About Carl Nelson

The Carl Nelson Show Launched Mon-Fri 4-7pm on WOL-AM 1450 February 6th 2012 in the nations capital. Ground-breaking, Peabody Award-winning broadcast news journalist Carl Nelson, has interviewed Presidents, Prime Ministers, Heads of State, politicians, authors, celebrities, civic leaders and people from all walks of life over a four-decade career that has taken him from Nelson Mandela’s prison cell in South Africa, to the Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles, to his present career as host of Washington DC’s latest daily newsmaker radio program, The Carl Nelson Show, a 3-hour daily news program on Radio One’s flagship radio station WOL-1450 AM.

Carl Nelson was the first reporter allowed to interview Nelson Mandela on the eve of his historic 1991 release from his South African prison and, as News Director for Stevie Wonder’s KJLH Radio, was the only news reporter allowed across police lines during the 1991 Rodney King riots. KJLH’s acclaimed coverage of this civic unrest garnered KJLH the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, an NAACP Image Award, a Golden Mike Award, the Los Angeles Press Club Award and several other industry-wide awards.

Nelson began his broadcasting career in 1971 at WYNT Radio in New York City. In 1974, he was recruited by Inner City Broadcasting Company, owners of WLIB Radio and WBLS Radio. After stints at several radio stations in Los Angeles, Nelson was named News Director of Stevie Wonder’s KJLH Radio, a position he held for a quarter of a century (1980-2005). In addition to his managerial responsibilities, Nelson was deeply involved in Wonder’s Bid to make Dr. Martin Luther Kings’ birthday a national holiday, he was also led in the station’s critically-acclaimed coverage of local, regional and national politics, breaking news and national events, including coverage of all the US political conventions.

Nelson has interviewed former US President Ronald Reagan, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former South Africa Premiere Peter Botha, Zambia’s first

President Kenneth Kaunda, Namibia’s Former President Sam Nujoma, current South African President Jacob Zuma, dozens of US political leaders including former US presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson, Senator Edward Kennedy, Representatives Maxine Waters, John Conyers and Diane Watson, Julian Bond, Andrew Young, TD Jakes, and Rev. Al Sharpton, among many others.

Nelson’s celebrity interviews include: Elizabeth Taylor, Oprah, Michael Jackson, Prince, Sidney Poitier, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Redd Foxx, Luther Van Dross, Quincy Jones Berry Gordy, Magic Johnson, Muhammad Ali, O.J Simpson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar Richard Pryor and Nancy Wilson, to name but a few

In 1996, The Black Radio Exclusive Magazine named Carl News Director of the Year. Nelson is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology, and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio Television News Directors Association and the Black Journalists Association. Formerly the co-owner of WSRF AM radio in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Nelson sits on the President’s Advisory Board at St. Thomas University, Miami, FL.

Morgan State University professor Dr. Ray Winbush will examine the attempt to re-write history describing our ancestors as immigrants instead of captured enslaved people. Before we get to Dr. Winbush, The Mooney Twins check-in with a cryptocurrency update.

Sister Shahrazad is the author of The Blackman's Guide to Understanding the Blackwoman. Sister Shahrazad will opine on the recent attacks on Simone Biles & Naomi Osaka. Before we get to Shahrazad, Zimbabwe Herald, US-based correspondent Brother Obie updates us on how Cuba & Zimbabwe are responding to the virus.

Emergency Room Physician Dr. Val Crowder updates us on the COVID 19 virus. Dr. Crowder will explain why the Delta virus is attacking young people more than others. Before we hear from Dr. Crowder, The Faith Brothers join the discussion.

Multi-talented author and researcher Keidi Awadu will revisit the controversial 1989 plan to vaccinate Black and Brown children in LA. Before Brother Keidi, Sadiki Kambon from Nubian Leadership Circle previews the upcoming National Black Leadership Summit.

Black Politics Expert Dr. James Taylor discusses if the Black Vote can save NY Governor Cuomo and more. Before we get to Dr. Taylor, Financial Expert Darnell Parker reviews the latest jobs report and how the Federal Reserve's new credit facilities are designed to keep Wall Street afloat.

Medical & Holistic Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad will explain why the Delta & other variants are exploding across the country plus alternatives to the vaccines. The founder of the Million Women March outlines a proposed march on the United Nations but getting us started a discussion on the Alzheimer's in our community...

Kemetologist Tony Browder will unlock his reflection of his legacy after 43 years of study, travel, and educating Black people. Before we get to Brother Tony, a conversation with the PG county's Police Dpt looking for spiritual advisors.

Griot Baba Lumumba from Umoja House in WDC leads another thought-provoking discussion on the Importance of elders to Black Liberation. Before we hear from Baba Lumumba, Educator Brother Asentue reviews the life and time of the late activist and educator Bob Moses.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Jerome E. Fox returns to the WOL classroom to discuss the CRT Critical Race Theory. Before Dr. Fox, Financial Expert, JB Bryan on how to handle the inflation issues facing the public.

Chicago activist Chairman Fred Hampton discusses his city's plan to create a gun investigation team. Before we hear from the Chairman, Kaam Howard from the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, N'Cobra provides a Reparations update.