AND STILL NOT LET A 30 - 40 YEAR MORNING WAKE ME UP LEGACY GET AWAY . THE GOOD NEWS IS THE STATION DID NOT GET THE RATINGS THEY EXPECTED ON OUR END OF THE DIAL SO THEY HAD TO SELL OUT ; BUT GUESS WHO GOT THAT STATION BACK THIS TIME....YEP AND YOU KNOW IT....IN CONCLUSION ; MY GRANDAD USED TO TELL MY UNCLE WHEN HE GOT TIRED OF HIM BEGGING FOR MONEY ; SON FROM WHAT I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN YOU YOU SHOULD OWN TWO DRY-GOODS STORES BY NOW.....I'M SURE ALL OF YOU DARK COMPLEXTION PEOPLE GET MY DRIFT BY NOW.....NUFF SAID
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By: Mjones on 1/29/2010 11:21PM
Love me some Donnie Simpson...I used to have the biggest crush on this man...and those eyes...
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By: MsLisaJoy on 1/29/2010 11:54PM
When I was a little girl Donnie Simpson would start his show by playing Wake Up Everybody by Teddy Pendergrass. On rare mornings, like if I was home sick as well as in the summer, he would end each session with jeaus is Love. What I'm trying to say is Donnie Simpson is a rare and special memory of my childhood. I don't understand why his show never went into syndication? If Steve Harvey Loud ass could do it, he certainly should have been given a shot. Rus Par has nothing on this man.
Ok, I;m rambling. So I'll step off the sound stage.
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By: DUDE-NURSE on 2/02/2010 4:04PM
MS. LISA JOY ...YOU AIN'T RAMBLING....YOU JUST ATTACKED THE PROBLEM FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE OR FROM THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM...YOU ARE SO RIGHT I REALLY DETEST AS YOU SAY LOUD MOUTH STEVE BUT HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS THAT SPOT ON THE EARLY WAKE ME UP ON THE STATION I MENTIONED IN THE BLOG BEFORE THIS ONE SO I SAY THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS AIN'T TOO BAD AS LONG AS IT'S MY PEOPLE (BLACK ). HE NOW DOES THE STEVE HARVEY WAKE UP ON WENN 107.7 FM BUT AS ALL OF YOU HAVE SAID ...PEOPLE WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE ..IT'S BEEN LONG BREWING YA'LL .. NUFF SAID
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By: chochip on 1/30/2010 12:42PM
Wow, I remember Donnie from Detroit radio and his family record store. He was known as Donnie Love Bug Simpson, man he fine back in his teen and early 20's. I would go to the store to buy penny candy hoping he was there.
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By: OneTNTMom on 1/30/2010 5:12PM
I grew up in the Washington DC metro area and remember listening to Donnie Simpson growing up. I would make sure I was sitting at my desk when he would play the song to end his radio show. The song has been remade and it is horrible. My first thought was what would Donnie Simpson say if he heard it.
I no longer reside in the area and just read of his departure on BV. Best wishes to you and your family on your future endeavors. DC has lost a good one.
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By: Pdub on 1/30/2010 7:10PM
I listened to Donnie Simpson every morning. He is definately a class act. Nothing personal, but I have tried listening to WKYS & WHUR in the morning and there is no comparison.
Donnie's show would play hip-hop & also throw in a little old school, which I am, but I loved it. I enjoyed his intelligent discussions & debates with his peers and listeners. The other two stations I mention were a complete turn off in the morning. There will never be another Donnie Simpson. What a loss to the community. CBS radio obviously is not in touch with reality. I am a mature adult and I love hip hop, rap & old school, etc. If the owners just want music, why even bother to have a DJ on the station. When Donnie was not there I would turn the station. The station is going down.
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By: Coach Mike on 1/31/2010 7:08PM
Donnie "LoveBug" Simpson, my Big Homie from Detroit. I go way back with Donnie from his days @ WJLB in Detroit. He was the man on Detroit radio. Donnie and Mojo On WGPR ran Detroit radio for years. Donnie is one of the best whoever did radio. His work on BET w/Video Soul is legendary. From one Detroit brother to another keep your head up and keep it moving. Peace and Love to u & your family and God Bless U My Brother!
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