Bonnie ‘Hey Baby’ DeShong
A LIVING LEGEND
A WOMAN THAT ROCKS BEHIND THE MIC!
Hello Golden Divas!
You know I’m all about the ‘ELEVATION OF WOMEN,’ so when it came to legends in the radio business, I had to pay homage to a woman who made an impact and changed the game! Most people think of legends, as famous people who are dead, I, on the other hand, think of legends that are living and are ‘SLAYING’ in their particular field, which brings me to my ‘Golden Diva Interview’ for January. I wanted to give some RESPECT to a ‘ LIVING LEGEND,’ a woman behind the mic who made a difference in our lives and communities. I took note of this ‘RADIO DIVA’ in the mid-1980s right after I graduated from high school. Whenever I got a chance to listen to the woman who informed us of relevant topics, great commentary, and some good soul music I was good to go and so was thousands of other listeners. I mean come on, her presence on the radio was as synonymous with Chicago mornings as ‘bumper to bumper traffic’ on the Dan Ryan, and you know how tight it was back then and god-forbid even now. However, this diva with the pretty eyes broke up the monotony on the show with the good ole boys. She added the perfect female touch to get a point across. It’s no wonder she is one of Chicago’s A-List veteran personalities in the Who’s Who in “Black” Chicago radio because she got us up and moving and women loved her input on the show! This Golden Diva also brought much laughter, humor, and warmth to thousands of listeners on V103 from 3-7 p.m. with the V-Crew. After all, she was the voice of Urban Chicago, and she was a woman who was committed to helping ‘UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY.’ Her contribution to help build opportunities was nothing short of ‘PRICELESS.’
This ‘LIVING LEGEND’ is a trailblazer who has paved the way for many women in her field of radio broadcasting. She is the ‘heartbeat of soul radio’ and ‘entertainment’ around Chicagoland THEN and NOW!
MEET BONNIE ‘Hey Baby’ DESHONG
This radio powerhouse has been apart of Chicago Radio for over 30 years. During her tenure as Co-host and Traffic Reporter on WGCI, WVAZ, and WSRB, she worked side by side with radio greats, Tom Joyner, Doug Banks, John Monds, and Tony Richards. She is the host of the community/Entertainment radio program “Bonnie’s Eye” heard on 95.1 FM – Club Steppin Chicago at 8 AM on Saturday’s. She is also a contributing Entertainment Journalist for The Chicago Crusader Newspaper and chicagonow.com. Bonnie held the title of Director Community Relations for V103 and WSRB. She worked diligently to bring a personal connection between the radio stations and the Chicagoland communities.
2004 – 2011, she was the co-host of City of Chicago TV’s “Chicago Works” program, which showcased the wonderful communities and programs within the City of Chicago. From 2011 – 2018, Bonnie proudly held the title of Director of Community Relations and Marketing for the DuSable Museum of African American History, one of the oldest and prestigious African American museums in the country. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Public Service Sorority, Bonnie continues to serve the community. She was a volunteer “Cuddler” at the Cradle Adoption Agency and is the Marketing Consultant PLCCA, Inc. She is on the Board of Directors of South Central Community Services, Inc and serves as 1st Vice Chairman. Bonnie is 60 plus years old; she is from Champaign IL; she graduated from Illinois State University. She attends Oakdale Covenant Church under the leadership of Pastor Dr. D.Darrell Griffin, and she loves, traveling, and reading.
“As you take a step forward, reach back, grab a hand, and bring someone with you on a positive journey to success.”
KEEP YOUR EYE TO THE SKY!
Before Bonnie shares, her experiences in the radio industry, take a listen to the positive sounds of “Optimistic,” by Sound Of Blackness.
IN CONVERSATION WITH BONNIE ‘Hey Baby’ DESHONG!
C50: What made you decide to get into the radio industry to become an on-air personality, how old were you, and what was your first position?
BD: I was 33 years old and hadn’t thought of radio, how to do it, no interest whatsoever. Richard Pegue was working with a few of us actors in writing a soap opera. He was also the Program Director of WGCI FM. One day he said that the station was going to do their own traffic department, and did I want to do it. I said, “I don’t know how.” He said, “I’ll teach you.” And I said okay. I worked in Chicago at WGCI FM, doing the ‘Afternoon Drive’ with Tom Joyner. GOD put the opportunity in my path, and I was smart enough to take it.
C50: Why is it essential that women’s voices are heard behind the mic too?
BD: Women’s opinions and spirit are needed in every aspect of life. We are a calming factor to a show and, at the same time, give a strong point of view. When the guys would go left, I brought them back to the middle. When it became the all-boys club on a topic, I brought in another opinion and said what the ladies were thinking. Women on-air, in my opinion, have a responsibility to the listening audience, especially to young girls and ladies, to be an example of how to express yourself in an intelligent manner with respect.
C50: What message as a woman did you want to portray to your listeners?
BD: I started in 1985, and at that time, there was an unwritten protocol we all followed. Express yourself and opinions in a respectful way. Respect yourself and the listeners. Never dummy down your intelligence. Never take a picture with a drink in your hand and respect the listeners as if they were the ones that signed your paycheck. I wanted to be the woman that my mother raised me to be.
C50: Bonnie, tell us, what has changed, what needs to change, and why hasn’t it changed in the years that you have been doing radio?
BD: There is less community activism now, versus when we were on the air. Every week we were in the community doing something. I even woke kids up and took them to school in the WGCI Van. Our shows were allowed to talk in-depth about issues in the community. We registered people to vote; we answered hard questions; we were a family. Radio today is all about the money. You have fewer local shows today, so they don’t know about the neighborhoods. The surrounding areas don’t take pride in the good in Chicago. Some of the Women on-air are hard. Cursing, fighting, coming hard, and of course, there are social media outlets that play a huge factor. It’s truly a different time, but I guess it is the right time for now. My wonderful “Sister’s of the Microphone” that are on my present station – 95.1 FM Club Steppin Chicago, we are seasoned and still hold the old standards we used too.
C50: Bonnie, what was the platform that you used to entertain, inform, and empower African-American listeners, especially the female audience?
BD: Even though my claim to fame is “Hey Baby,” it wasn’t used as a ‘come on’ to garner more listeners. My platform, if I had one, was to treat everyone as if they mattered. My strength on the radio on the air was being able to relate to people and to do great interviews.
Even in the entertainment report, I ditched dirt, but I always started and ended my stories with something positive. I felt it was essential to uplift people and not tear them down.
C50: Did you ever feel that you were competing with the men in the radio world?
BD: My position was a little different. I am not a Deejay. I am an on-air personality. Tom, Doug, John, Tony, and Ramonski are hardcore jocks. They were the meat, and I was the seasoning, so I didn’t expect to make the money they did; however, that does not negate the work that I put in. I spent more time with the listeners. There are some awesome lady “jocks” who are working hard, pulling in the numbers, and not making the dollars.
When I was on air Yvonne Daniels, Shannon Dell, Troi Tyler, Ladonna Tittle, Chile Childs, and many more most had to do middays or overnights “Quiet Storm” because they didn’t allow ladies to “Drive the Station.” (do morning or afternoon drive). Now we have wonderful young ladies on the air such as Lady Red, Bionce Foxx, Frankie, and many more that are working their shows and pulling the numbers but still not making as much as the guys.
C50: Why is it essential for you to work with the community?
BD: It was instilled in me growing up in Champaign, Illinois, that community was the backbone of my growth. No matter who you are or where you live, you are a brick in a community. Being a proud member of the Black American family, I want my community to surround and nurture the seeds of children that are coming up after all we are on the same plain. I knew and worked with Dr. Margaret Burroughs, and that lady was a spirit to be reckoned with. Dr. Carol Adams also has that spirit, and when she offered me the job at the DuSable Museum, it made sense. I could help educate the world about this amazing institution. During my time at WGCI, V-103, and 106.3, I was the director of community relations. I had the “Hey Baby” Walkathon Teams to not only help causes but to get people out walking. I don’t have children, but when I had the chance to be a Cuddler at the Cradle Adoption Agency, I was fulfilled because I was helping to make a new baby feel the love of someone who cared. Seniors are so crucial to our community, and in the past years, we tend to negate them and their expertise, and I think that is so unlike us. I am a part of the community of life, and I plan to live it to the fullest.
C50: Bonnie, you have a “Can-Do -Mentality,” which allowed you to work at numerous radio stations with some radio giants, such as Tom Joyner, Doug Banks, and Tony Richards, can you share your experience working with them?
BD: WOW! I learned a lot from these guys, to accomplish anything and be good at it, I observed, prepared, and made it my own. When I was given another assignment, I was told that I would no longer be in the studio with Doug at WGCI, and they wanted me in the van every day, I was hurt at first because I felt I was being punished for something. HOWEVER, once I got in that van every morning and was able to meet the beautiful people from all of the different neighborhoods, and give them hugs, wipe children’s noses, I felt more at home because I was touching my people.
“Be humble, be fair, find your space, and excel at it.”
C50: Bonnie, as you know, my husband Rick and I are theatre critics, and we often see you at some of the theater productions, what is your connection with theatre?
BD: My first love was always the theater. My degree from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, is in Secondary Theatre Education. I had a chance to teach theater from a program here in Chicago, so I moved here and never left. I was a member of the Chicago Theatre Company, performed with Kuumba, Victory Gardens, ETA, and received my’Equity Card’ with a show I performed in at the Goodman Theater.
“Theatre is my ‘Calgon;’ it takes me away to another place and time.”
After I was approached to do radio, the auditioning stopped. I’m blessed that Dorothy Leavell of the Chicago Crusader asked me to write theatre and movie reviews, and here I am.
C50: Where can we find the sweet voice of Bonnie ‘Hey Baby’ DeShong on the radio?
BD: I’m glad you asked. I am the host of a radio show on 95.1 FM Club Steppin Chicago, Your Heartbeat for Soul called “Bonnie’s Eye” heard every Saturday morning from 8 AM – 9 AM right before Troi Tyler. I get to have wonderful conversations with amazing people. I also have a blog on www.chicagonow.com and a podcast on www.mixcloud.com
Bonus Question
C50: What advice can you give to a woman entering the world of radio broadcasting?
“Don’t become a caricature of who you are. Work hard, and don’t dummy down yourself. It’s okay to be a smart woman. Sybil Wilkes taught everyone that. Be prepared to work your way up. It’s a good thing because you learn so much about how to do everything.”
BD: Learn how to run a board, how to report news and traffic, work in promotions; in other words, don’t bank on being on the air. You never know what will get you in the door. Some wise man told me that no matter how good you are on the radio, you will be fired. It took 20 years for me, but that advice came true. Nothing lasts forever, so be prepared to step into that next journey. Finally, RESPECT yourself, the people you work with, and more than anything the listeners.
Keep your EYE to the Sky!!!
There you have it, ladies, the extraordinary trailblazer Bonnie ‘Hey Baby’ Deshong, keeping it real with Club Fifty!!
