January 11, 2018 

By Niele Anderson 

Contributing Writer 

 

On January 4, hundreds of community members, radio industry, politicians and stakeholders, gathered together to celebrate and bid farewell to Los Angeles radio and community icon Clifton Wayne Winston. The service was held at West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. North Campus Sanctuary. The service was officiated by Elder Henry Fredrick.

 

 

 

The room was mixed with laughter and tears as memories were shared of a husband, a father, grandfather, friend, leader, music lover and beloved radio jock. Winston, a Los Angeles native was a product of Dorsey High, Los Angeles City College, which led to a transfer to the University of Washington ,where his radio ambitions blossomed into a successful career. His love for radio started at an early age in the heart of Los Angeles, where he watched disc jockeys through a window of a radio station on Crenshaw Blvd. and read aloud from old discarded newspapers to practice his voice. He’d fondly talked about those memories on the KJLH radio station, when he was the morning anchor of the very successful morning show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greg Johnson KJLH Marketing Director shared, “Cliff Winston was one of the consummate broadcasters in radio. Black radio in particular. I was always amazed at his ability to keep up with current events. When I would travel, he would always say, "Greg, bring me a paper." He also loved that radio microphone. He would always say to me, “I never met a microphone I didn't like.” He continued, “He was an icon in the Los Angeles community. He taught me how important KJLH was to this community, explaining that we were more than a radio station. I was sad. When he left KJLH but just devastated that he left us so soon ... a good broadcaster... a good father.... a good man. Rest in peace Cliff.”

 

 

 

Cliff Winston was more than a disc jockey, he was connected to the Los Angeles community, providing knowledge on sports, politics and city news.  Carl Nelson, former host of KJLH “Front Page”,  who came on right before Winston stated, “Cliff was friend and colleague for many years. Like many great basketball players who were also ' gym rats', Cliff was a radio rat. He had an unbridled passion for the medium; even more, he loved the nuances of the radio game. In the mornings, we often planned and plotted different strategies to keep the audience listening longer. He further stated, “even after we both left KJLH, we stayed in touch and discussed different radio scenarios. Like a good ball player, Cliff was adept at setting on air match-ups and record rotation. He was definitely at the top of radio programmers that I have worked with over the years. I miss those conversations already.”

 

 

 

Cliff Winston also joined other popular radio stations. He left KJLH in 1990 to join 92.3 the Beat. He returned KJLH in 1993 to serve as Program Director and anchor the morning show where the station garnered the highest ratings the station ever had. His latter female co-host who still sits in the morning spot, Adai Lamar shared, “My heart is forever broken at the loss of my friend ... my brother, Cliff Winston! Cliff was L.A.’s son! He knew everything about L.A., just as he did about radio. He made the studio into a classroom. He was amazing to watch and grand to hear! It was an honor to be his co-host and a blessing to learn from him. I will miss our life conversations and crazy inside jokes! People have asked me a lot about Cliff since his passing. I can best describe him as human! One of the best, I’ve ever known!”

 

 

In 2006, Cliff left KJLH again to challenge himself and joined Radio One’s KRBV V-100. Radio One founder Cathy Hughes shared her thoughts of Winston, “CLASS ACT is the most accurate description of who Cliff Winston will be remembered as. Whether it be his voice or his style of dressing or his attitude towards all people and circumstances, he was the consummate gentleman at all times. Cliff made Black Radio look and sound real good!  I am grateful that he raised the bar of excellence in the profession that he and I both loved.”

 

During the funeral service, KJLH owner Stevie Wonder tearfully brought thoughts of Cliff and sang “AS” and a medley of songs, as the audience sang along. “I want to cry … I want to yell out loud.  But, Cliff is saying to me … ‘Keep it ..calm’.  And so, I’ll do my best to do that,” said Wonder.  “But I think the greatest thing I remember is seeing him at the celebration of 50 years of KJLH, and me telling him ‘I love you’ and him saying ‘I love you’ to me.”  

 

Winston was buried at Inglewood Cemetery.

 

 

Kevin Fleming former KJFJ, KACE and V100 program director stated, “During his career, Cliff touched tens of thousands of listeners and fans. He will be remembered as an L.A. radio legend but he was also a really good brother… gone too soon. May God Bless brother Cliff Winston.”

January 11, 2018

Aries   

March 21 – April 19 

There is so much positive activity this coming week that it could be very productive for you. For instance, when determined Mars, your ruler, links to fervent Pluto, you might be willing to put a lot of effort into a goal that is of prime importance. Once you take that first step, it could begin to snowball. The right people and the right timing can also show up to assist you in other ways. The weekend could see you adopting a more independent path.

  

Taurus 

May 21 - Jun 20

New opportunities are going to continue to beckon for some weeks and even months to come, but this week things could take a turn in a new direction. You could find you’re almost propelled along a new path by events or the encouragement of another. In fact, your friends and loved ones can be instrumental in pushing you forward into new adventures. However, as lovely Venus aligns with fervent Pluto, don’t try to push events before they’re ready to happen. Allow things to flow naturally.

  

Gemini 

May 21 - Jun 20 

Business affairs could go swimmingly over this week, and with some effort in the right places you could go far. You could even see some powerful transformations occurring to your finances through your own work and determination. Be prepared to be led forward by a series of events and encounters that could be very practical yet extremely exciting. Mercury, your guide planet, moves into Capricorn and this, too, could see you handling money and business in a very skillful way.

 

Cancer 

Jun 21 - Jul 22 

The week ahead could be filled with powerful interactions that build new relationships and enhance those you already have. Leisure and pleasure options could also bring you closer to others, as you may be eager to share your fun times with them. You might be drawn to collaborate with certain people on new projects, and this can be very rewarding for you. Setting firm boundaries could be key, though, as a potent Venus-Pluto link suggests someone may push for their intended outcome.

 

Leo 

Jul 23 - Aug 22 

You might be ready to make some lifestyle changes that could affect you and your family for the better. A very lively blend of energies hints that making a start now could see you transforming your own health and perhaps that of others. In particular, a link between stirring Mars and fervent Pluto might encourage you to make a clean sweep. This could mean altering your diet or perhaps exercise routine in a very radical way. Once you’ve made up your mind, there may be no going back.

  

Virgo 

Aug 23-Sep 22 

There seem to be so many ideas available to you, as well as an opportunity to collaborate with others. This could be a very busy and promising week that gets 2018 off to a wonderful start. It isn’t a time to hold back and keep things yourself. Rather, share your thoughts and allow others to contribute. This process could be very creative for all involved, and might result in projects and plans that greatly benefit everyone and even prove very lucrative.

  

Libra 

Sep 23 - Oct 22 

You might need to use your powers of persuasion to convince family members that your ideas are in their best interests. With both the sun and lovely Venus aligning with passionate Pluto, certain others may have their own agenda, and this could delay your plans. In the end, you might have to prove it to them by making a start and letting them see for themselves. Once they do, you may find that they back you wholeheartedly. Try to be flexible with your social plans over the weekend.

 

Scorpio 

Oct 23 - Nov 21 

You could be on a personal mission over the days ahead, and this might show through your dedication and determination to turn an idea into reality. It might seem as though you need to be very persuasive to convince others to join you, but this might not be necessary at all. Your sheer enthusiasm might be what encourages others to come on board. What results from this could bring positive outcomes that truly benefit everyone. And with feisty Mars in your sign aligning with expansive Jupiter, anything is possible.

  

Sagittarius 

Nov 22 - Dec 21 

Your understanding and knowledge of your inner life and thoughts and feelings can have a direct influence on your finances. The more confidence you have in yourself, the more this will be reflected in your ability to enhance your income and feel secure. The presence of expansive Jupiter in your spiritual sector suggests that hiring the services of a life coach or other professional could be helpful, as he or she might be able to help you move beyond any perceived limits and feel even more abundant.

  

Capricorn 

Dec 22 - Jan 19 

Your social life continues to be very buoyant and positive. And you seem to have friends in positions of power or authority who can be a great help to you at this time. With both feisty Mars and jovial Jupiter in your friendship zone, key alignments to planets in your sign could see you making fabulous progress with their help. In addition, you have much experience to add to the mix, and this combination can be perfect for creating much success.

  

Aquarius 

Jan 20 - Feb 18 

There are times in life when it pays to dig within and get to know oneself in greater depth. In your case, doing so could bring about positive experiences and insights that fuel your goals and aspirations. The coming weeks and months can be a great time to overcome any limitations that may be preventing you from living to your fullest potential. This week could see you trusting an intuitive nudge that turns out to be quite lucrative for you.

  

Pisces 

Feb 19 - Mar 20 

With dynamic Mars aligning with expansive Jupiter in your sector of travel and adventure, you could be fired up with ideas that may require a leap of faith. However, with the help of your friends, you could find that you have the courage to do whatever is required of you. They may be only too willing to join forces with you and lend you courage and support. However, avoid any impromptu purchases over the weekend, because the sun’s link with restless Uranus could encourage you to splurge.

January 11, 2018 

By DAVID BAUDER 

AP Media Writer 

 

Less than a month after PBS dropped Tavis Smiley's talk show after reported inappropriate relationships with subordinates, Smiley announced a deal Monday to go back to work with a new series about inspirational stories.

 

His series, “The Upside with Tavis Smiley,” will be streamed online and shown on The Word Network, a religious-oriented cable and satellite channel directed at black viewers. He also announced a five-city “town hall” tour to talk about relationships in the workplace.

 

Among the men caught up in sexual misconduct cases the past few months, Smiley has been most aggressive in fighting back and the first to publicly announce plans to resume his career. His new show is expected to start in the spring.

 

Smiley compared the experience to when he was fired by BET in 2001 for offering an interview that he had conducted with a newsmaker to ABC News, a corporate competitor. He wrote books about re­bounding from setbacks, and launched the late-night talk show with PBS that aired for 14 years.

 

“I would not wish this experience on my worst enemy,” Smiley said. “Having said that, the last time this happened, great things came out of it.”

 

Although conceding that what was once considered acceptable in the workplace may no longer be, Smiley has been defiant, suggesting that ro­mances between professional colleagues is hardly unusual. However, PBS investigators reportedly found women who felt their advancement at work was tied to the sexual relationships, an assertion Smiley has denied.

 

He’ll be a test case for whether fans will be willing to overlook behavior that an employer considered out of bounds.

 

By fashioning a new program focusing on inspirational stories instead of more general interest news and entertainment, Smiley will sidestep the issue of whether his downfall would make celebrities reluctant to be interviewed by him. By striking a digital distribution deal with the media company AerNow and a little-watched cable network, he will also be much less visible.

 

But Smiley said he believed that going digital positions him well for the future. He also said he'll attract a younger audience than he was getting at PBS, and that he has also struck a deal for international distribution for “The Upside” and his production company’s inventory of interviews that he conducted in the past.

 

He announced plans for a book and online course in “Leading by Listening.”

 

His “town hall” appearances in Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco will have him moderating discussions about acceptable workplace protocols.

 

“Everyone is saying, ‘We need to talk about this,’ but nobody is doing that,” he said. “Nobody is creating a space for it. Now here I am doing it.”

 

Smiley said he was motivated to get back to work quickly because of concern for employees of his production company who learned that the PBS show was ending at the beginning of the holiday season.

 

He said he wasn’t concerned that by moving so quickly, he might be missing out on better opportunities if he waited for the story of his firing to fade.

 

“You can only make decisions based on what's in front of you,” he said. “You can’t make decisions based on what might happen, on what may come.”

 

He said that as “a black man in America,” he knows that better offers may never come.