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Quote of the Week
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced,”
– James Baldwin
(Sponsored by Curtis Crawley)
Black Fact
Local Black History Maker of the Shoals
02-19-26 | John Hampton (Cherokee): Entrepreneur who with his family owned several businesses including restaurants, hotels, etc. He became known throughout the Shoals as the “Peanut Man” after meeting and learning the art of roasting peanuts from Dr. George Washington Carver.
02-20-26 | William Christopher “W.C.” Handy (Florence): Known internationally as Father of the Blues, was the first to transcribe and sell Black sheet music. He founded Handy Brothers Music based in New York.
02-21-26 | Arlan Poole Hayes (Florence): Burrell Slater Graduate who became a Tuskegee “Red Tail” Airman.
02-22-26 | Dr. Leonard J. Hicks (Florence): The first black doctor in the Shoals area to practice medicine in a white hospital (Eliza Coffee Memorial). Dr. Hicks Blvd in Florence is named in his honor.
Much respect for the memory of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who paved the way for President Barack Obama, managed to successfully negotiate the freedom of American hostages more than once, and served as an inspiration for all.
Pictured from left to right:
Bob Carl Bailey, my father and founder of WZZA Radio who worked with the good Reverend on his “Run Jesse Run” campaigns, raised money for that brother, and fussed at him about rhyming too much (lol).
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who launched a helluva race for U.S. President in both 1984 and 1988, and who at that time in history singlehandedly inspired more Black folks than any other before him to become registered voters.
Principal Leroy Finch, who oversaw the same school that my father graduated from, Leighton Training School. He introduced Reverend Jackson that evening. (This picture was taken at University of North Alabama’s Norton Auditorium.)
And Tori Bailey, who was elected to attend the National Democratic Convention, served as a Deputy Voter Registrar, and served as Deputy Youth Coordinator for Alabama’s 5th Congressional District.
WZZA is pleased to announce a new partnership with River Zurinsky to provide our listeners with real-time severe weather coverage. Although River has provided the Shoals area with online severe weather coverage for the past five years, this will be his first time being heard on any radio station.
When a tornado warning or severe weather conditions are issued in northwest Alabama, West Mississippi, or southern Tennessee, our WZZA Radio announcers will connect with River for real time information about those areas that are directly affected. By partnering with River, WZZA will be able to offer our listeners exclusive, live, up to the minute severe weather coverage both on air and online.
For over half a century, WZZA has always been a valued source of important information that affects our listeners. During the severe weather event on February 15, 2025 when an EF1 tornado touched down in Downtown Tuscumbia, River was the only person covering the storm who specifically called out Cave Street as the storm tracked through the city. During the upcoming Spring 2026 tornado season, WZZA will be the only radio station carrying River’s updates. We hope that this partnership will help save lives across The Shoals, and we encourage you to tell your family and friends to stay tuned to WZZA for potentially lifesaving information during tornado warnings!
Tune in to WZZA’s A Look At The Shoals, Thursday at 2pm, to hear more about River Zurinsky’s weather tracking service, coming soon to Soul Radio!
WZZA Radio Station, owned and operated by Muscle Shoals Broadcasting, serves the Shoals area and beyond.
©Tori Bailey
Soul of the Shoals® is a registered trademark.