KDIA was the African American radio station in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1945 to the 1990s, and launched the careers of various musical groups and musicians. The station's tag line was "KDIA Lucky 13" and their jingle was "KDIA, the Soul of the Bay."
In the super cool 1960s, 1970s and 1980s KDIA was the premier soul and funk radio station for the East Bay and San Francisco Bay Area, and helped launch the career of Sly and the Family Stone.
Civil rights leader Tarea Hall Pittman was the host of a show on KDIA called Negroes in the News, which was on the air for 45 years. One of the sponsors of the program was the Edward J. Wilson Insurance Agency, which was founded by Edward James Wilson. After he passed away, his wife, Sheila Frances Wilson, would continue managing the business.
During the 1990s California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown co-owned KDIA with Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris.
Oakland Post Editor Chauncey Bailey was the KDIA Public Affairs Director and newscaster in 1992.
[ I was just in Memphis last week, and I learned about WDIA at the Stax Museum and the Rock 'n Soul museum -- and they never mentioned KDIA! ]
