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Dyana
Williams’ career exceeds limitation. Whether
showcasing her talents in broadcasting,
print journalism and community activism
or television producing & reporting, media
coaching and lecturing, she’s remained a
constant force in the entertainment industry
for over three decades.
Currently,
Williams hosts “Soulful Sunday,” a weekly
show broadcast via Radio One adult contemporary
station, WRNB-FM, which won the Achievement
in Radio Award for Best Weekend Show in
Philadelphia for 2006. Each Sunday, 10am
to 3pm, she can be found at 100.3 on the
FM dial, deftly weaving the musical history
born of her adopted hometown and other classic
music – from Aretha Franklin, The Temptations
to Teddy Pendergrass…and every artist in
between.
Affectionately
named "The Ambassador of African-American
Music" by American Express’ Departures magazine,
the Harlem, New York native began her career
at WHUR-FM in the Nation’s Capitol and later,
journeyed back home to the top-rated station,
WBLS-FM. After making history as the first
African-American woman to join an on-air
team in rock radio at WRQX-FM, she landed
her first on-camera position as an entertainment
reporter on “PM Magazine,” which aired on
Washington, D.C.’s CBS affiliate, WUSA.
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Williams
made Philadelphia her home in 1980 when
she accepted a coveted on-air position with
WDAS-FM. Along with organizing the station’s
community-based activities, she moonlighted
as a News & Entertainment Reporter for BET
and Music Consultant for VH1’s “The Soul
of VH1.” After co-founding the International
Association of African-American Music in
1991, she furthered her commitment to her
community by rallying alongside Congressman
Chaka Fattah to pass House Concurrent Bill
509, which she co-authored as a means to
give credence to the contributions of African-American
music as a viable cultural and economic
entity.
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The
recipient of two academic scholarships,
Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree
in Radio, Television and Film, and graduated
cum laude, from the Annenberg School of
Communications at Temple University and
has been honored with a Liberty Bell from
Mayor John Street and the City of Philadelphia,
as well as a citation from the Pennsylvania
State House of Representatives. Dyana is
a proud member of AFTRA, NABFEME and serves
on the board of governors for the Philadelphia
chapter of NARAS (better known as The Recording
Academy or the Grammys organization). Her
writing has graced the pages of Billboard,
The Philadelphia Tribune, The Philadelphia
New Observer. She’s been profiled in VIBE,
Essence, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Jet, Upscale,The
Philadelphia Sun and The Philadelphia Weekly.
Dyana has been a featured guest on CNN where
she was interviewed by Anderson Cooper,”
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Dyana
was spotlighted on CNN Headline News as
one of the top African American leaders
in the country and has also appeared on
PBS, MTV and The Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Williams frequently lectures at major colleges
and university campuses throughout the United
States. Among them, she has spoken at such
illustrious institutions as Howard, Hampton,
the University of Pennsylvania, and Duke
University. In June of 2007, she was acknowledged
by President George W. Bush, for her outstanding
work as a music activist and cultural advocate,
at a special White House Black Music Month
reception.Over the last decade, Williams
has expanded her portfolio to include artist
development/media coaching and to date,
Usher, T.I., Chris Brown, Rihanna, Ne-Yo,
Musiq Soulchild, The Bravery and the Denver
Nuggets’ own Allen Iverson, have all benefited
from her hands-on approach. Dyana is currently
a consultant to media maven Cathy Hughes'
show TV ONE ON ONE on the TV One network.
She’s also delved into the realm of documentary
film with “Message in the Music: Gamble
& Huff’s Sound of Philadelphia,” a project
she’s producing. |
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Ever
mindful of the importance of family, Williams
is most proud of her role as mother to
her three children from her former union
with acclaimed producer and songwriter,
Kenny Gamble – Salahdeen, Princess Idia
and Caliph.
Dyana
Williams, a certified PADI scuba diver and
passionate art collector, splits her time
between her home in the Philadelphia area
and her sanctuary in the Treme neighborhood
of New Orleans.
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