DYANA WILLIAMS
Dyana Williams has distinguished herself as the primary authority on the prominence and value of African American music in global culture. Williams has built a respected niche as a noted air personality and programmer who celebrated 50 years in radio in 2022, and has become one of the foremost women entrepreneurs in contemporary entertainment and media.
Williams’ prodigious achievements have earned her numerous awards and honors that are almost too numerous to name. Among other distinctions, Williams was listed as #7 on the "Top 20 Black Radio Jockeys of All Time" by News One, and RadioFacts.com recognized her as #8 on the "Top 30 Black Women in Media." In 2014, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter presented a proclamation to Williams for her dedication and effort to augment the Philadelphia slogan “The City of Brotherly Love And Sisterly Affection,” acknowledging the inclusion of women. Williams has been nominated twice for induction in the Radio Hall of Fame. In 2023, Williams, Kenny Gamble and Ed Wright were recognized by the Philadelphia City Council and Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson for their work as co-founders of June as Black Music Month in the city of Philadelphia.
Williams is an integral part of the broadcast identities of New York, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia – three of the largest radio markets in the country – for more than five decades. Her instantly recognizable vocal style and extensive historical and technical knowledge have made her an indelible presence in broadcasting. Thanks to radio syndication, as well as frequent appearances on broadcast television as a reporter, commentator, and media expert, Williams is a go-to subject expert on music and media.
A native of Harlem, New York, Williams began her radio career as a DJ at the City College of New York’s WCCR. Inspired by pioneering NYC radio host Vy Higginsen, Williams moved on to WHUR-FM in Washington, D.C., in 1973, honing her on-air style as “Ebony Moonbeams,” earning countless devotees to her sensuous vocal delivery and musical choices. In 1975, she was gratified when legendary New York programmer/DJ Frankie Crocker brought Williams to the top-rated WBLS-FM, the same station where she had first heard Higginsen. The following year, Williams again broke barriers as the first Afro-Latina woman to host a shift on an all-rock station, WMAL-FM Washington D.C., which later became WRQX-FM. She also served as program director for D.C. music outlet WMMJ-FM while also serving as an on-camera entertainment contributor for TV’s P.M. Magazine. After moving to Philadelphia in 1980, Williams joined powerhouse heritage station 105.3 WDAS-FM in Philadelphia, where she launched the show “Love’s on the Menu” and became a fixture on the station for nearly a decade.
Williams also reported for Black Entertainment Television (BET) and worked as music consultant for The Soul of VH1, where she conducted artist interviews. Since 2008, she has served as an expert commentator on TV One’s award-winning music documentary series Unsung, including episodes on the Supremes, Minnie Riperton, Jean Carne, Will Downing, and many others. Closely associated with The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP) and such Philadelphia artists as Patti LaBelle, Billy Paul, Jean Carne, and Teddy Pendergrass, Williams produced the PBS special The Philadelphia Music Makers in 1990.
Williams’ innate love of Black music and Black culture has motivated her to become an advocate of America’s indigenous musical forms, including R&B, blues, hip-hop, soul, and jazz. In the 1990s, Williams founded the International Association of African American Music (IAAAM) to help educate, promote, celebrate, and preserve black music forms through discussion, performance, and other events. Williams was integral to establishing June as Black Music Month in the United States, having co-written House Concurrent Bill 509, which recognized African American music as an American cultural institution, thus earning the title “The Mother of Black Music Month.”
As CEO of Influence Entertainment, one of the leading media and entertainment consulting companies in the U.S., Williams provides essential media education and coaching to top-charting recording artists, actors, performers, business executives, athletes, and celebrities from a variety of industries. Her extensive client roster has included Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Fantasia, ASAP Rocky, Spotify, Tidal, Motown, UNCF, The City of Philadelphia and more.
As a live event producer, Williams has produced the last three WaWa Welcome America Festival’s Avenue of the Arts Stage in Philadelphia, where she curates some of the finest talents in the region from Lady Alma to Edgardo Cintron’s Inca Latin Band. Additionally, Dyana has served as the producer/curator of the Camden Jam Festival in Riggins Park, Camden, New Jersey. She has also been the co-producer of the star-studded annual Marian Anderson Awards and proudly orchestrated live-event tributes to Berry Gordy, Jon Bon Jovi, Wynton Marsalis, Patti LaBelle, Gamble & Huff, and Kool & the Gang.
Williams is a founding board member of the dynamic new National Museum of African-American Music in Nashville, where she co-chairs the museum’s Music Industry Relations Collective. A past president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy (the GRAMMYs), she is also a proud member of SAG-AFTRA. She currently sits on the board of her alma mater, Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication, where she graduated cum laude.
From producing live cultural events to serving as an on-camera commentator for various media, from promoting African-American music as an advocate via board service to appearing nationwide as a popular public speaker, Williams is committed to promoting the culture of American indigenous music at all levels of society. Thanks to her engaging personality, personal integrity, and devotion to African American culture, Williams continues to add immediacy and dynamism to the culture at large, and specifically to the craft of American broadcasting.
MEET
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DAYSHA Ali
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Daysha Ali is a lover of and contributor to the “culture". Born and raised in the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, the proud Philadelphia native attended the Philadelphia High School for Girls and earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Daysha Ali has been emerged in urban media for over a decade, juggling multiple hats, from radio producer, blogger, podcaster, event coordinator, on-air talent, host, talent booker to media coach. Her passion for art and music fuels her drive to curate spaces for community members to be educated, entertained and display their passions.
Outside of producing various live radio shows for Radio One, Daysha Ali is a member of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. Along with hosting and producing local music events, Daysha Ali also has hosted and produced her own sponsored web series called ‘The Chill Spot’ sponsored by Mitchell & Ness, that focused on art, music and sports. Nadaysha has been involved with various event productions, working with companies like; The Philadelphia Kimmel Center, Welcome Wawa America, Independent Blue Cross (IBX) and The Philadelphia International Airport.
LAIYA ST. CLAIR
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Laiya St.Clair is a seasoned on-air personality/content creator and talent booker. Her contributions to radio have garnered a proclamation from The City of Philadelphia and top positions on The Source Magazine’s “Power 30 In Radio” 2 years in a row.
This Washington, DC native has been featured as talent for Comcast, Fox, The CW and The Doctor Oz Show and HuffPost Live, Music Choice . Throughout Laiya’s radio career she produced multiple morning radio shows leading her into the content creation space. She formed a production company with partners called, It's the Life Creative, while working as a Consultant and Content Producer for Philly 360°, an initiative of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, VisitPhilly . These partnerships came together to support Laiya’s vision of a popular live interview series in Philadelphia called Inside the Studio.
You can now hear Laiya weekly on iHeart podcast, Questlove Supreme where she shines as a producer/co-host and she strategizes the booking of guests like Dave Chappelle, Sheila E., Solange, James Mtume, Gabrielle Union, Snoop, Shep Gordon,Chris Rock, Quincy Jones, Michelle Obama, Bobby Brown and many more. She also serves as cohost/producer of VisitPhilly’s premiere podcast, Love+Grit which highlights all things dope about Philadelphia. Both podcasts provide an opportunity for Laiya to bring her own style of knowledge and humor to shows immersed in the telling of stories that have created and are creating historic legacies for the world’s pleasure.
K. FOXX
K. Foxx attended the historic Shaw University in North Carolina where she first ventured into radio and television. Upon graduation, she got her first job in radio atK97.5 WQOK in Raleigh. She was soon recruited to move to Miami and join 99Jamz WEDR. After working weekends and overnights, K. Foxx landed her big break hosting South Florida's number one radio show "The Takeover" with the world renowned DJ Khaled. K. Foxx was recognized as Best Female Air Personalityby the Miami New Times, and voted Best Radio Personality by the Broward New Times. The New Yorker, has been recognized by The Source Magazine as one of the most powerful media personalities in the nation. Ms. Foxx can now add Cover girl to her resume, after being selected to grace the cover of the 8th edition of EBE Magazine: Evolving Beauty and Elegance.
After making a name for herself in Miami, K. Foxx was handpicked to join the legendary radio station Hot 97 WQHT in New York. Her voice could be heard every weekday morning during the Cipha Sounds and Rosenberg Morning Show with K. Foxx. She is also a fixture in the entertainment television field. She has solidified herself as a TV personality after she made appearances on HLN's Jane Valez-Mitchel, Showbiz tonight, Joy Behar, Uncommon Sense on MTV, and Good Day Philadelphia on Fox 29. K. Foxx was also asked to be a correspondent for EXTRA on NBC. Later, Foxx joined iHeartMedia heading up the number 1 night show from 6-10pm on Miami's 1035 The Beat WMIB. She also secured midday shifts on 93.3 The Beat Jamz in Jacksonville, Florida and 92.3 KIIZ in Killeen, Texas. K. Foxx joined the Radio One family, and she was one half of the Quincy Harris Morning show with K. Foxx on WRNB, in Philadelphia. Later she was granted her own Midday show on WRNB from 9-3pm called the “K.Foxx Show”. Recently she has taken her talent and skills, and joined Dyana Williams long standing company, Influence Entertainment as a Media Coach.
A trailblazer, and passionate about giving back, K. Foxx started the “K. Foxx Princess Project” which gives graduating seniors the chance to have the prom of a lifetime. Sponsors provide dresses, shoes, hair, make up, and even a limousine ride to the prom! K. Foxx is just beginning her journey to success; but along the way she wants to make sure that up and coming leaders know that hard work is rewarded. K. Foxx is also a Carma ambassador, and serves on the board of the Carma foundation, lending her time and talents to helping marginalized women and children in the Caribbean, South America, Africa and the inner cities of the United States.