Donnie Simpson
Donnie Simpson will add to his four-decade legacy in television and radio, leaving retirement to join the talent on Washington D.C.’s WMMJ MAGIC 102.3 FM and TV One, Radio One officials announced this week.
The sultry-voiced broadcaster again will be heard as host of “The Donnie Simpson Show” weekdays from 3-7 p.m. beginning Aug. 17. TV One will collaborate with Simpson’s production company to have the host back on television screens by the fourth quarter of this year.
“Donnie is iconic. The D.C. market woke up to his voice for 30 years and we are thrilled to bring him out of retirement and behind a microphone again,” Jeff Wilson, senior regional vice president and general manager of Radio One-DC, said in a statement. “His passion for music, industry relationships, interview style and charisma are a winning combination and we are glad to have him as a member of the Radio One family.”
Brad Siegel, President of TV One added, “As evidenced by fan reaction whenever he’s out or making appearances, Donnie is a universally adored media personality and his youthful spirit appeals to devotees of all ages…. Knowing how much his fans have missed him, we are eager to get him on the air and look forward to announcing his first special soon.”
After 32 years as a familiar voice in the Washington, D.C. media market, 17 of those as the host of “The Donnie Simpson Show” on WPGC, Simpson announced his retirement from the station over unnamed creative control issues in 2010, the AFRO previously reported.
During his farewell broadcast on Jan. 29, 2010, the station was inundated with calls from listeners and an overwhelming number of celebrity friends and admirers lamenting his leaving.
“For this brother to no longer be on the airwaves is a major loss in our community,” said fellow radio host and entertainer Steve Harvey, as reported by the AFRO. “Please understand when you make the mistake of getting rid of Donnie Simpson, you all can get ready to unplug a lot of mess up there at WPGC.”
Simpson was just 15 years old when he began his broadcasting career at WJLB in Detroit, where he worked for eight years.
He then moved to the District, where he worked as a program director and on-air personality at Radio One’s WRC-FM, now WKYS, and WRC-TV for more than 15 years. During that time, he began his 15-year relationship with BET, where he hosted “Video Soul” among other programs.
On March 11, 1993, Simpson became the anchor personality during WPGC’s drive-time slot, and stayed there until his departure in 2010.
“After 5 ½ years of retirement my wife said, ‘Everywhere you go people tell you how much they miss you and that they want you to come back. You should go back to work,’” Simpson said of his return, adding it is made sweeter by the fact that he’s doing so with a Black-owned network.
“So here I am and I’m bubbling over with excitement to get back on radio after years and thrilled that I’ll be back on TV after more than 15,” he added. “It’s been a great vacation, but it’s time to go back to work and have some fun.”
