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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 107.9 on the
FM dial and on worldwide on the Internet
on 1079wrnb, 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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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,” |
| 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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