Jamaican Howard “Flagga"Duperly hosts a reggae show, The Reggae Ride, on predominantly jazz radio WDNA 88.9FM in Florida. The non-profit radio, known worldwide as South Florida's premier jazz station utilizes two words, Serious Jazz, that, in a nutshell, brands its varied programming.
But, while jazz is its foundation, the station musically satisfies the multicultural Florida broadcasting a rich kaleidoscope that includes Latin, Brazilian, Indian, Afropop, alternative/world beat, and other public-centric music.
North Coast Jamaica born Howard Duperly is WDNA's sales and marketing director whose job is to bring diverse and innovative programs and features to the radio station. Such is the Fine Arts Concert series that couples the glorious sound of jazz with photographic and canvas art, the most recent featured Jamaica's Dr.KathyBrown Trio (of Desi Jones, Dale Brown) and acclaimed photographer Howard Moss.
The Fine Art Concert brings art and jazz lovers together as WDNA exhibits artists rarely seen in south Florida
Reggae Ride
“Flagga," one of reggae's most knowledgeable personalities, stakes his claim that his Saturday 12--3pm The Reggae Ride show plays “Reggae the way it ought to be, and music you don't hear on the average station--if ever."
A product of the 60s music, Flagga brings a wealth of first-hand experiences to his now worldwide audience. He's from the 'old school' who believes firmly that to effectively promote reggae it must be presented in all its forms--ska, rocksteady, roots, lovers rock, etc. He ignores quick profit fluffs that use rehashed rhythms, lewd and violent elements as a ploy.
Duperly is a graduate of the University of Miami and has spent his career in sales and marketing as an account executive for a number of South Florida stations whose formats included big band, classical, jazz, news, rhythm & blues, and adult contemporary. He's also worked as a journalist, contributing to several international publications including Caribbean Today where he served as Music and Entertainment Editor, currently he contributes to the Westside Gazette, a paper highly regarded by the African American community in South Florida.
Except for the recent staging, each year Duperly leads a team of WDNA FM presenters who broadcast their daily, weekly shows live from the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival.
“Flagga" boasts that WDNA 88.9 FM, Serious Jazz, draws about 75,000 listeners a week, even as Arbitron, the radio ratings service, estimates the station's audience at closer to 40,000 a week. But Duperly responds indicates that WDNA draws listeners from as far away as Moscow, London and Toronto through its webcasts.
Potentially, “We here in Miami are seeing increased enthusiasm" [for jazz], he says. “In our opinion, we've only started to scratch the surface."
But, while jazz is its foundation, the station musically satisfies the multicultural Florida broadcasting a rich kaleidoscope that includes Latin, Brazilian, Indian, Afropop, alternative/world beat, and other public-centric music.
North Coast Jamaica born Howard Duperly is WDNA's sales and marketing director whose job is to bring diverse and innovative programs and features to the radio station. Such is the Fine Arts Concert series that couples the glorious sound of jazz with photographic and canvas art, the most recent featured Jamaica's Dr.KathyBrown Trio (of Desi Jones, Dale Brown) and acclaimed photographer Howard Moss.
The Fine Art Concert brings art and jazz lovers together as WDNA exhibits artists rarely seen in south Florida
Reggae Ride
“Flagga," one of reggae's most knowledgeable personalities, stakes his claim that his Saturday 12--3pm The Reggae Ride show plays “Reggae the way it ought to be, and music you don't hear on the average station--if ever."
A product of the 60s music, Flagga brings a wealth of first-hand experiences to his now worldwide audience. He's from the 'old school' who believes firmly that to effectively promote reggae it must be presented in all its forms--ska, rocksteady, roots, lovers rock, etc. He ignores quick profit fluffs that use rehashed rhythms, lewd and violent elements as a ploy.
Duperly is a graduate of the University of Miami and has spent his career in sales and marketing as an account executive for a number of South Florida stations whose formats included big band, classical, jazz, news, rhythm & blues, and adult contemporary. He's also worked as a journalist, contributing to several international publications including Caribbean Today where he served as Music and Entertainment Editor, currently he contributes to the Westside Gazette, a paper highly regarded by the African American community in South Florida.
Except for the recent staging, each year Duperly leads a team of WDNA FM presenters who broadcast their daily, weekly shows live from the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival.
“Flagga" boasts that WDNA 88.9 FM, Serious Jazz, draws about 75,000 listeners a week, even as Arbitron, the radio ratings service, estimates the station's audience at closer to 40,000 a week. But Duperly responds indicates that WDNA draws listeners from as far away as Moscow, London and Toronto through its webcasts.
Potentially, “We here in Miami are seeing increased enthusiasm" [for jazz], he says. “In our opinion, we've only started to scratch the surface."
