Magnificent Montague facts for kids
Nathaniel "Magnificent" Montague (born January 11, 1928, in New Jersey) was a famous American R&B (Rhythm and Blues) disc jockey. He was known for playing and promoting popular soul music records on radio stations like KGFJ in Los Angeles and WWRL in New York City. He also had a very famous catchphrase, "Burn, baby! Burn!"
This phrase became a rallying cry during the 1965 Watts riots, a time of unrest in Los Angeles. After some people felt his phrase accidentally encouraged the riots, Montague changed his message. He began to support peace and encouraged young listeners to focus on their education, creating a new phrase: "Learn, baby! Learn!"
In the mid-1970s, Montague moved to Palm Springs, California. He helped start a new easy listening radio station called KPLM, which is now a successful country music station. This was a big achievement because it was the first radio station permit given to an African-American person in 40 years.
Montague's famous phrase was even used in the computer code for the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon. The code included the line: "BURN, BABY, BURN – MASTER IGNITION ROUTINE". In 2009, on the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, a programmer named Don Eyles confirmed that this code was a reference to Montague.
The catchphrase also appeared in the popular 1976 song "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps.
Montague's life story was told in his autobiography, Burn, Baby! Burn!, which was published in October 2003 by the University of Illinois Press.
Collecting African-American History
For 50 years, Montague and his wife, Rose Thaddeus Casalan, collected many important items related to African-American history and culture. This collection, known as the Montague Collection, includes visual art, historical objects, and documents. Since February 14, 2017, this collection has been on display at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee.
His Personal Life
Montague and his wife, Rose, later retired and lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also became a follower of Judaism.
More Information
- Official home page: http://www.magnificentmontague.com
