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Walt Love facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Rev. Walter Shaw, also known as Walt "Baby" Love, is a famous radio host in the United States. He has been on the radio for over 35 years! Walt "Baby" Love hosted three popular radio shows that were heard across many stations: 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 to listen to.

Walt "Baby" Love's Radio Journey

Walt has hosted three inspiring radio shows. His show 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 on for 27 years and is still going strong! He also hosted The Urban AC Countdown for 15 years.

Walt grew up in a small farming town called Creighton, Pennsylvania. He got his big start in radio in Houston, Texas, at KYOK AM Radio in February 1968. He then became the first Black on-air personality at a very popular radio station, KILT radio.

Within just four years of starting in radio, Walt became the first Black on-air talent at RKO radio. He hosted shows in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and in New York City. During this time, he also worked at other New York radio stations like WNBC, WBLS, and 99X. He was also the first Black on-air personality at KHJ, KMPC, and KFI in Los Angeles.

Awards and Achievements

Walt "Baby" Love's show, The Countdown, won the Best R&B Syndicated Radio Show Award from Billboard Magazine five times! It also became the longest-running urban syndicated radio show ever.

In 2001, Walt won the Stellar Award for Best Gospel Radio Personality. The next year, in 2002, he was named Radio Personality of the Year by the Black Broadcaster's Alliance. Also in 2002, his show 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 as the Urban Radio and Music Editor. He did this while still hosting his popular radio shows.

Ministry and Community Work

In June 1997, Walt became an ordained minister. He is now an associate minister at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. In 2005, he earned his Master of Arts degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

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

Author and Hall of Famer

In 2007, Walt wrote a book called "The Gospel According to Reverend Walt 'Baby' Love: Inspirations and Meditations from the Gospel Radio Legend." It was published by Simon and Schuster.

In 2022, Walt "Baby" Love was honored by being inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. This is a very special award for people who have made a big impact on radio.

Today, Gospel Traxx is heard across the United States through Reach Media Inc. It is also heard internationally through Radio Express.

See also

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