During my 6 years as a “Production Coordinator” at WKTV, along with producing the facilities productions and performing all my general responsibilities, I found time on Saturdays to produce my own television show.
My boss, the station manager at the time told me to take on my own project, with a personal interest. So when the time was right- when I had the volunteers necessary to produce the show, I started to pull together a team to produce 52nd and Clyde Park. One of my right hand men- and cofounder of the show, John “Bugsy” Cooper actually named the show for me as “52nd and Clyde Park”. As soon as I heard him say “52nd & Clyde Park” I knew that name and idea had to become a reality. There were three months of pre-production, preparing and training the volunteer crew before we shot our first episode. One of my college friends (that I looked up to in college for his video skills) Dan Stahl decided to hop in the cockpit with me and be the acncor in the conrol room, as he committed to directing the first episodes. His leadership was huge in the control room, and we had a lot of fun bantering each other as we taped shows. With myself as producer, we shot 12 episodes over the course of a year. I found and met some real great leaders within the community that volunteered on the show with shooting, hosting or performing. I will never forget this experience as one like it will probably never happen again. I would like to personally thank my good friends Dan Stahl, John “Bugsy” Cooper, Ashley Pinder-Key, Brandon Queshawn, DJ Word, DJ Prodigy, Nesha Nichols, Lexx Luggar, Andrew Conner Barrie, and everyone pictured below. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for your commitment. And I love you guys. I treasure the friendships we developed as we filmed the show together once every month as a community.
Below are a couple of the most memorable episodes for myself- Episode #6 and #11. Episode #6 was when we got to a point in the production value that I was happy with, and we were really operating as a team and “well oiled machine”. Episode #11 features a friend of mine that died in a tragic hit hand run accident, R.I.P. SEAN “MR. EVERYTHING” PEAY. Wuzee and him know they were one of the few in the area that I would really personally support, they were a pair of MC’s that I truly believed in. Sean will truly be missed.
After the 12 episode were shot, I ended up changing jobs and moving from the city of Grand Rapids. I believe the crew is continuing production with Bugsy as their lead producer. Below are the 12 Episode I produced at WKTV Studios the last year I worked at the station.
Grand Rapids Local Acts Only
Episode #11 is featuring George Moss & Beacon, Freedom of Speech, Smoove Peso & The Bully Gang with The Red Ruby Dancers, and headlining the show is Wuzee and Mr. Everything. Episode 11 is hosted by Brandon Queshawn and Ashley Pinder-Key.
These shows are now a time capsule of the times. I wanted to give under exposed artists a chncae to be heard and participate a growing local music scene.
