A look into the history of the family who created WCHB radio
Jul 8, 2026
In a special Destination Detroit report, One Detroit producer Bill Kubota explores the history of WCHB and WJZZ radio with members of the family who founded the stations. Annette Bass and her brother-in-law Eric Bass talk about how his grandfather, father and uncle made history when they built the Inkster-based WCHB-AM radio from the ground up — a first for an African American owned and operated radio station. Annette and Eric reflect on the family’s arrival in Detroit, WCHB’s coverage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, and WJZZ-FM radio’s impact on the smooth jazz genre.
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