10-7-2012
Everyone who came into contact with Wayne Brown considered him one of the nicest people they knew. The former Radio One Vice President passed away this weekend, reportedly of liver cancer.
CBS's Rick Caffey told Radio Ink last night, "All of Atlanta Radio is in mourning with the passing of Wayne Brown. Wayne was loved and respected by all of us. He was a true ambassador of our industry and a colleague to all who loved radio."
Brown managed the CBS Urban cluster in Charlotte and worked as Regional Vice President for Radio One for its Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, and Augusta properties. Sherman Kizart of Kizart Media Partners said "Wayne Brown?s involvement in everything that he touched made it better in every way imaginable. Over the weekend, the radio industry lost one of its most respected, hard-working, honest, devoted, driven, and talented leaders."
Tony Kidd works for Cox Media Group in Atlatna. He tells Radio Ink, "Wayne was one of the kindest and hardest working men I have ever known and cared deeply about his family and his radio family."
(10/8/2012 1:09:00 PM)
Really sad to hear of the passing of Wayne Brown today - I met Wayne as a 19 year old student at Syracuse University as he was on campus (as an alumni) running a Media session for multicultural students - As an eager student of Radio & Media, I popped my head into the room just wanting to learn from him and he welcomed my with open arms and spent time after - Really impacted my career and got to know Wayne through our Business. Rest in Peace my friend and thanks for all
(10/8/2012 11:25:56 AM)
Wayne Brown had a gregarious, warm personality that made him genuinely interested in every person he met. I used to joke that if he got stuck in an airport overnight, by daybreak he would know every passenger in the terminal by name.
He was a successful human before he was a successful businessman. Rest in peace, Wayne.
Wayne was a classy, hard-working gentleman, always lending a creative, positive touch to the work he did for his stations, his employers and for the Radio industry as a whole. A good man gone.
(10/8/2012 10:18:30 AM)
Wayne was a perfect gentleman-kind, sincere, giving and a great friend. The world won't be the same without him... My heart and love to his family.
Michelle Jackson
Charlotte NC
I have known Wayne since we were at Syracuse together, 35 years ago. And then we both started our careers at CBS Networks in NYC. Wayne and the very few NYC group of young black media professionals were the goundbreakers in corporate media sales.
Wayne was and continued to be a champion of diversity for the industry; and through his leadership and Presidency of the first country's black media trade group in the country, BRAINY (Black Representatives Association in New York, which eventually morphed into the today's largest diversity media trade organization, NAMIC.), Wayne tirelessly helped to introduce and mentor many black college students into the media industry. Wayne's media legacy was established right then!
But beyond his very successful media career and achievements, Wayne was a great friend for 35 years. We were kids when we met in college, and grew up to be men, husbands and fathers.
The world has lost a very special human being, a wonderful husband and a fantastic and proud father, and a great friend to many - but Heaven has gained one loving, happy and notoriously funny spirit . . . God needed Wayne to help Him run things above, and I'm sure Wayne's already getting things organized up there.
God Bless you Wayne K., and much love to Niecy, the boys and your family.
We miss you so much. . .
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