By Gene Lambey, Particular to the AFRO
Rev. Lee Michaels has retired after over 40 years as a gospel radio host for “The Morning Expertise” on Baltimore’s Heaven 600 radio station.
Michaels, who formally retired on Dec. 31, 2023, instructed the AFRO that his time as host of Heaven 600 “The Morning Expertise” was “enjoyable and fulfilling.”
As a retired radio host, Michaels plans to proceed his work as a voice for the Baltimore neighborhood. He additionally seems ahead to persevering with his ministry within the Christian religion at Manifest Wonders Christian Middle. After which there are plans on writing a guide about his life and his journey.
Michaels celebrated his retirement on the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore on Feb. 18.
The AFRO had the chance to talk with Michaels about his journey to turning into one among Baltimore’s most famous figures on gospel radio. Raised within the Perkins Properties public housing mission in east Baltimore, which on the time was often known as “the Backside,” Michaels is aware of a factor or two about working his method to the highest.
“Geographically, it was referred to as ‘the Backside’ as a result of it was the bottom level of public housing earlier than you bought to the undeveloped space in direction of the waterfront,” Michaels recalled. Perkins Properties was tough and tumble improvement the place his mom raised him in a single mother or father family.
“All the trappings that include residing in an economically depressed space and the behaviors that associate with that–all of that was what I needed to face and I used to be in a position to get out,” mentioned Michaels.
He grew up listening to many radio personalities like “Fats Daddy,” Kelson “Chop Chop” Fisher, Sir Johnny O and plenty of different early 70’s Baltimore radio hosts. Nevertheless, the primary radio host that took Michaels “below his wing” was Maurice “Scorching Rod” Hulbert.
“These guys have been greater than life to me. They actually impressed me by means of the years. To lastly discover myself sitting in that chair that I admired–that was enjoyable,” mentioned Michaels.
He remembers his time working within the radio trade as fulfilling due to his religion. Whereas there have been bumpy durations, he mentioned he in the end discovered his “approach again to a spot of religion” by means of the experiences bestowed upon him. One such alternative got here on a Sunday night whereas consuming dinner alone, the phrases of a radio evangelist inspired him to mix his ability units from the Air Pressure, the Military Reserves, transient research at Coppin State College and the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland (BIM) to get into broadcast radio.
His first broadcasting job was with WCEM/WESP-FM Cambridge, Md. radio station in Maryland’s Jap Shore. The FM style was rock. The AM style was huge band. Each arenas featured music codecs he “knew nothing about,” he mentioned.
“I inform all people to today that was one of the best factor that might’ve occurred to me,” Michaels instructed the AFRO. The circumstances of his new alternative compelled him to review and adapt, studying find out how to current the genres to listeners.
He organized a handful of disc jockeys who labored at 4 golf equipment in Baltimore. By way of that group–the Disco Knights–he made contacts with music producers and discovered the ins and outs of the published music trade, finally assembly key gamers within the upcoming rap music trade. within the early 80’s. Among the many new connections was a relationship with New York Metropolis document producer who would turn into the well-known enterprise mogul, Russell Simmons.
Although the thrills of mainstream radio have been ever-present, finally Michaels answered a better calling and determined to maneuver into gospel radio. He obtained his begin in Christian radio below Pastor Naomi DuRant at WBGR, nevertheless it was his time at Heaven 600 that has made Michaels a family identify in Christian houses and vehicles throughout the realm.
At the moment, streaming has turn into the brand new regular for the radio trade and thru it Heaven 600 has cast a world outreach. Michaels mentioned reference to organizations just like the Gospel Announcer’s Guild, out of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, allowed him to grasp the impression of know-how.
“You have to all the time understand that your presentation in radio needs to be one dimension higher than the accepted observe in radio–which is data and leisure,” mentioned Michaels. “We perceive that folks come for these two issues.”
Now that his time on air is finished, Michaels instructed the AFRO he seems again with gratitude and might solely hope he has been a great instance to others.
“Having had this chance to stay what I name a ‘fulfilling life,’ and a satisfying profession, I might hope that my journey and my story indirectly, type or style as a supply of encouragement and a reminder that God does nonetheless honor faithfulness–in case you are true to your dedication,” mentioned Michaels. “Dwell a godly life, God will reward it. I actually consider that as a result of that’s what I lived.”
Gene Lambey is a resident of Washington D.C. He’s writing for the neighborhood.
