October 8, 2021 • 35 mins
Ed talks with radio and tv legend Donnie Simpson. They talk about their years at BET, his hall of fame radio career and the relaunch of Video Soul, the popular music program Simpson hosted “back in the day.
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Speaker 1 (00:21):
Welcome to the latest edition of One the Gordon Podcast.
Today a conversation with radio and TV legend Tonny Simpson.
Donny was one of the nation's top DJs who found
immense popularity in Detroit and Washington, d C, before he
got a call to host a video show for the
fledgling cable network b e T. That's So Funny, Welcome
(00:46):
back Video Soul. I'm Donnie Simpson and my guest today
has established himself as a songwriter, producer, electrifying stage performer.
Of course, he is Bobby Brown and we welcome him
a game to Videos Souls b B. From nineteen eighty
one to nineteen nine, six viewers tuned in to hear
that smooth voice and see those green eyes. Simpson became
(01:09):
a household name in Black America and held down the
network's most popular show, where Donnie and later co host
interviewed the day's most popular music stars. Since then, Donnie
has remained a staple on radio in d C, and now,
a quarter century after going off the air, Donnie is
(01:29):
bringing Video Soul back on the streaming platform to be.
Donnie and I have remained friends since our days at
BT and being sons of the Motor City gave us
a special connection. Hey man, good to see you well,
thank you, Ed, Good to see you two. Brother always,
dude this always. You know how we roll though, right? Yes,
(01:56):
you know. Let me jump right into that, Donnie, because
a lot of people obviously found you with with video soul.
But you were um, a known commodity, a well known commodity,
a a need I say, superstar in radio before even
hitting b E t uh you you started as a
teen in Detroit. Yeah, man, fifteen years old bro uh
(02:20):
at w j LB in Detroit. Man, I was. I
was so young. I couldn't even do my whole show
live because the show was from six to ten, I
mean from eight to midnight, and the law stated that
you couldn't work past ten thirty at fifteen years old.
So I would have to after school. I would go
to the radio station, record my last hour and a half. Uh,
(02:41):
go home, have dinner, do my homework, go back at
eight to do the show live from eight to ten thirty,
put on the tape and leave. You know. So it
had a tremendous start, and especially then Detroit was the
fifth largest market in the country. So to get a
start on a major market radio state like that. Man
if fifteen was just such a blessing, you know, and
(03:04):
to find what you love so early, you know, it
was was really a very special blessing. I mean, clearly, Donnie,
you were made for this in the sense of they
had programs where you were team reporters at different high schools,
and there was something special in you that you went
from that to commanding a show. Yeah. Well, I was
(03:25):
a team reporter from my high school, which was then
behind it's one radio station, And I mentioned w j LB,
of course, had a group called the w j LB
Soul Team Reporters, one reporter from each public high school
in Detroit, and I was reported from my school. And yeah,
we did these reports that ran once a day, sometimes
(03:46):
twice a day. They were like sixties seconds, two minute
and a half long. And yeah, you've got capping down
measurements next Friday, don't We've gotta bake sale Tuesday? We
beat Purshing Hive fifty six to forty eight. Last week
the Lovers of the Week are and our number one
song is that kind of thing. But I had this
heavy voice. My voice changed, uh the summer between seventh
(04:09):
and eighth grade, and uh so I had this heavy voice, man,
and I just got so popular from doing I was
more popular than most of the DJ's just doing this
thing that ran for sixty seconds a day, you know.
And so they started putting me on on weekends on
Saturdays for three or four hours, and that lasted for
(04:31):
about two months, I think, and they fired the guy
who did eighth to Midnight, said we need you to
sit in for him for one week to give us
time to find someone else. I said, there for seven
and a half years, bro, that's I started, you know.
And so that's the beginning of a radio of course.
(04:51):
Then later on I went to d C and things
were just amazing there. But you know, to this day,
there's so many people who you know, as you alluded to,
you just know me from video soul. I have no
idea that I did radio, you know, and continue to
do it. We should say, continue, man, I've got wow,
(05:14):
fifty three years in radio. Man. You know what's great
about the Team program, even though it was only sixty
seconds and it's said that they don't have those kinds
of things today, it gives you an opportunity to dream
and know that you can do it. You know, it's
it's an open door that may not have opened otherwise,
(05:36):
That's right, no question. I mean, if I didn't have
that thing, I may not be here talking to the
great Ed Gordon today, you know. But that thing opened
a door for me, you know, I mean, and I
was just blown away. This is the beginning of my
love for radio. My mother owned a record shop in Detroit,
as you know. And uh, one day she had the
(06:00):
local DJ, the morning guy, Al Perkins, come by and
do his show that Saturday afternoon for three hours, and
you know, just to hype up business. And so I
went into that studio, man, and I saw Al sitting there.
Man hit his headphones on and he's grouping to music.
And I was like, man, I could do that. I
(06:23):
could do I mean, that was the very day I
fell in love with radio massive. I want to do that.
And within the next three months, you know, I joined
the Reporters and I was on the air with my
own show. I mean, it happened that quickly for me.
So um, you know, I I've just always been blessed
that people have kind of pushed me to where I
(06:45):
needed to be, uh because even before that, in the
record shop, people would come in and go, God, you
sound like the DJ. You ought to be a DJ
whatever it was in one ear out the other man,
I wanted to be a Baptist medicine, you know. And uh,
somewhere along the line, George Clinton turned me out. So
(07:06):
here's what I said. I'm still he said, I'm still
going to be that. He still stands by that. She said, baby,
you you're trying to run from something you can't get
away from. But you know, in a way, Donnie, you
have been giving the word right all these years, just
from a different vehicle, right, not the pulpit, but the
microphone in the studio. Yeah. Yeah, well you know what
(07:27):
she has said that too, that you work from a
bigger pulpit than you ever could have. Yeah, you know,
this is great, you know. And it's not like I mean,
you know me, So it's not like I beat you
over the head with religion or anything. But I'm a
religious person. I'm very connected. And even if it's as
simple as at the end of the shows, God bless you.
(07:49):
You know, I don't have to beat you over here
with it. But you know, and even if you are
not of that, if you don't go, if you don't
believe in that or whatever. You must at least that
I wish you well. Yeah, I just say anything bad
to you, you know, so so it's simple for me.
I just you know, I wish you well. I just
(08:10):
God bless you. You know. You go from being we
didn't throw your nickname out there at a love bug
in Detroit, but you go from that Donnie to going
to d C and and just the time. Sometimes it's
about timing, right, It isn't necessarily your talent. It isn't
necessarily anything other than timing and the timing for you
(08:31):
in d C. And I think about you and Melvin Lindsay,
the late great Melvin Lindsay and the quiet storm, you know,
being in that city and setting a tone um in
Chocolate City was just remarkable because then people started to
hear about you without knowing who you were. You just
heard about this dude in d C on the radio.
(08:53):
So those of us in Detroit knew, but people were
starting to hear about you. There's a trickle about Donnie
Simpson and Melvin Lindsay, you know across the country. What
was that like for you to become as popular as
you became in d C. And then you know, no,
you were starting to get a national reputation. Yeah, it was,
Uh well, first of all, I was very concerned moving here.
(09:16):
I was afraid that d C wouldn't accept me. Um.
I felt that I had this built in advantage in Detroit.
I'm the homeboy. You know. They watched me grow up
on radio. Remember when I missed my show to go
to my prom you know, all those kinds of things,
and uh so I thought that was a great advantage. Um.
(09:39):
But I mean immediately, the acceptance here was just amazing
in d C. Um, you know. And the reason I
left Detroit was that I felt like there was no
room for growth for me there anymore. I felt like that,
you know, and I don't mean in the city as
a whole. I mean in that particular radio a station
(10:00):
and that company. That radio station was the biggest of
all of their stations. And uh when I came here,
this was to an NBC owned radio station. It was
fifty thousand watch you know the station in Detroit. Man,
when I was on at night, we had two fifty wats,
you know, like it was like a light bulb. But
(10:21):
we were coming. We were You couldn't beat us, you
couldn't beat us, so, um, you know, some to come
to d C. I had those concerns, but um, just
you know, immediately, man, the thing just well, I shouldn't
say immediately. It feels like that now because it's been
so long. But I came in seventy seven, and you know,
(10:44):
I got kind of popular quickly within the first year
year and a half. But things really started to blow
up in nineteen eighty. January of nineteen eighty that's when
I became I became program director like two or three
months prior to that, and then I moved to mornings
because our consultants said, you know, you're the most popular
(11:05):
guy on the station, you gotta do mornings. So I
was saying, okay, So I did that, and that's when
things just really really exploded for me. Um. But to
see that, you know, and I mean you talk about
the level of popularity and stuff. I mean, and I
don't know that it was that much bigger than what
(11:28):
I had experienced in Detroit. I mean, you know, in Detroit, man,
it was crazy for me. I mean, it was like
kind of like rock star stuff, you know. I mean
I can remember, you know, I used to have I
used to do these sock hops dances at the high
schools and could never play my last song. Would always
have to have somebody else play my last song because
they would have to get me out of here. I
(11:50):
couldn't leave. People would just you know, it was crazy.
I mean, had my clothes ripped off me, all that
kind of stuff. Does a DJ you know that it
was crazy, So you know, it was all so popularity
to me. I guess it's all I've ever known. You know.
It's been like that for me from the beginning. And uh,
(12:12):
I sometimes think that when people say, God, you so
down to earth, I think that that's one of the
reasons why it is, because it's all I've ever known.
It's not like a new a certain life for thirty
years and then things blew up and it's just change.
It's like, that's all I've ever known. All I've ever
done is radio and TV. I even had a TV
(12:32):
show in Detroit. The show was so bad my mama
wouldn't even want man, it was bad. And I'm telling you,
I was like nineteen years old, you know, and it
was just a local thing. But guy would love to
have a tape of that. I would love to see
what that looked like, I think, um. But but you know,
(12:55):
then of course, once b Et kicked in, um, you know,
I started to get a national name for myself, even
through just radio um because you know, one year I
won because once I became program director, I won Billboards
Program Director of the Year and uh bill Boards, uh
DJ of the Year in the same year. And you know,
(13:19):
and once I got I'm sorry, but I'm spacic. But
you know, when you do what you do, and as
you know, I don't care what it is, it's just
what you do. And a lot of times those things
don't really uh find focus for you until much later,
you know. And I look back on that, like Billboards
(13:42):
program Director of the Year and DJ the Year and
I didn't even go to the awards ceremony in l A.
I just but that's kind of how I've always been.
Those things don't really mean a whole lot to me.
You know. All I really care about it the people
that listen to me. Just you know, that's that's always
been the focus. But but but when I look back
(14:03):
on it's like, well, maybe it was the right decision,
because this is a cooler story to tell that because
I didn't go. Guess who accepted the award for me,
Dick Clark better than me getting it. Here's here's what
I didn't know, Donnie, when I when when when we
talk about you going to be et uh? Until recently,
(14:26):
I didn't know this, and I think most people will
be shocked to hear this. You were not the first
host for Video Soul. I wasn't. No. A dude name
Virgil himp Hill was the very first host. And dig
this His name that he took, the moniker he took
was Reverend el Dorado. That's really am man, is this no? No? Listen?
(14:54):
I did some research and you know that's that's and
I'm sure was only for you know, a few months
or what have you. But of course video so it
really starts when when you do it. What was your
mindset when they came to you, when Bob came to
you and said, hey, I want you to host this show. Okay, well,
well first I want to address this is I mean,
(15:15):
that's pretty amazing that I didn't even know that. I
had no idea. This is news to me. Wow, that's
really that's really fascinating. But when when I first got
that call, I was I don't want to say not interested,
but I was very hesitant. Um. You know, I always
felt that I have to be very protective of image.
(15:39):
You know, That's all I have. I mean, that's all
I am. That's all you are. We're image, you know. Um.
So you know I can't give you twenty rebounds a
night or sixteen assists. You know, I'm just image. So
it's very important that you that the things I get
involved with our top shelf that's have always been. And
(16:02):
b et in its infancy wasn't a very pretty baby,
you know, it wasn't. Um. So I thought about it
for two days and then it finally just came down
to this, that this is our first black television network,
and if you have something to offer it, you have
to do that. Let's go and and I'm glad I did.
(16:27):
I mean because b et Uh put me in every
nook and cranny of this country and many other countries
around the world, you know, I mean it was amazing you.
You were there for the growth of that thing to
see you know. When I left, I mean when I started,
we were in one and a half million homes. When
I left, the number was like thirty five or forty
(16:47):
million something like that. Now it's a hundred plus. You know,
I have no idea what the number is now. Um.
So you know. So so it was very very good
for me. You know, it was challenging it times, because
you know, it's a new company trying to find its way.
And you know, there were times when I thought, Gonda,
(17:07):
I would like to have a bigger budget for things
to look better and all those things. You know. But
it was hours and you know, and and when I
look back on it now, man, it's like, and I'm
told Bob, Bob Johnson of course is the uh, the
guy who found it the et My first and only
contract negotiation with him. All right, it's about here three
(17:31):
of video soul I going to his office down to
Georgetown and Bob. The first thing Bob says is, Donny,
we can't afford to pay you what you're worth. I
was like, all right, Bob, I see you, and I left.
(17:51):
That was it. Never negotiated a dollar amounts, Like whatever
you pay me is fine. You know. You know, I
was very fortunate because I was doing well in the radio,
so I had that. Um but you know, now as
I look at it all these years later, It's like,
no matter what that number may have been, it doesn't
match the fact that we were there for the start
(18:15):
of this thing, this black television, the beginning of black television,
that we were such a significant part of that. No
amount of money could supplant that for me. When we
returned BT's golden years and the return of video. So
(19:02):
for those who grew up watching Donny Simpson on Video Soul,
it was a sad day when he left the show
in the program would be canceled soon thereafter. For years,
many have been clamoring to have this show return. I
know you've been getting this for the last quarter century
because I get it as well. You know, people say, oh,
I miss you on BT. You know, I wish you
(19:23):
were back this, that and the other um and in
particular for Video Soul. You know, it was appointment television.
And I know that you have been thinking and kind
of figuring out how can we do this because you
want to do it the right way, and that that
time has come, Yeah, it has, you know. I mean,
(19:44):
like you say, for twenty five years since we stopped
doing videos, so people have been saying to me and
you ought to bring it back, And at first it
was like, yeah, because when I left it, I was
tired of it. Yeah, you know, I really was at
the end. But as years went by, you start thinking
about that, you know, that this thing was so significant
(20:05):
to so many people. Why not? And uh so I
started exploring it and uh, you know, with my team.
I developed this team because I've decided I wanted to
create a production company, Donny Simpson Productions, and to try
to create some content for television. And uh, we decided
that that was the first thing that we needed to
(20:26):
do was to bring back Video Soul. Um. By the way,
Bob Johnson has been one of my greatest advisers on this.
You know, he has been really really helpful. Man, he
really has been, so I want to thank him. Um.
But we decided that this was the first thing that
we have to do, and so this is it. We
(20:47):
brought back Video Soul. Uh. It's streaming on to be
now and that's free. And I can't tell you how
excited I am and um to have this launch. Uh well,
the first really exciting moment came for me when I
walked into that studio and there s seventy people, most
(21:16):
of them of color. The vast majority of them color
that I've hired. You know that for three or four
days that we took to do these shows that I've employed,
these people are here working. So that was one thing,
because that's very important to me. That's one reason that
(21:36):
I want to do it is, you know, to create
opportunities for people. Okay. But the other thing was the
level of excitement from all those people who were working there.
And you know, the audience members came in that it's
what you were talking about earlier. It meant something to them.
(21:57):
You know, it wasn't just a job. You know, this
was something that they were genuinely excited about and proud of,
you know. And when we were record those things, you know,
Donnie's back. I mean, people were so excited to say
that that Donnie's back, and so it was it was
(22:18):
it was a mind blowing experience for me, man, and
for the first time for me to be in business
for myself, that was huge to me. Ed. You know,
I've always been a hired smile. You know, I've never
owned my smile all these years, and this is the
first time for me. And that's what it's about for
(22:38):
me now, about owning what I do. You know, I've
always preached that. I mean, I can remember having conversations
with guys when I first started the radio, I mean
back when I was eighteen nineteen years old, talking about
the need for us to own these properties that control
the messages that come into our communities and stuff like that,
(23:00):
you know, but I never owned anything. I always I
wish I had that entrepreneurialship, but didn't feel that I
had it. You know, I have older brother who had it,
My mom and dad had it, but I just didn't
have it. You know. I was like I was talented.
But you know, again, with the help of people like Bob,
you know, I've learned that you can develop it. You know,
(23:22):
it's not you know, we all learned and if that's
what you want, you can have it. So this was
very significant for me for that reason, to to own
me for the first time. Any trepidation in bringing it back,
you know sometimes the old saying you can't go home again.
I think about our cineo um and the game has changed.
(23:45):
I mean it is a different television and and and
content is completely different than it was five years ago. Yeah,
well it is. It's completely different. And I think that's
another reason why I warned to get back into it because, um,
you know, there's so many outlets it and they all
(24:08):
need content. It's a perfect time for content creators. You know.
The other thing is that you don't necessarily have to
go through that green lighting process that is Hollywood, where
I'm sitting there across the desk from some thirty five
year old who has no idea who I am for
(24:28):
what my reach is, trying to sell him on an
idea to give me money to go do this. No,
I put up my own money and take it straight
to the people through to me. How good is that?
So I'm grateful that things aren't the way they were
years ago, you know, and uh, you know, and I
(24:49):
think that everybody should be. You know, it creates your
opportunities for everybody. Now every it's so you know, it's
no longer just of course when we were young, I
mean I should speak for myself, but it was just ABC,
NBC and CBS. Of course we were in Detroit, so
we had to see it. Uh CBC out of Canada,
(25:12):
yeah right right, which never had anything on you wanted
to see. But you know, and then of course later
came table you know, we had all those options. We
thought that was so well. Now I mean it's just
endless and they all need content. So you know, I
think it's a very exciting time. So I'm very excited
(25:33):
about this. Ny. When you look back now, and I
sent you a text when it was announced that you
had made the Radio Hall of Fame, and I thought
to myself, what do you what do you mean he
made the radio I just assumed, like many, I think
you were already like that's a foregone conclusion, first ballot
(25:55):
Hall of Fame. What do you mean he's just now
going in? Um? When you think about where you are now,
right your legacy, because as you say, now you can
kind of sit back look at your career even though
you're doing things that gives you age, gives you the
ability to have some perspective on your life and your career. Um,
(26:16):
what do you think about when you think about your
career now? Wow? Mhmm. I think well, being inducted into
the Radio Hall of Fame last year forced me to
think about it a lot. Um. And and you know,
in all honesty, i'd never ever thought about that. It
(26:38):
never crossed my mind going into the Hall of Fame. Um,
I'm flattered by your reaction like so many others, you know,
someone to share to tape with me of Charlemagne, the
god on the Breakfast Club and him and his team
were just what he's not in a like this is crazy,
you know. So that's very very flattering man. But you know,
(27:01):
looking at it now, I mean, the day I got
that call in I gotta tell you, even though it's
something I never thought about, the day I got that
call saying I was being inducted was mind blowing. Um.
I mean I remember immediately went downstairs, UM to tell
my wife, Pam, you know, well my wife of forty
(27:22):
eight years, I might add, um to tell her what
the call that I just got. And I said, all
my life I've watched athletes get this call. I just
got it. It's mind blowing. It is really really something.
But is excited as I was last year about getting
(27:45):
that Hall of Fame induction. If you multiply that about
by about a thousand, you may get close to the
level of excitement I felt this year about the Hall
of Fame because well, they asked me to be on
the um In induction committee, and uh, at first I
didn't want to do it, you know, it's kind of
like not my thing to be in the board meetings
(28:06):
of the zoom Jet, you know. Uh, but I said,
if what you said is real in in your induction
speech last year, which what I said was that when
I first got the call, the first thing I did
was one online, not to see who was in the
Hall of Fame, but to see who wasn't. And I
was looking for one name, Frankie Crocker, the baddest DJ
(28:30):
in the history of radio. To me, man, Frankie Croco
out of New York City, that brother was bad and
he wasn't in the Hall of Fame. So so, and
this is what I said to my induction speech. So
to me, I felt like, you weren't legit. You don't
have Frankie in there, You're not legit, you know. And
uh but you know, I'm about to say they listened,
(28:52):
but I don't want to say this is the reason
they did that. I don't know, um, But this year
they have thirty three legends going into the Hall of Fame,
and one of them was a guy that I've fought
for so hard. Well, Frankie Crawford's one. But the other
is Melvin Lindsay, the quiet storm and about out of
(29:12):
these thirty three, I think ten of them are black.
And yeah, it's people. Man, that Martha gena queen out
of Detroit, you know, just legends. Andy o J out
of Cleveland group Ojs are named after him, I mean,
just real legends. So to me, I'm so much more
(29:34):
excited this year because, like I said last year, that
we have to be represented in this hall, and that
it doesn't have to be me, but it does have
to be us. You know, this year it's us, man
and brother. I just can't tell you how excited I
am about that, you know, and just and proud to
(29:57):
have been a part of it, of this committee made
this happen. My career is whatever it is, but to
be able to help shine spotlight a spotlight on these
other deserving people. Man, it's so you know, it's like
I mean, it's as simple as that stuff your mama
used to say. You know, the joy is in the giving,
you know, it really is, man, It's not about what
(30:19):
you receive, it's about what you give. And so you know,
I'm very grateful for my career. I mean, to know
that you had a Hall of Fame radio career is rewarding. Um.
To know the impact on television is rewarding. UM. You know,
(30:40):
I had this conversation one night with Frankie Beverly and
I was telling him. I said, Man, I would never
speak for you, I said, but I was talking to
somebody and I said this thing. I think I could
speak for Frankie on And that's this, I said, in
a way, Frankie, we have similar careers in this way.
(31:00):
Black America, I know you, everybody knows you, loves you
all that you know, White America. Yeah, right, not really.
And uh, I said, but I think I speak for
you on this that while I would love to have
(31:21):
all of it, the rest that would be great. I
wouldn't trade this part of an end to get that,
not for us, I said, no, to know that your
people feel that way about you, man, please, Frankie said, baby,
come on, you know that's that's easy. It's because we're Yeah,
it's real, man, it's real. I can die with that
(31:43):
and knowing that my people were proud of me. I mean,
it's nothing different from any child wanting to be What's
the greatest reward is to know that your parents is
proud of you, that your people are proud of you.
That's that's all I want. Man. I'm gonna say this,
as I tell you all the time in private. You know, Um,
(32:07):
there is a humble nature about you, Donnie that you
get a lot in show business, but it's false humility
most of the time. And I tell you, and I
tell people all the time that from the second I
met you, man, you are one of the most genuine
people that I met in this business. And that's saying
a lot, because you and I both know, finding real,
(32:29):
genuine people in this business who who like you and
appreciate you just for you and they're not looking for
that leg up and that next thing is rare. So
I am uh. I am so very happy that I
got a chance to to get to know you and
and that real side of you. Uh. And so for
for what is a Hall of Fame career and should
(32:50):
have been a first ballot a long time ago. Man,
I want to say for all of us, Man, thank
you for all of these great years of entertainment and
joy and music and all that you brought to us. Um.
And I can't tell you how much I appreciate that, bro,
I'm telling you, Man, it means a lot to me. Man,
You're one of my great friends and one of the
(33:12):
great talents, you know, And to have you say that
about me, man, is just I'm gonna call my mama.
I love you brother. You know that, man. And wow,
you say you know me personally, But I think that
that's the key to the success and the longevity is
(33:34):
that so do the people that watch me and listen
to me. They know me personally too. You know, may
have never met, but you don't have to to to
feel somebody. You know, you feel what's real, man, And
that's the key to it, man, You know, just being you.
You know, um, you can never lose. Yeah, you never loses, man,
(34:01):
You never loses. So I thank you Forday, then I
really do. Man. I love you to death. I love
you back. Man. Another big thanks to my man Donnie Simpson.
Remember you can catch Donnie in the new video Soul
on the streaming platform to Week one hundred is produced
(34:25):
by Ed Gordon Media and distributed by I Heart Media.
Carol Johnson Green and Sharie Weldon are our bookers. Our
editor is Lance Patton. Gerald Albright composed and performed our theme.
Please join me on Twitter and Instagram at ed l
Gordon and on Facebook at ed Gordon Media and h
Welcome to the latest edition of One the Gordon Podcast.
Today a conversation with radio and TV legend Tonny Simpson.
Donny was one of the nation's top DJs who found
immense popularity in Detroit and Washington, d C, before he
got a call to host a video show for the
fledgling cable network b e T. That's So Funny, Welcome
(00:46):
back Video Soul. I'm Donnie Simpson and my guest today
has established himself as a songwriter, producer, electrifying stage performer.
Of course, he is Bobby Brown and we welcome him
a game to Videos Souls b B. From nineteen eighty
one to nineteen nine, six viewers tuned in to hear
that smooth voice and see those green eyes. Simpson became
(01:09):
a household name in Black America and held down the
network's most popular show, where Donnie and later co host
interviewed the day's most popular music stars. Since then, Donnie
has remained a staple on radio in d C, and now,
a quarter century after going off the air, Donnie is
(01:29):
bringing Video Soul back on the streaming platform to be.
Donnie and I have remained friends since our days at
BT and being sons of the Motor City gave us
a special connection. Hey man, good to see you well,
thank you, Ed, Good to see you two. Brother always,
dude this always. You know how we roll though, right? Yes,
(01:56):
you know. Let me jump right into that, Donnie, because
a lot of people obviously found you with with video soul.
But you were um, a known commodity, a well known commodity,
a a need I say, superstar in radio before even
hitting b E t uh you you started as a
teen in Detroit. Yeah, man, fifteen years old bro uh
(02:20):
at w j LB in Detroit. Man, I was. I
was so young. I couldn't even do my whole show
live because the show was from six to ten, I
mean from eight to midnight, and the law stated that
you couldn't work past ten thirty at fifteen years old.
So I would have to after school. I would go
to the radio station, record my last hour and a half. Uh,
(02:41):
go home, have dinner, do my homework, go back at
eight to do the show live from eight to ten thirty,
put on the tape and leave. You know. So it
had a tremendous start, and especially then Detroit was the
fifth largest market in the country. So to get a
start on a major market radio state like that. Man
if fifteen was just such a blessing, you know, and
(03:04):
to find what you love so early, you know, it
was was really a very special blessing. I mean, clearly, Donnie,
you were made for this in the sense of they
had programs where you were team reporters at different high schools,
and there was something special in you that you went
from that to commanding a show. Yeah. Well, I was
(03:25):
a team reporter from my high school, which was then
behind it's one radio station, And I mentioned w j LB,
of course, had a group called the w j LB
Soul Team Reporters, one reporter from each public high school
in Detroit, and I was reported from my school. And yeah,
we did these reports that ran once a day, sometimes
(03:46):
twice a day. They were like sixties seconds, two minute
and a half long. And yeah, you've got capping down
measurements next Friday, don't We've gotta bake sale Tuesday? We
beat Purshing Hive fifty six to forty eight. Last week
the Lovers of the Week are and our number one
song is that kind of thing. But I had this
heavy voice. My voice changed, uh the summer between seventh
(04:09):
and eighth grade, and uh so I had this heavy voice, man,
and I just got so popular from doing I was
more popular than most of the DJ's just doing this
thing that ran for sixty seconds a day, you know.
And so they started putting me on on weekends on
Saturdays for three or four hours, and that lasted for
(04:31):
about two months, I think, and they fired the guy
who did eighth to Midnight, said we need you to
sit in for him for one week to give us
time to find someone else. I said, there for seven
and a half years, bro, that's I started, you know.
And so that's the beginning of a radio of course.
(04:51):
Then later on I went to d C and things
were just amazing there. But you know, to this day,
there's so many people who you know, as you alluded to,
you just know me from video soul. I have no
idea that I did radio, you know, and continue to
do it. We should say, continue, man, I've got wow,
(05:14):
fifty three years in radio. Man. You know what's great
about the Team program, even though it was only sixty
seconds and it's said that they don't have those kinds
of things today, it gives you an opportunity to dream
and know that you can do it. You know, it's
it's an open door that may not have opened otherwise,
(05:36):
That's right, no question. I mean, if I didn't have
that thing, I may not be here talking to the
great Ed Gordon today, you know. But that thing opened
a door for me, you know, I mean, and I
was just blown away. This is the beginning of my
love for radio. My mother owned a record shop in Detroit,
as you know. And uh, one day she had the
(06:00):
local DJ, the morning guy, Al Perkins, come by and
do his show that Saturday afternoon for three hours, and
you know, just to hype up business. And so I
went into that studio, man, and I saw Al sitting there.
Man hit his headphones on and he's grouping to music.
And I was like, man, I could do that. I
(06:23):
could do I mean, that was the very day I
fell in love with radio massive. I want to do that.
And within the next three months, you know, I joined
the Reporters and I was on the air with my
own show. I mean, it happened that quickly for me.
So um, you know, I I've just always been blessed
that people have kind of pushed me to where I
(06:45):
needed to be, uh because even before that, in the
record shop, people would come in and go, God, you
sound like the DJ. You ought to be a DJ
whatever it was in one ear out the other man,
I wanted to be a Baptist medicine, you know. And uh,
somewhere along the line, George Clinton turned me out. So
(07:06):
here's what I said. I'm still he said, I'm still
going to be that. He still stands by that. She said, baby,
you you're trying to run from something you can't get
away from. But you know, in a way, Donnie, you
have been giving the word right all these years, just
from a different vehicle, right, not the pulpit, but the
microphone in the studio. Yeah. Yeah, well you know what
(07:27):
she has said that too, that you work from a
bigger pulpit than you ever could have. Yeah, you know,
this is great, you know. And it's not like I mean,
you know me, So it's not like I beat you
over the head with religion or anything. But I'm a
religious person. I'm very connected. And even if it's as
simple as at the end of the shows, God bless you.
(07:49):
You know, I don't have to beat you over here
with it. But you know, and even if you are
not of that, if you don't go, if you don't
believe in that or whatever. You must at least that
I wish you well. Yeah, I just say anything bad
to you, you know, so so it's simple for me.
I just you know, I wish you well. I just
(08:10):
God bless you. You know. You go from being we
didn't throw your nickname out there at a love bug
in Detroit, but you go from that Donnie to going
to d C and and just the time. Sometimes it's
about timing, right, It isn't necessarily your talent. It isn't
necessarily anything other than timing and the timing for you
(08:31):
in d C. And I think about you and Melvin Lindsay,
the late great Melvin Lindsay and the quiet storm, you know,
being in that city and setting a tone um in
Chocolate City was just remarkable because then people started to
hear about you without knowing who you were. You just
heard about this dude in d C on the radio.
(08:53):
So those of us in Detroit knew, but people were
starting to hear about you. There's a trickle about Donnie
Simpson and Melvin Lindsay, you know across the country. What
was that like for you to become as popular as
you became in d C. And then you know, no,
you were starting to get a national reputation. Yeah, it was,
Uh well, first of all, I was very concerned moving here.
(09:16):
I was afraid that d C wouldn't accept me. Um.
I felt that I had this built in advantage in Detroit.
I'm the homeboy. You know. They watched me grow up
on radio. Remember when I missed my show to go
to my prom you know, all those kinds of things,
and uh so I thought that was a great advantage. Um.
(09:39):
But I mean immediately, the acceptance here was just amazing
in d C. Um, you know. And the reason I
left Detroit was that I felt like there was no
room for growth for me there anymore. I felt like that,
you know, and I don't mean in the city as
a whole. I mean in that particular radio a station
(10:00):
and that company. That radio station was the biggest of
all of their stations. And uh when I came here,
this was to an NBC owned radio station. It was
fifty thousand watch you know the station in Detroit. Man,
when I was on at night, we had two fifty wats,
you know, like it was like a light bulb. But
(10:21):
we were coming. We were You couldn't beat us, you
couldn't beat us, so, um, you know, some to come
to d C. I had those concerns, but um, just
you know, immediately, man, the thing just well, I shouldn't
say immediately. It feels like that now because it's been
so long. But I came in seventy seven, and you know,
(10:44):
I got kind of popular quickly within the first year
year and a half. But things really started to blow
up in nineteen eighty. January of nineteen eighty that's when
I became I became program director like two or three
months prior to that, and then I moved to mornings
because our consultants said, you know, you're the most popular
(11:05):
guy on the station, you gotta do mornings. So I
was saying, okay, So I did that, and that's when
things just really really exploded for me. Um. But to
see that, you know, and I mean you talk about
the level of popularity and stuff. I mean, and I
don't know that it was that much bigger than what
(11:28):
I had experienced in Detroit. I mean, you know, in Detroit, man,
it was crazy for me. I mean, it was like
kind of like rock star stuff, you know. I mean
I can remember, you know, I used to have I
used to do these sock hops dances at the high
schools and could never play my last song. Would always
have to have somebody else play my last song because
they would have to get me out of here. I
(11:50):
couldn't leave. People would just you know, it was crazy.
I mean, had my clothes ripped off me, all that
kind of stuff. Does a DJ you know that it
was crazy, So you know, it was all so popularity
to me. I guess it's all I've ever known. You know.
It's been like that for me from the beginning. And uh,
(12:12):
I sometimes think that when people say, God, you so
down to earth, I think that that's one of the
reasons why it is, because it's all I've ever known.
It's not like a new a certain life for thirty
years and then things blew up and it's just change.
It's like, that's all I've ever known. All I've ever
done is radio and TV. I even had a TV
(12:32):
show in Detroit. The show was so bad my mama
wouldn't even want man, it was bad. And I'm telling you,
I was like nineteen years old, you know, and it
was just a local thing. But guy would love to
have a tape of that. I would love to see
what that looked like, I think, um. But but you know,
(12:55):
then of course, once b Et kicked in, um, you know,
I started to get a national name for myself, even
through just radio um because you know, one year I
won because once I became program director, I won Billboards
Program Director of the Year and uh bill Boards, uh
DJ of the Year in the same year. And you know,
(13:19):
and once I got I'm sorry, but I'm spacic. But
you know, when you do what you do, and as
you know, I don't care what it is, it's just
what you do. And a lot of times those things
don't really uh find focus for you until much later,
you know. And I look back on that, like Billboards
(13:42):
program Director of the Year and DJ the Year and
I didn't even go to the awards ceremony in l A.
I just but that's kind of how I've always been.
Those things don't really mean a whole lot to me.
You know. All I really care about it the people
that listen to me. Just you know, that's that's always
been the focus. But but but when I look back
(14:03):
on it's like, well, maybe it was the right decision,
because this is a cooler story to tell that because
I didn't go. Guess who accepted the award for me,
Dick Clark better than me getting it. Here's here's what
I didn't know, Donnie, when I when when when we
talk about you going to be et uh? Until recently,
(14:26):
I didn't know this, and I think most people will
be shocked to hear this. You were not the first
host for Video Soul. I wasn't. No. A dude name
Virgil himp Hill was the very first host. And dig
this His name that he took, the moniker he took
was Reverend el Dorado. That's really am man, is this no? No? Listen?
(14:54):
I did some research and you know that's that's and
I'm sure was only for you know, a few months
or what have you. But of course video so it
really starts when when you do it. What was your
mindset when they came to you, when Bob came to
you and said, hey, I want you to host this show. Okay, well,
well first I want to address this is I mean,
(15:15):
that's pretty amazing that I didn't even know that. I
had no idea. This is news to me. Wow, that's
really that's really fascinating. But when when I first got
that call, I was I don't want to say not interested,
but I was very hesitant. Um. You know, I always
felt that I have to be very protective of image.
(15:39):
You know, That's all I have. I mean, that's all
I am. That's all you are. We're image, you know. Um.
So you know I can't give you twenty rebounds a
night or sixteen assists. You know, I'm just image. So
it's very important that you that the things I get
involved with our top shelf that's have always been. And
(16:02):
b et in its infancy wasn't a very pretty baby,
you know, it wasn't. Um. So I thought about it
for two days and then it finally just came down
to this, that this is our first black television network,
and if you have something to offer it, you have
to do that. Let's go and and I'm glad I did.
(16:27):
I mean because b et Uh put me in every
nook and cranny of this country and many other countries
around the world, you know, I mean it was amazing you.
You were there for the growth of that thing to
see you know. When I left, I mean when I started,
we were in one and a half million homes. When
I left, the number was like thirty five or forty
(16:47):
million something like that. Now it's a hundred plus. You know,
I have no idea what the number is now. Um.
So you know. So so it was very very good
for me. You know, it was challenging it times, because
you know, it's a new company trying to find its way.
And you know, there were times when I thought, Gonda,
(17:07):
I would like to have a bigger budget for things
to look better and all those things. You know. But
it was hours and you know, and and when I
look back on it now, man, it's like, and I'm
told Bob, Bob Johnson of course is the uh, the
guy who found it the et My first and only
contract negotiation with him. All right, it's about here three
(17:31):
of video soul I going to his office down to
Georgetown and Bob. The first thing Bob says is, Donny,
we can't afford to pay you what you're worth. I
was like, all right, Bob, I see you, and I left.
(17:51):
That was it. Never negotiated a dollar amounts, Like whatever
you pay me is fine. You know. You know, I
was very fortunate because I was doing well in the radio,
so I had that. Um but you know, now as
I look at it all these years later, It's like,
no matter what that number may have been, it doesn't
match the fact that we were there for the start
(18:15):
of this thing, this black television, the beginning of black television,
that we were such a significant part of that. No
amount of money could supplant that for me. When we
returned BT's golden years and the return of video. So
(19:02):
for those who grew up watching Donny Simpson on Video Soul,
it was a sad day when he left the show
in the program would be canceled soon thereafter. For years,
many have been clamoring to have this show return. I
know you've been getting this for the last quarter century
because I get it as well. You know, people say, oh,
I miss you on BT. You know, I wish you
(19:23):
were back this, that and the other um and in
particular for Video Soul. You know, it was appointment television.
And I know that you have been thinking and kind
of figuring out how can we do this because you
want to do it the right way, and that that
time has come, Yeah, it has, you know. I mean,
(19:44):
like you say, for twenty five years since we stopped
doing videos, so people have been saying to me and
you ought to bring it back, And at first it
was like, yeah, because when I left it, I was
tired of it. Yeah, you know, I really was at
the end. But as years went by, you start thinking
about that, you know, that this thing was so significant
(20:05):
to so many people. Why not? And uh so I
started exploring it and uh, you know, with my team.
I developed this team because I've decided I wanted to
create a production company, Donny Simpson Productions, and to try
to create some content for television. And uh, we decided
that that was the first thing that we needed to
(20:26):
do was to bring back Video Soul. Um. By the way,
Bob Johnson has been one of my greatest advisers on this.
You know, he has been really really helpful. Man, he
really has been, so I want to thank him. Um.
But we decided that this was the first thing that
we have to do, and so this is it. We
(20:47):
brought back Video Soul. Uh. It's streaming on to be
now and that's free. And I can't tell you how
excited I am and um to have this launch. Uh well,
the first really exciting moment came for me when I
walked into that studio and there s seventy people, most
(21:16):
of them of color. The vast majority of them color
that I've hired. You know that for three or four
days that we took to do these shows that I've employed,
these people are here working. So that was one thing,
because that's very important to me. That's one reason that
(21:36):
I want to do it is, you know, to create
opportunities for people. Okay. But the other thing was the
level of excitement from all those people who were working there.
And you know, the audience members came in that it's
what you were talking about earlier. It meant something to them.
(21:57):
You know, it wasn't just a job. You know, this
was something that they were genuinely excited about and proud of,
you know. And when we were record those things, you know,
Donnie's back. I mean, people were so excited to say
that that Donnie's back, and so it was it was
(22:18):
it was a mind blowing experience for me, man, and
for the first time for me to be in business
for myself, that was huge to me. Ed. You know,
I've always been a hired smile. You know, I've never
owned my smile all these years, and this is the
first time for me. And that's what it's about for
(22:38):
me now, about owning what I do. You know, I've
always preached that. I mean, I can remember having conversations
with guys when I first started the radio, I mean
back when I was eighteen nineteen years old, talking about
the need for us to own these properties that control
the messages that come into our communities and stuff like that,
(23:00):
you know, but I never owned anything. I always I
wish I had that entrepreneurialship, but didn't feel that I
had it. You know, I have older brother who had it,
My mom and dad had it, but I just didn't
have it. You know. I was like I was talented.
But you know, again, with the help of people like Bob,
you know, I've learned that you can develop it. You know,
(23:22):
it's not you know, we all learned and if that's
what you want, you can have it. So this was
very significant for me for that reason, to to own
me for the first time. Any trepidation in bringing it back,
you know sometimes the old saying you can't go home again.
I think about our cineo um and the game has changed.
(23:45):
I mean it is a different television and and and
content is completely different than it was five years ago. Yeah,
well it is. It's completely different. And I think that's
another reason why I warned to get back into it because, um,
you know, there's so many outlets it and they all
(24:08):
need content. It's a perfect time for content creators. You know.
The other thing is that you don't necessarily have to
go through that green lighting process that is Hollywood, where
I'm sitting there across the desk from some thirty five
year old who has no idea who I am for
(24:28):
what my reach is, trying to sell him on an
idea to give me money to go do this. No,
I put up my own money and take it straight
to the people through to me. How good is that?
So I'm grateful that things aren't the way they were
years ago, you know, and uh, you know, and I
(24:49):
think that everybody should be. You know, it creates your
opportunities for everybody. Now every it's so you know, it's
no longer just of course when we were young, I
mean I should speak for myself, but it was just ABC,
NBC and CBS. Of course we were in Detroit, so
we had to see it. Uh CBC out of Canada,
(25:12):
yeah right right, which never had anything on you wanted
to see. But you know, and then of course later
came table you know, we had all those options. We
thought that was so well. Now I mean it's just
endless and they all need content. So you know, I
think it's a very exciting time. So I'm very excited
(25:33):
about this. Ny. When you look back now, and I
sent you a text when it was announced that you
had made the Radio Hall of Fame, and I thought
to myself, what do you what do you mean he
made the radio I just assumed, like many, I think
you were already like that's a foregone conclusion, first ballot
(25:55):
Hall of Fame. What do you mean he's just now
going in? Um? When you think about where you are now,
right your legacy, because as you say, now you can
kind of sit back look at your career even though
you're doing things that gives you age, gives you the
ability to have some perspective on your life and your career. Um,
(26:16):
what do you think about when you think about your
career now? Wow? Mhmm. I think well, being inducted into
the Radio Hall of Fame last year forced me to
think about it a lot. Um. And and you know,
in all honesty, i'd never ever thought about that. It
(26:38):
never crossed my mind going into the Hall of Fame. Um,
I'm flattered by your reaction like so many others, you know,
someone to share to tape with me of Charlemagne, the
god on the Breakfast Club and him and his team
were just what he's not in a like this is crazy,
you know. So that's very very flattering man. But you know,
(27:01):
looking at it now, I mean, the day I got
that call in I gotta tell you, even though it's
something I never thought about, the day I got that
call saying I was being inducted was mind blowing. Um.
I mean I remember immediately went downstairs, UM to tell
my wife, Pam, you know, well my wife of forty
(27:22):
eight years, I might add, um to tell her what
the call that I just got. And I said, all
my life I've watched athletes get this call. I just
got it. It's mind blowing. It is really really something.
But is excited as I was last year about getting
(27:45):
that Hall of Fame induction. If you multiply that about
by about a thousand, you may get close to the
level of excitement I felt this year about the Hall
of Fame because well, they asked me to be on
the um In induction committee, and uh, at first I
didn't want to do it, you know, it's kind of
like not my thing to be in the board meetings
(28:06):
of the zoom Jet, you know. Uh, but I said,
if what you said is real in in your induction
speech last year, which what I said was that when
I first got the call, the first thing I did
was one online, not to see who was in the
Hall of Fame, but to see who wasn't. And I
was looking for one name, Frankie Crocker, the baddest DJ
(28:30):
in the history of radio. To me, man, Frankie Croco
out of New York City, that brother was bad and
he wasn't in the Hall of Fame. So so, and
this is what I said to my induction speech. So
to me, I felt like, you weren't legit. You don't
have Frankie in there, You're not legit, you know. And
uh but you know, I'm about to say they listened,
(28:52):
but I don't want to say this is the reason
they did that. I don't know, um, But this year
they have thirty three legends going into the Hall of Fame,
and one of them was a guy that I've fought
for so hard. Well, Frankie Crawford's one. But the other
is Melvin Lindsay, the quiet storm and about out of
(29:12):
these thirty three, I think ten of them are black.
And yeah, it's people. Man, that Martha gena queen out
of Detroit, you know, just legends. Andy o J out
of Cleveland group Ojs are named after him, I mean,
just real legends. So to me, I'm so much more
(29:34):
excited this year because, like I said last year, that
we have to be represented in this hall, and that
it doesn't have to be me, but it does have
to be us. You know, this year it's us, man
and brother. I just can't tell you how excited I
am about that, you know, and just and proud to
(29:57):
have been a part of it, of this committee made
this happen. My career is whatever it is, but to
be able to help shine spotlight a spotlight on these
other deserving people. Man, it's so you know, it's like
I mean, it's as simple as that stuff your mama
used to say. You know, the joy is in the giving,
you know, it really is, man, It's not about what
(30:19):
you receive, it's about what you give. And so you know,
I'm very grateful for my career. I mean, to know
that you had a Hall of Fame radio career is rewarding. Um.
To know the impact on television is rewarding. UM. You know,
(30:40):
I had this conversation one night with Frankie Beverly and
I was telling him. I said, Man, I would never
speak for you, I said, but I was talking to
somebody and I said this thing. I think I could
speak for Frankie on And that's this, I said, in
a way, Frankie, we have similar careers in this way.
(31:00):
Black America, I know you, everybody knows you, loves you
all that you know, White America. Yeah, right, not really.
And uh, I said, but I think I speak for
you on this that while I would love to have
(31:21):
all of it, the rest that would be great. I
wouldn't trade this part of an end to get that,
not for us, I said, no, to know that your
people feel that way about you, man, please, Frankie said, baby,
come on, you know that's that's easy. It's because we're Yeah,
it's real, man, it's real. I can die with that
(31:43):
and knowing that my people were proud of me. I mean,
it's nothing different from any child wanting to be What's
the greatest reward is to know that your parents is
proud of you, that your people are proud of you.
That's that's all I want. Man. I'm gonna say this,
as I tell you all the time in private. You know, Um,
(32:07):
there is a humble nature about you, Donnie that you
get a lot in show business, but it's false humility
most of the time. And I tell you, and I
tell people all the time that from the second I
met you, man, you are one of the most genuine
people that I met in this business. And that's saying
a lot, because you and I both know, finding real,
(32:29):
genuine people in this business who who like you and
appreciate you just for you and they're not looking for
that leg up and that next thing is rare. So
I am uh. I am so very happy that I
got a chance to to get to know you and
and that real side of you. Uh. And so for
for what is a Hall of Fame career and should
(32:50):
have been a first ballot a long time ago. Man,
I want to say for all of us, Man, thank
you for all of these great years of entertainment and
joy and music and all that you brought to us. Um.
And I can't tell you how much I appreciate that, bro,
I'm telling you, Man, it means a lot to me. Man,
You're one of my great friends and one of the
(33:12):
great talents, you know, And to have you say that
about me, man, is just I'm gonna call my mama.
I love you brother. You know that, man. And wow,
you say you know me personally, But I think that
that's the key to the success and the longevity is
(33:34):
that so do the people that watch me and listen
to me. They know me personally too. You know, may
have never met, but you don't have to to to
feel somebody. You know, you feel what's real, man, And
that's the key to it, man, You know, just being you.
You know, um, you can never lose. Yeah, you never loses, man,
(34:01):
You never loses. So I thank you Forday, then I
really do. Man. I love you to death. I love
you back. Man. Another big thanks to my man Donnie Simpson.
Remember you can catch Donnie in the new video Soul
on the streaming platform to Week one hundred is produced
(34:25):
by Ed Gordon Media and distributed by I Heart Media.
Carol Johnson Green and Sharie Weldon are our bookers. Our
editor is Lance Patton. Gerald Albright composed and performed our theme.
Please join me on Twitter and Instagram at ed l
Gordon and on Facebook at ed Gordon Media and h
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