LaDonna Tittle
LaDonna Tittle | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 13, 1946[citation needed] Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Dunbar Vocational High School |
| Alma mater | B.A. Chicago State University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Known for | Radio personality – WBMX-FM, WJPC-AM, WGCI-AM |
| Spouse |
Ronald Horton
(m. 1967; died 1973) |
| Website | cookingwithtittle |
LaDonna Marie Tittle or LaDonna Theresa Tittle[citation needed][1] (born March 13, 1946)[citation needed][1] is an American radio personality,[2][3] actress and former model. Tittle is perhaps best known for her radio career from the mid–1970s until the early–2000s. Tittle most notable career stints were in Chicago at several stations; WBMX-FM from 1973 to 1978, WJPC-AM alongside Tom Joyner from 1978 until 1989[4] and WGCI-AM (1992–2000). Tittle has appeared as Ethel Brown (simply known as Ms. Ethel) in the Showtime television series The Chi (2018–2020).
Biography
Early life and education
Tittle was born the oldest of five children to Juanita (née Wiley; c. 1922–2000)[1] and James Olden Tittle[5] in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Her mother owned a record shop and managed several businesses within the neighborhood. According to Tittle, Her mom served as part-time manager of WVON during the early 1960s.[1] Her father was a businessman who owned several pool halls along East 47th street in the neighborhood. Sometime during her early childhood, Tittle and her brother attended school in Covert, Michigan. After her parents divorced in 1959, Tittle relocated to the Hyde Park neighborhood with her mother and siblings. As a child, Tittle sold candy at the Regal Theater during the late 1950s.[1] During her teenage years, Tittle's family relocated to the Robert Taylor Homes public housing project; returning to the Bronzeville neighborhood. While a resident at Robert Taylor, Tittle began taking acting classes at the neighborhood club there. For high school, Tittle attended Dunbar Vocational High School; graduating in 1964.[1] After high school, Tittle studied briefly at Loop College (now known as Harold Washington College) and later transferred to Chicago State University. At Chicago State University, Tittle majored in art education and drama with a minor in journalism; graduating in 1971.[1]
Career
Tittle began her career in radio at Chicago's WBEE station in 1970. After two years at WBEE, Tittle moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she worked as a weekend radio personality at WNOV radio in 1972. Tittle worked at the radio station for a year, later returning to Chicago in 1973. Shortly after returning to Chicago, Tittle became the midday and evening host of WBMX-FM radio,[6] where R&B and soul music were showcased. She started her career at the station reporting news and working overnight, eventually moving to weekday afternoons a year later.
Due to her growing popularity, Tittle was sought after by Johnson Publishing Company's WJPC radio station. They offered to double her salary, an offer she accepted in 1978. Tittle co-hosted alongside Tom Joyner and DJ Bebe D'Banana, and later JoJo Bell. In April 1979, Tittle was featured as JET magazine's "Beauty of the Week" while wearing bathing suit made out of radio station bumper stickers. Tittle later worked the 10AM to 3PM shift in early 1982.[7] Tittle worked at WJPC until the station was sold in December 1989. Tittle then worked at WNUA-FM, a blues and smooth-jazz radio station in Joliet, Illinois, before getting full–time work at Chicago's WGCI-AM in 1992. For the first few years, she worked between the FM and AM stations until automated overnight broadcasts came into play, which resulted in her being laid off in 2000.
After a year's hiatus from the public, she launched The LaDonna Tittle TV/Radio Show on Chicago's CAN-TV in 2001.[8] The show began as a platform to chat with entertainers until she decided to shift to cooking after viewing a soul food exhibit in 2003. Tittle also starred in R. Kelly's 2005 melodrama Trapped in the Closet, as Rosie the nosy neighbor. Tittle has received many Awards and Recognitions for her public community service, mentoring, educational self-esteem activities, and Culinary contributions. Tittle is "radio-act-tive"...
Personal life
Tittle was married once and had no children. Her only marriage was to Ronald Horton, a Vietnam army volunteer from 1967 until his death in 1973. Tittle dated John E. Johnson of the Johnson hair-care product family from the late–1970s until his death in 1981.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "La Donna Tittle - The HistoryMakers". thehistorymakers.com. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ The Working Press of the Nation, Volumes 3-5, 1987
- ^ "La Donna Tittle now in the U.S. Library of Congress". Cookin' Wit' Tittle. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ Ebony Magazine - May 1980
- ^ "R. Kelly's Old Lady". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ "Jet". google.com. Johnson Publishing Company. 1975-05-01. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ Ebony - April 1982
- ^ "South Chicago is "Cookin' wit' Tittle"". claretianassociates.org. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2016.