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Walt Love facts for kids

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Rev. Walter Shaw, known on the radio as Walt "Baby" Love, is a famous radio host in the United States. He has worked in radio for over 35 years. Walt "Baby" Love hosted three popular radio shows: Gospel Traxx, The Countdown, and The Urban AC Countdown. He always made sure these shows played "clean" versions of songs, which means they were suitable for everyone.

Biography

Early Life and Radio Start

Walt "Baby" Love grew up in a small farming town called Creighton, Pennsylvania. His big chance in radio came in February 1968 in Houston, Texas, at KYOK AM Radio. He then made history by becoming the first Black on-air personality at KILT radio, a very popular station.

Within just four years, Walt became the first Black on-air talent at RKO radio. He hosted shows in Windsor, Canada, and New York City. During this time, he also worked at other big stations like WNBC and WBLS in New York. He was also the first Black on-air personality at KHJ, KMPC, and KFI in Los Angeles.

Amazing Radio Shows

Walt has hosted three inspiring radio programs. The Countdown with Walt "Baby" Love was on the air for an amazing 29 years, from August 1982 to August 2011. Gospel Traxx has been running for 27 years and is still very popular today. He also hosted The Urban AC Countdown for 15 years.

The Countdown with Walt "Baby" Love won the Billboard Magazine's Best R&B Syndicated Radio Show Award five times. It became the longest-running Urban Syndicated radio show ever. In 2001, Walt won the Stellar Award for Best Gospel Radio Personality. In 2002, he was named Radio Personality of the Year by the Black Broadcaster's Alliance. Also in 2002, Gospel Traxx won Best Syndicated Urban/R&B Gospel Show of the Year from Billboard Magazine.

For 21 years, Walt also worked at Radio & Records newspaper. He was the Urban Radio and Music Editor there, while still hosting his radio shows.

Other Contributions

In June 1997, Walt became an ordained minister. He is currently an associate minister at First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. In 2005, he earned his Master of Arts in Theology.

Walt also started a non-profit group called The Walt Love Lupus and Cancer Research Foundation. This foundation has been helping people for over 20 years.

In 2007, Walt wrote a book called "The Gospel According to Reverend Walt "Baby" Love: Inspirations and Meditations from the Gospel Radio Legend."

In 2022, Walt "Baby" Love was honored by being added to the Radio Hall Of Fame.

Today, Gospel Traxx is shared across the United States by Reach Media Inc. Other countries get the show through Radio Express.

See also

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