Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
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July 22–29, 1999
news
Adios, El Viaje?
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With Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez fighting it out on Top 40 radio this summer, some might assume that Latino music is well represented in Philadelphia. However, as of Aug. 1, there may be one less place to hear authentic Latino programming. According to rumors and station sources, Temple public radio station WRTI (90.1) will make some programming changes, and the fate of David Ortiz’s Saturday evening Latin show El Viaje hangs in the balance.
Station sources have said that El Viaje, Saturday morning show Caribbean Rhythms, and Sunday morning gospel show Ovations will be canceled to make way for more classical programming. Also, that Sunday show Jazz Journeys host Earle Brown would be replaced with Bob Perkins and the show would move from from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. to 3–6 p.m., losing an hour in the process. Validating the swirling rumors, Brown and Caribbean Rhythms host Lloyd Cummings were both recently fired from the station.
David Ortiz has hosted El Viaje for over 22 years. A mainstay in the Latino community, the show is the only Philly FM station to feature authentic Latino music. It won "Best Radio Program" in Philadelphia magazine’s 1997 "Best of Philly" awards. Celebrities from Tito Puente to Temple alumnus Bill Cosby have acknowledged the show. In addition, El Viaje has had numerous fund drive events where WRTI received donations from listeners on the strength of the show. Once Ortiz heard about the imminent cancellation of his show, he immediately wrote a letter to Temple president Peter Liacouras discussing the show’s achievements. Ortiz also appealed to his friends, Councilman Angel Ortiz and State Rep. Juan Ramos on the show’s behalf. Once word started getting out that El Viaje might be cancelled, petitions began circulating in the Latino community, at Centro Musical, and Salseros International Dance School.
WRTI has been in the unenviable position of trying to be everything to everyone since last year, when owner Greater Media flipped then-classical station WFLN (95.7) to the now-defunct MAX and jettisoned its classical format. WRTI was given ’FLN’s music library and the station went classical during the daytime hours, relegating jazz to the nighttime hours. While Ortiz has been assured that no changes would be made, City Paper’s calls to WRTI’s program director Chuck Miller and executive director Dave Conant had not been returned at press time.
