LaDonna Tittle facts for kids

LaDonna Theresa Tittle, born on March 13, 1946, is an American radio personality, actress, and former model. She is famous for her long career in radio, which lasted from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s. LaDonna Tittle worked at several popular radio stations in Chicago, including WBMX-FM, WJPC-AM (where she worked with Tom Joyner), and WGCI-AM. From 2018 to 2020, she also played Ethel Brown in the TV show The Chi on Showtime.

About LaDonna Tittle

Growing Up in Chicago

LaDonna Tittle was born in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. She was the oldest of five children. Her mother, Juanita, owned a record shop and managed other businesses. LaDonna shared that her mom even helped manage the WVON radio station for a while in the early 1960s. Her father, James, owned several pool halls.

When she was young, LaDonna and her brother went to school in Covert, Michigan, for a time. After her parents divorced in 1959, she moved with her mother and siblings to the Hyde Park neighborhood. As a child, LaDonna sold candy at the Regal Theater. Later, her family moved back to Bronzeville, living in the Robert Taylor Homes. There, LaDonna started taking acting classes.

Education and Learning

LaDonna Tittle went to Dunbar Vocational High School and graduated in 1964. After high school, she studied at Loop College, which is now called Harold Washington College. She then transferred to Chicago State University. In January 1971, she graduated with a degree in art education and drama, and a minor in journalism. She briefly studied at the Art Institute of Chicago for her master's degree but later left the program.

Starting Her Career in Radio

Before she even finished college, LaDonna Tittle began working as a model. She modeled for department stores like Marshall Fields. Her radio career started in February 1971 when she was offered a job doing public service announcements for WBEE-AM in Harvey, Illinois. She soon became a regular radio personality, playing jazz music.

In 1972, LaDonna briefly moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and worked as a weekend radio personality at WNOV radio. She worked at WBEE for two years before returning to Chicago in May 1973.

Becoming a Radio Star

After returning to Chicago, LaDonna Tittle became a popular host at WBMX-FM radio. This station played R&B and soul music. She started by reporting news and working overnight, but by 1974, she was hosting weekday afternoons.

Because she was so popular, Johnson Publishing Company's WJPC-AM radio station offered her a job with double her salary in 1978. She accepted the offer and co-hosted shows with famous personalities like Tom Joyner and DJ Bebe D'Banana. In April 1979, LaDonna was featured in JET magazine as "Beauty of the Week." By April 1982, she was hosting the midday show from 10 AM to 3 PM, calling it "Tittle In The Middle, Right In The Middle." She stayed at WJPC until the station was sold in December 1989.

After WJPC, LaDonna worked part-time at WNUA-FM, a blues and smooth-jazz station, in 1991. A year later, in 1992, she got a full-time job at Chicago's WGCI-AM. She worked for both the FM and AM stations for a few years. However, when automated overnight broadcasts became common, she was laid off in 2000.

Life After Radio

After taking a year off, LaDonna Tittle started The LaDonna Tittle TV/Radio Show on Chicago's CAN-TV in 2001. The show first featured chats with entertainers. In 2003, after seeing a soul food exhibit, she decided to change the show to focus on cooking.

LaDonna also acted in R. Kelly's 2005 melodrama Trapped in the Closet, playing Rosie, the nosy neighbor. She has received many awards and recognitions for her community service, mentoring, educational activities, and contributions to cooking.

Personal Life

LaDonna Tittle was married once to Ronald Horton, who was a Vietnam army volunteer. They were married from 1967 until his death in 1973. She did not have any children.