And Here Comes Sadie

Forty-Six Years Ago

The first day of broadcasting live on radio station WWWS “W3-Soul 101.1 FM was on a Saturday afternoon in October 1969.  Earl Clark (his family owned the station), Bobby-Q-Day (station manager/program director) and I, Samuel Williams (sales manager) spent that Friday night in the studio.

Donnie Cool, Demon and all the other DJ’s alone with friends had been in the studio all day Friday, as usual,waiting for the arrival of the telegram that would grant license and permission to begin broadcasting.

We received the long awaited license that Saturday afternoon. Finally in our hands was the permission to broadcast.

Words cannot explain how we felt the excitement, the joy and the feeling of accomplishment, however while we celebrated there was so much to be done. Phone calls had to be made to staff in Flint urging them to get back to Saginaw because we were going live on the radio.

Sadie Satin was schedule for the midday radio time slot 11:00 AM-3:00 PM.  After Bobby made the FCC regulatory announcement required that Saturday afternoon, she would become the first DJ to broadcast on WWWS “W-3 Soul 107.1 FM in Saginaw, Michigan.

Bobby Q. Day Was A True Legend In Radio

Courter: Bobby Q. Day was a true legend in radio | Local News | Times Free Press

We're On The Air With Sadie Satin

On a Saturday afternoon in October 1969, two  history making events in radio broadcasting took place.

 WWS/ W3-Soul 107.1 FM would broadcast live from downtown Saginaw, Michigan.
It was the second licensed Black owned and operated FM radio station in the state of Michigan.
“The only 100% Negro program radio station in the Tri-County area, serving Northern Michigan you will cover 100,00 Negroes in the Tri-County area. Plus a tremendous amount of the general market of Saginaw, Bay City, and Flint”
(1969 Broadcast year book)

Also, Sadie Satin would become the first Black female DJ to broadcast on FM or AM radio in northern Michigan and the first female given a regularly scheduled time slot.    Sadie was the second voice heard on WWWS 107.1 FM---- broadcasting live from downtown Saginaw, Michigan.  W3Soul was on the air!