Martha Jean "The Queen of Detroit"

[mallory]

Where do I start? I worked at WQBH from 1988 to 1991, first as a producer of her show and production guy to doing mornings on WQBH. I have so many wonderful memories of Queen. There was the show at the Ford Theater that we sponsored featuring the music of the Dramatics. Backstage she told the guys that I needed help with my "steps" and had the Dramatics teach me how to step. There were her Palm Sunday Gospel Services at the Masonic that were always sold out. There were the lunches that she would have brought in to the station for the whole staff once a month that featured some incredible food. There was the gospel music that I got to know and now love. There was the Michigan Chronicle "Favorite DJ" contest when she told her listeners to vote for me [[I came in third behind Mojo and Mason). There were the visits from Coleman Young that were better off the air than on. There was her cleanliness thing, where she would spray Windex all over the studio while she was on the air and wipe everything down. There were the times that I patiently waited for her to come to the studio to record her commercials. She came in on her time, not yours. Sometimes it was right after her show, but more times than not it was later in the day. Once in a while, MUCH later.

There's the story of how she was "saved." As much as I can recollect, she was on the air, when the studios were located in Broderick Tower, and the lights in the building went out except for her studio, which got brighter and brighter. She was spoken to by God that day and shortly after started the Home of Love. This is from my recollection and I may have a few things mixed up.

She loved her listeners, she loved her family, she loved her clients, and she really loved her city. Most importantly, she was fair, honest, a true believer in the CoD, and gave a tall skinny white kid from the burbs a chance to really learn radio from what I feel is a legend. She did have a bit of an ego, but she earned every ounce of it. My life is blessed to have had Queen in it, and I will forever be greatful to her. She was an incredible woman and I loved her very much.

I could go on and on, but allow me to say that I truly miss her and wish that I had kept in better touch after I had left her employ. God Bless you, we love YOU, Queen. I betcha.