Draft:Noble V. Blackwell

• Comment: No indication this person is notable? Qcne (talk) 19:38, 14 December 2023 (UTC)

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Early Life

Noble V. Blackwell was born April 19, 1934 in Nashville Tennessee to the late James Henry Blackwell and Susie Lee Blackwell. He was the fifth child of nine children. After the death of his mother he was raised at the John Henry Hale Projects by his maternal grandmother Gretheal Henley affectionately known as “Nanna.” His grandfather was a Cheroke Indian who wore a long braid affectionately known as “Father.” In his formidable years he accompanied Nanna to work who was a Culinary Art Designer at that time “The CooK for influential white people providing exquisite meals for parties and special events. Noble was always dressed in slacks, dress shirt, tie and hard bottom shoes. Even as a child Noble carried himself with a maturity beyond his years. Noble attended St. Vincent Catholic School and graduated from Pearl High School.

The Blackwell family were founding members of Westwood Baptist Church. Noble’s paternal grandfather Frank Blackwell and grandmother Ada Blackwell affectionately known as “Mama Ada” owned the property from the church on Albin Street all the way to Meharry Medical Center. After Mama Ada's death, family members sold the property to the college for an undisclosed amount.

Early Career

Noble began his career at Pearl High School in Nashville, TN reading the morning announcements over the PA system. His oratory ability quickly became evident and he was recruited as the Master of Ceremonies to host school dances, civic and social community events. He caught the attention of the manager at WSOK which became WVOL and was hired as a part-time disc-jockey while still in high school.

He met and married Bennetta Freeman, a daughter Joyce was born to that union, a few months later the marriage was annulled.

He attended Tennessee State University. He was encouraged by his Drama and Speech Coach Dr. Poe to pursue his career in broadcasting. He went on to work at WTMP Tampa FL, as the Program Director responsible for all programming and news, managing a staff of 8 people. As an on-air personality he had the #1 AM drive time program. He then went to WFEC in Miami as the “Honey Bee” with the #1 PM drive time program. He also formed the Marketing and Public Relations firm Blackwell and Henederson concert & event promoters.

Vietnam War

Noble served a tour of duty in the United States Army as part of the 11th Airborne Band from 1956-1959. He was a Paratrooper and completed his training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was stationed in Augsburg, Germany assigned to the Entertainment Director’s Office, his duties included coordinating shows, recreational activities and keeping up the morale of the servicemen stationed in southern Germany. He was the co-founder of the Augsburg Players Guild, a local drama club.

Married Life

After returning from Germany Noble was a Sales Account Executive at WVOL radio station. While hosting a live remote broadcast he was introduced to Katie Y. Betts by her brother Jack Betts the Manager of Club Del Morocco. Katie, a cosmetology student at Joyce Beauty School was helping raise her nephew Michael Barry at the time. In 1960 Noble and Katie married at Westwood Baptist Church they decided to raise Michael in their home. To this union three daughters were born, Tracye Dionne, Sharnda Renee and Wendy Valencia. He was promoted to Assistant Sales Manager responsible for all creative promotions leading the team in sales for two of his three years. Notable achievements include: Zingo Promotion, Lucky License Promotion, Giant Bunny Easter Promotion, Giant Santa Claus Christmas Promotion, Tennessee State Football and Basketball Promotional campaigns.

Night Train TV Show

Simultaneously under his production company NB Productions,Inc. Noble produced, hosted, and sold the commercial spots for Night Train Late Night TV Show. The first black syndicated program by Viacom throughout the United States and abroad. The show was recorded at midnight at the CBS affiliate WLAC-TV Channel 5 studios to avoid jealous white employees and confrontation with the Klu Klux Klan. The show ran from 1964 to 1967 and featured local artists performing “covers” of prominent recording artists such as Otis Redding, Gladys Knight and James Brown making their songs popular which increased concert ticket sales. Fame guitarist Jimmi Hendrix got his start in the house band. The decision was made to take the show on the road giving birth to The Night Train Revue. The show traveled to Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi. A dance party that raised funds for social and civic causes to help young black people.

Noble was always concerned with improving the quality of life for black people; he used his connections and influence to help fight against racial segregation. Noble hosted and produced Opportunity Line to connect employers with minority laborers during the same time period.

Meharry Medical College

In 1966 Noble left WVOL because he was denied the Sales Manager position. He became the Executive Secretary and National Director of Alumni Affairs for Meharry Medical College. Tasked with the responsibility to create innovative fundraising campaigns in support of the sixty six million dollar expansion. He traveled throughout the United States revitalizing Alumni Chapters representing over 3,800 physicians, dentists, nurses and medical technicians.

1968 Race Riots

Noble was asked by the owner R.W. Roundsville to return to WVOL after the assisination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. He was given the position of Vice President and General Manager to diffuse the angry mob that wanted to burn down the white owned radio station. Noble was the voice of calm, respected, and possessed the leadership skills required to convince those angry young men that the station was their voice, their connection to the community. It was during that time he created the Goodwill Non-profit Fund to provide scholarships, pay funeral and medical bills for the needy and support destitute families who did not qualify for government assistance. Under Noble’s leadership #6 rated WVOL became #1 in the marketplace and the undeniable leader in black radio in Nashville.

Climbing the CBS Corporate Ladder

In 1972 Noble accepted a position as Director Of Broadcasting at WCAU-TV Channel 10 in Philadelphia PA. He was responsible for all operations, non-news programming, budgets, audience promotions, control over all content. The family relocated to the John Audubon Bird Sanctuary community outside of Philadelphia.

He moved the family to Park Ridge NJ, a middle class Jewish and Italian neighborhood. The family was very active in the community; he supported all of his daughters' sports and performing endeavors. Noble commuted weekly to CBS headquarters the Black Rock in New York City and continued to climb the corporate ladder. In 1975 he was the Division Director of Community Relations for all 5 CBS owned and operated television stations: WCBS- New York; WCAU-Philadelphia; WBBM-Chicago; KMOX- St. Louis; KNXT - Los Angeles. Noble worked with the Law department to ensure all FCC regulations, policies were adhered to for performance of all stations. In 1976 Noble was given a special assignment to develop the CBS Minority Employee Plan to recruit qualified minorities. Noble was then promoted to Director of Corporate Staff Services as the liaison Officer representing CBS to community organizations and served on the boards of minority organizations on behalf of CBS.

Return To Radio

In 1979 Noble returned to his first love as the Vice President and General Manager of WNJR radio station in Newark NJ. Along with all the community outreach programs he produced a live TV program from Grayford Correctional Facility with inmates to broadcast in the Newark School System. Noble also introduced the new genre of music now called Hip Hop to commercial radio by approving the debut of Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight. The popularity of the song in heavy rotation garnered the first official “Rap Concert” at Paradiso NightClub downtown Newark. The voice of the youth became official.

In 1981 The opportunity finally came for Noble to purchase twin stations WCDL AM & FM in northeast Pennsylvania. As a son of Nashville he saw an opportunity to transform the FM station into Hit Kickin Contemporary Country WLSP, first non-traditional format station owned by a black man.

In 1988 he returned to New York as an Executive Consultant for the National Black Network at the time representing 150 radio stations marketing to 80% of black americans. He was tasked with creating NBN II to persuade Ad agencies and their clients to spend advertising dollars on urban radio stations.

Early 1990s Noble revived NB productions as the Southeast Promoter in conjunction with Norby Walters Agency and ICB out of New York. The family promoted several big shows including: Kool & The Gang ``Victory Celebration”, “The All Seeing Eyes Tour featuring Cameo, The Whispers, Stephanie Mills and other prominent recording artists at that time.

Dedication To Ministry

September 10,1994 Noble V. Blackwell went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. At the twilight of his life, Noble dedicated his life to ministry. He was the Chairman of the Deacon Board at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Westwood, NJ, He produced the Urban Contemporary Gospel Show picked up by JME for syndication. He was co-founder of Strategic Ministries Group, a young adult ministry producing creative programming such as Rap Ministries United, and the Christian Jam Network.

Noble never failed to emphasize the fact that he was able to accomplish his 40 year broadcasting career not by himself, but by his faith and trust in the Lord. Rest in Power knowing your life’s work will impact future generations.

Awards and Citations

WVOL Community Service Award Fund Raisers of Middle Tennessee Certificate of Service Award Meharry Medical College Appreciation of Service Broadcasters Community Service Award Military Department Certificate of Merit and Appreciation National Assoc. Of Black Social Workers Certificate of Appreciation Tennessee State University News Media Award Donelson Hermitage Jaycees Appreciation Community Service Award NATRA Citation for Excellence in Broadcast Management Sports Media Award Black Assoc. Sports Enterprise National TV & Radio Announcers Man of the Year Neighborhood Youth Crusade Appreciation Community Service Carbondale Pioneer Days Valuable Support Award United Way of Tri-State Certificate of Merit NY Chapter Public Relations Society of America Citation Delaware Valley Broadcast Pioneers Albert Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award