IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MC SPICE EXITS TOUCH-FM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
contact: Keyanna Graham
[email protected]

Talk Show Host and Community Activist Exits Touch-FM
'Big Morning Thing' host and Touch-FM Creative/Program Director, MC Spice resigns volunteer post at Boston low-power urban radio station.

Many Bostonians were in a state of shock, disbelief and grief after Friday's on-air announcement that their beloved MC Spice was "leaving to focus on the Man-Up Movement." Some believed it to be another radio stunt to boost ratings at the FCC-embattled radio station. Others demanded to know the reason behind the split between Spice and owner, Charles Clemons. With only two days to announce the big move, the audience were taken aback as MC Spice took his last batch of phone calls from callers pleading with the 25-year radio veteran to stay and wishing him well.

The morning program hosted by MC Spice and comedian Johnathon Gates came in with a bang November of last year and boasted star-studded interviews with the likes of: boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard, author Terrie Williams, Mike Epps, Grandmaster Flash, and Louis Farrakhan. But in a flash, the show that woke up the city with hard-edged topics that engaged urban listeners...was gone.

Even after pleading with the audience to continue listening to Touch-FM, loyal listeners and supporters of MC Spice's Man-Up Movement didn't buy into the abrupt ending of the cult-like program which led followers to march on the grounds of the FCC building in Quincy; boycott local businesses that wronged them; and gave a platform of expression to thousands of residents who never had a chance to speak about issues in their community.

"When I heard him [MC Spice] say it was his last day, I called all of my friends and just knew it was a joke," says Shannel Bradford of Lynn. "But later, I started challenging the notion that maybe this was something deeper. He cared too much about the people to up and leave the way he did." Many are lead to believe the break-up took place after a much-publicized on-air dispute a few weeks ago; an on-air war campaign against the owner of the Bay State Banner, and a possible rift with Boston University's Agganis Arena.

Miss Bradford's sentiment is shared with a lot of listeners who have gotten used to the mouth that roared. A 25-year veteran in radio, MC Spice started out at radio station W.I.L.D. under the tutelage of Elroy Smith. The Brooklyn transplant realized his calling and gave up the chance to attend MassArt for Cartooning Animation. instead, MC Spice went on to pen and produce platinum records for Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and gained worldwide notoriety for his SpiceRadio Broadcast Company which voiced radio advertisements for Clear Channel, Def Jam, Wendy Williams, Howard Stern and more.

Earlier in the year, Spice led the 5-mile march from Grove Hall to City Hall to denounce gang and domestic violence, attracting more than two hundred anti-violence protesters. Over the course of the summer, the radio personality and activist threw a series of cookouts on crime-ridden blocks entitled, the "Peace, Unity, Love and Havin' Fun Cookout and Block Party", which brought families and neighbors together and helped to ease the violent crime in the Grove Hall area.

The Man-Up Movement Food Drive for Fatherless Homes begins November 7th, and MC Spice is happy about that. "I'm passionate about my people and nothing pleases me more than to see my people comfortable, happy and smiling" says the 42-year-old father of six. A guest spot on AM1510 Victory Radio this past Saturday night had listeners wondering just what the fiery radio host was doing in the studio with Pastor Bruce Wall, another activist with a low tolerance for crime in our neighborhoods. Is this the next big urban radio move in Boston? Only time will tell.