Ken Hamblin
Encyclopedia
Ken Loronzo Hamblin II the self-titled Black Avenger, was host of the Ken Hamblin Show, which was syndicated nationally on Entertainment Radio Networks.
His show peaked in the 1990s, but he left the air, without warning, in July 2003 due to a contractual dispute with his syndicator, the American Views Radio Network.
Hamblin, based in Denver, Colorado
, is the author of Pick a Better Country: An Unassuming Colored Guy Speaks His Mind about America (ISBN 0684807556, ISBN 978-0684807553), also available in an audio cassette version, and Plain Talk and Common Sense from the Black Avenger (ISBN 0684865564, ISBN 978-0684865560).
, Hamblin is a policeman's son. He served in the United States Army
's 101st Airborne Division
before becoming a photographer for the Detroit Free Press
. In the late 1960s Hamblin was a producer and film cameraman with the Public TV channel in Detroit, WTVS, Channel 56. A major event he captured exclusively was the release of radical leftist and beatnik/hippy/writer/poet/music producer John St. Clair from prison after serving time for marijuana possession. Hamblin began his radio career in the 1970s. He says he was once sympathetic to the radical left
, including the Black Panthers, and gave them favorable coverage. However, he eventually realized the left had failed to bring about the type of America it spoke of, and he began to move to the conservative side of the spectrum
. This put him in company with David Horowitz
, Tammy Bruce
and others who made a left-to-right
switch. Hamblin is a licensed fixed-wing pilot and a motorcycle owner. He is a father and grandfather.
radio in Denver, a clear-channel station heard across the western and central United States. Hamblin hosted the early evening shift, which he worked the evening of June 18, 1984, when Alan Berg
, one of the station's biggest and most controversial hosts, was gunned down. He gained national attention when his show, then carried on another Denver radio station, was broadcast on CSPAN during the early 1990s. He was heard on KNUS and KXKL
radio in Denver, as well as across the nation. After his show was syndicated, he was heard across the United States on about 200 radio stations.
In 1999, Hamblin was named one of Colorado's Top 100 most influential media personalities.
Hamblin's show had several unique features: playing various versions of the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of the show; playing Taps
for fallen law enforcement officers; announcing the execution of convicts on death row
, often with a clip from the movie Unforgiven
, saying "It's a hell of a thing killin' a man; you take away everything he's got, and everything he's gonna have." The execution segment was notable for having "Another One Bites the Dust
", sung by Queen
. Hamblin frequently referred to liberals as "egg-sucking dogs", and sometimes challenged listeners to call in and name one major American city that improved after the city elected a liberal black
mayor ("You can't do it"). He has also been an outspoken critic of Louis Farrakan and the Nation of Islam
, challenging those unhappy with the United States to "pick a better country" and go live there.
His show peaked in the 1990s, but he left the air, without warning, in July 2003 due to a contractual dispute with his syndicator, the American Views Radio Network.
Hamblin, based in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, is the author of Pick a Better Country: An Unassuming Colored Guy Speaks His Mind about America (ISBN 0684807556, ISBN 978-0684807553), also available in an audio cassette version, and Plain Talk and Common Sense from the Black Avenger (ISBN 0684865564, ISBN 978-0684865560).
Early career
The child of immigrant parents from BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, Hamblin is a policeman's son. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
before becoming a photographer for the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
. In the late 1960s Hamblin was a producer and film cameraman with the Public TV channel in Detroit, WTVS, Channel 56. A major event he captured exclusively was the release of radical leftist and beatnik/hippy/writer/poet/music producer John St. Clair from prison after serving time for marijuana possession. Hamblin began his radio career in the 1970s. He says he was once sympathetic to the radical left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
, including the Black Panthers, and gave them favorable coverage. However, he eventually realized the left had failed to bring about the type of America it spoke of, and he began to move to the conservative side of the spectrum
Political spectrum
A political spectrum is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes symbolizing independent political dimensions....
. This put him in company with David Horowitz
David Horowitz
David Joel Horowitz is an American conservative writer and policy advocate. Horowitz was raised by parents who were both members of the American Communist Party. Between 1956 and 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left before rejecting Marxism completely...
, Tammy Bruce
Tammy Bruce
Tammy Bruce is an American radio host, author, and political commentator. Her nationally-syndicated talk show, The Tammy Bruce Show, airs live weekdays from 11am-1pm Pacific time online via ....
and others who made a left-to-right
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
switch. Hamblin is a licensed fixed-wing pilot and a motorcycle owner. He is a father and grandfather.
The Ken Hamblin Show
Hamblin had a long-running local talk program on powerful KOAKOA (AM)
KOA is a clear channel, news/talk radio station serving the Denver-Boulder and Colorado Springs, Colorado markets. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is nicknamed "the Blowtorch of the West" for its 50,000 watt signal.KOA was originally owned by General Electric and began...
radio in Denver, a clear-channel station heard across the western and central United States. Hamblin hosted the early evening shift, which he worked the evening of June 18, 1984, when Alan Berg
Alan Berg
Alan Berg was a Jewish American attorney and Denver, Colorado talk radio show host. Berg was notable for his largely liberal, outspoken viewpoints and confrontational interview style....
, one of the station's biggest and most controversial hosts, was gunned down. He gained national attention when his show, then carried on another Denver radio station, was broadcast on CSPAN during the early 1990s. He was heard on KNUS and KXKL
KBNO (AM)
KBNO is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format. Licensed to Denver, Colorado, USA, it serves the Denver-Boulder area. The station is currently owned by Latino Communications, LLC.-History:...
radio in Denver, as well as across the nation. After his show was syndicated, he was heard across the United States on about 200 radio stations.
In 1999, Hamblin was named one of Colorado's Top 100 most influential media personalities.
Hamblin's show had several unique features: playing various versions of the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of the show; playing Taps
Taps
"Taps" is a musical piece sounded by the U.S. military nightly to indicate that it is "lights out". The tune is also sometimes known as "Butterfields Lullaby", or by the lyrics of its second verse, "Day is Done". It is also played during flag ceremonies and funerals, generally on bugle or trumpet...
for fallen law enforcement officers; announcing the execution of convicts on death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
, often with a clip from the movie Unforgiven
Unforgiven
Unforgiven is a 1992 American Western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood with a screenplay written by David Webb Peoples. The film tells the story of William Munny, an aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more job years after he had hung up his guns and turned to farming...
, saying "It's a hell of a thing killin' a man; you take away everything he's got, and everything he's gonna have." The execution segment was notable for having "Another One Bites the Dust
Another One Bites the Dust
"Another One Bites the Dust" is a song by the English rock band Queen. Written by bass guitarist John Deacon, the song featured on the group's eighth studio album The Game . The song was a worldwide hit, charting number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100, number two on the R&B charts and...
", sung by Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. Hamblin frequently referred to liberals as "egg-sucking dogs", and sometimes challenged listeners to call in and name one major American city that improved after the city elected a liberal black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
mayor ("You can't do it"). He has also been an outspoken critic of Louis Farrakan and the Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
, challenging those unhappy with the United States to "pick a better country" and go live there.