The Rochester I Know; 306; Andrew Langston

[music] [music] When WDKX signed on in 1974, it only added to a number of impressive firsts for the man behind the music. Born in Georgia a one time bunkmate of Martin Luther King, Andrew Langston arrived in this city in 1961. He gave up up selling clothes for insurance and became a member of the million dollar club. In just 10 months. The most recent years of his life in business have been equally eclectic.

Now Andrew Langston talks with Bill Pierce, about the Rochester, he knows. Hello I'm Bill Piers and welcome to the Rochester, I know and in this case it's the Rochester that Andrew Langston knows. Andrew Langston, welcome Andrew the chairman and CEO of WDKX and a flock other enterprises over the years and we're going to get to all of those. But Andrew, Welcome, great to have you here. [Andrew]: Thanks Bill. We- we, were going to get around to Rochester because this program is about Rochester, but we wanna start wit- with your beginning because you- you didn't start out in Rochester. You started out in- in another town and where was that? Well Bill to bring us up to date I was born on a place called Coleman, Georgia that is southwest Georgia, near the Alabama line I, my parents moved to Dawson, Georgia. I went to school in Dawson which is 60 miles from Plains, Georgia. 23 miles from Albany, Georgia, that was Southwest, Georgia. I uh

used to deliver papers in the morning, and uh you talk about running, I uh ran to deliver papers because I didn't have a bicycle. Uh and I ?inaudible? When I took over the paper but it was the Columbus Enquirer. And then after ?inaudible? the Columbus ledger. How old were you then? [Andrew]: Uhh, eleven years of age. It's not child labor and you're selling papers in Dawson, Georgia. [Andrew]: Dawson, Georgia. Now that was uh, that was a white paper. So I had 40 customers uh deliver the papers to and uhh I didn't have a bicycle. So I sold enough papers, I uh increased my uhhh circulation to 150 and I bought a bicycle and I bought a bird girls bicycle because my sister could use it as well. Uhh, I used to work at the barber shop in Dawson, Georgia; after school we shine his shoes. [Bill]: How big a town is Dawson, Georgia? [Andrew]: Uhh, I was at Dawson is a huge city uh approximately about 9-10,000. [Bill]: You went to high school there?

I went to high school in Dawson Georgia. [Bill]: And after Dawson, Georgia, you went where? Well after Dawson Georgia. Uhh after high school, I used to go uhh while I was in high school, under ?inaudible? Connecticut. That's outside of Hartford, Connecticut. ?inaudible? tobacco farm in the summer months. Why, why to Connecticut to work during the summer from high school? Yes, well that's what during the high school year. The reason we went there because it was a chance to be working steady and we earned uh 15 cents an hour, 12 hours a day. [Andrew]: 7 days a week. [Bill]: Now we're talking about 19 what? 1940? We've gone back in the 40s Bill uhh and I was around 44 45, 46 [Bill]: You were working in the tobacco fields in Connecticut. I don't think many people realize that Connecticut is a tobacco growing state. Now what's that [Bill]: all about. [Andrew]: Well, it's uhh that I don't leave for the uhhh ?inaudible?

[Andrew]: Connecticut a shade grown tobacco, right. And now who having the ba- [Bill]: ?inaudible? keep it all covered up to eat in their day. So those leaves would blossom during that short season. [Andrew]: Well it was more than that Bill. It was that and to keep insects out as well. [Bill]: ahh ahh. [Andrew]: Right [Bill]: you learned the business [Andrew]: I learned the business but I learned not to be a farmer. Uhhh and who was there was Martin Luther King. I used to sleep on the upper deck of the bunk bed, my- [Bill]: Now this is in Simsbury, you and Martin Luther King [Bill]: working in the same tobacco field [Andrew]: Yeah, but all the students from uh uh high school ?inaudible? Morehouse college were worked well been recruited to go to school at Morehouse College. What was Martin Luther King like then and how old was he. Well I was in those days, Martin was imagine 14. Bout 14 years of age. He was just like any other student, uhh he was uh he liked to debate He's a very good student but leadership, he was just like the regular student this in a form of leadership there. But he grew into leadership and it grew into a verified [Bill]: What did you talk about, the two of you? [Andrew]: We used to talk about uhh

mathematics, chemistry, physics because we were always preparing ourself to be the best student in school and we talked about our economus condition uh because there we had professor Dr. Mays was built in the Morehouse college called dance but a mathematician ?inaudible? and other professors was at the tobacco farm to mold these young black student so they can prepare for college. Now Andrew you're growing up in a small segregated town i- in southwest Georgia, By the name of Dawson and you and you're black i'm [Bill]: I presume you're going to an all black school. [Andrew]: Yup it was a predominately black school. [Bill]: Now how do you get to college? Well uhh I got to college my parents motivated me and uh Mrs. Albi Knight one of the most she had an uh, she was like my mentor.She taught me in school that you can make anything of your life, you want to be.

But in order to do that don't cheat youreself, you need an education. Uhh Dr. Davis who is principal of a high school in Dawson Georgia was a alumni of Morehouse College so he recruited as many students male as he could from Morehouse. [Bill]: How many students from Dawson high school went to college, how many black students? [Andrew]: Uhh in a year when I graduated from high school, it had to merge with like a count of us around 250 students in a class and there's another outline as I was valedictorian on my class and my sons said I was the only a student in the class. But that's not true. [Andrew]: And uhh 98 percent of them went to college. [Bill]: 98 percent were black students at Dawson, is that still going on? I don't have a feel for it today but I don't think it is. Uhh but there's another thing there's a young fella who wanted to be like me named David Albrighten. He is not a male of Dawson, Georgia. So it has changed. Things have changed. [Bill]: So you have a black mayor of Dawson. Schools are no longer segregated. [Andrew]: No longer segregated. [Bill]: Now how do you get to Rochester from Dawson, Georgia. [Andrew]: I'm glad you asked that question. Uhh after Morehouse

College, I became a professional student. I went to school at New York University in grad school uh [Andrew]: and that's when I met my wife. [Bill]: So now why why to New York City from Atlanta. [Andrew]: Uhh that's a good Dr. Mays uhhhh, I was a pre-med student at Morehouse and Martin Luther King was a pre-med student as well. He convinced Martin that he should go into theology like his father and his grandfather with me, he said I was a Metra business person and I should go into business administration. Now let's back up on this. In the 40s, it wasn't the same uhh educational wise. You either, if you were black and you had money to be a doctor maybe a lawyer, a social worker, a school teacher. But business was foreign and there wasn't said. And so in order to do that we researched and see where it is the best school to go to because Morehouse was a liberal arts school but in business it wasn't that strong. So it was recommended I go to a city college in New York if I met anyone in New York, that's what

I did. [Bill]: So you went to CCNY in New York City for what a year? [Andrew]: A year and another year at NYU. [Bill]: NYU and then after NYU what did you do? [Andrew]: After NYU Bill, uh I like after I graduated from NYU. I-I applied for a job at 45 Madison Avenue, CBS Radio. Uh-why I go over there because I was, uhhh I wanted to be uh newscaster but I wanted to be a newscaster on television. In those days, New York wasn't as liberal as you might think it is ?and then at might difference of day? made several uhh- [Bill]: Was there a single newscaster that was black on television in New York then. [Andrew]: No, No you were trying to break back and we've gone back in the 50s, there was none uhh but what I did Bill, I used to listen to WDW, Metro Media station and uhh tell about a name ?inaudible? William B William [Bill] Ahh yes. [Andrew]: Make Believe Ballroom.

I liked his style and I liked what he did, so I used to go, I was like a groupie. And he encouraged me to continue uhh education and give up the day job. But in a way and and summary after NYU,I got a job as a ?writist? at CBS 45 Madison Avenue. Who was there was a late ?inaudible? and others. I was there for one year. I went back to the persons' apartment and I got a job in a garment center as a controller a financial officer. We're not pals with entire family. That was a friend called aclaw. A C L A W. First two letters my company lawyer combined the Aclaw corporation. I had several appointments. And I was, I worked at Aclaw for 7 and a half years. The best education I could have gotten in sales, promotion, proper relation and thinking. Uhh I learned from a wonderful person by the name Dave Greenbird. Uhh and a lot of information I have today, I use it from that experience. Uhh there is ?Adore Mudderpearl?

one of the finest financial person I've ever seen in my life, and uh Abraham ?Gochen? and others. So they taught me high to sell and I should go if they on calls. Uhh there was no black in the sales in New York. [Bill]: What were you, what were you selling? [Andrew]: Uhh women's apparel for the entire family. Blouses, uhh skirts, uhh foundation garments for ladies. Now that's a long way from radio. How did you- you're in broadcasting for a while. [Andrew]: For a, for a short period of time at CBS but I still used to visit the radio station. [Bill]: ahhh [Andrew]: Okay, now I was in the garments center for 4 and a half years years but I used to listen faithfully to the WW Metromedia station in New York City. Uh William B William and I met him and I used to go to see him and I told him I wanted to be like him and he was teaching me to be ?an announcer?. Uhh then after 7 and a half years in the garment center, I couldn't keep a job. I went to Wall Street. I wanted to be an investment. I went through all phases of banking and finance. Uh in those days it was

around 340 departments of banking and finance. And what fascinated me was invest- investment banking. [Bill]: Now, now Andrew we're talking about what late 50s early 60s? [Andrew] Uh were talking 1950s, around 53, 54, 55 [Bill]: uh huh [Andrew]: Alright. Uh and again, it was; let's find out how I got there. In grad school CBS were looking for a person uh the garments center were looking for a person and Wall Street were looking for a person. Each time they had talent, economics, license, and all phases in investment and insurance and played golf. And I learned to caddy in Dawson, Georgia and I learned to play golf. Talking about me but when I got there I didn't want to see me because even in those days it wasn't fashionable to be black and work at CBS in the Wall Street. So golf got me in the door. You mean they, they wanted you until they saw you. [Andrew]: That's it, yes. [Bill] Really?. And I uh had about 38 interviews at CBS, 44 at the garment center and 49 Wall Street

You sent them a resume [Andrew]: Yes! [Bill]: And you didn't tell me you were black on the resume. [Andrew]: No it wasn't they didn't until you showed up [Andrew]: And I showed up yes sir. Uh ohh I know, when I was in the lobby waiting to come out and ?look me? remarks but that was New York. And uh it's not that much different today by the way when it comes to ?executive?. Now I had a what they called it a junior ?executive? in those various positions. But I was getting an education, constant education as to how do you do business. Uhh and I learned it again coming back in the garment center from Isador Mudderpearl . Abraham Gawk, I learned finance. From when it comes to sales, promotion, Per relation, I learned from Charlotte Melson so on the firm and Dave Greenbird. But you obviously did an outstanding job with all of those tools when you came here to build WDKX. Now, how did you come to Rochester? [Andrew]: Nah we still coming to Rochester. After uh uh, while I was at Wall Street, Dave uh uh, Dave Greenbird said I have a friend who teaches uh radio at NYU; uhh school radio and

television techniques today. His name was Frank X Titus. I went to see Frank and Frank taught me privately because I wanted to be the best announcer in the world. Now coming from the South, I had a southern accent and down there we used to say police. It is no such word as police. And I had to get rid of some of those kind idioms and you know walking ?we took uh?, cut it off I N G, ?it was chopped off?, So that was quite a bit of that and I would also work with Pat Kelly. Pat Kelly was the father of the radio and television. ?The Chet?, the hot and richter report, that was his format ?iaudible? David. Uh and so I was fortunate to work with him and others and then I really had the bug that I was going to be a newscaster, on television. Bill don't tell anyone. I uh, I had a resume and audition tape, uh on it was uh uh there was, there was audio it wasn't a picture here in those days and I was accepted for a radio uh uh television station in this market

in Rochester. [Bill] So you were sending resumes where all over, the country [Andrew]: all over the country, right. Now, why Rochester I was attracted to that, is because my parents who are no longer on this Earth got both mother and father my sister and brother. So I had 3 chances I had Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse. I re- I resigned from Chase Manhattan Bank up a been a 4 and a half years and thanks to some wisdom of my mother. Don't burn your bridge. You'll never go back and I said to uhh CEO of the bank, I have permission to use his name. Uh if I don't make it, can I come back you say yes. Now remember I was a banker. I was an accomplice financial person and then I was a writer at CBS and I came to Rochester July 1960. We had sold our house sold out of a house with an option to buy a house and Raja. When I got to Rochester the house wasn't available this July 19th. You have made arrangements to, to get a house.

Have made arrangements to buy a house in Rochester. Fact we live in a house today but I gotta let you know how long it took us to get that the house came off the market when they saw me when they saw you the house was no longer the logo that we've been having to tell it where that was that was the house I live in now and Rosewood Avenue. Well I don't want to give the address but on roads we have it was a little short street on the way. Alright they didn't want me there Bill, I don't know why. [Bill]: this is 1960. [Andrew] this is July 1960. I lay over other areas 1964 we bought that house. Today, 30 odd years later we live in that house. I haven't bothered a single soul on the street. Not everyone said I live next door to the Langston. I haven't been in my house on that street because I'm a business person and I believe in working and improving your condition and I went there because I like the house. I've seen a house when I delivered papers in Dawson, Georgia. High on a hill and it had certain appearance and I like that appearance and that was the style. Now I can't leave from that because I can't get the money by going to the house. [Bill]: Andrew, you left Chase uhh. [Andrew]: I left Chase uh in 19

in in 1960. [Bill]: Is that when David Rockefeller was the CEO. [Andrew]: He was the CEO. Yes, God bless him. He was a wonderful person. Uhh he used to give me a lot of tips on banking and financing and how to put portfolios together. Uh David was a marvelous individual. Now when you came, here you didn't get into the radio business right away you put together some other businesses [Andrew]: Well, I didn't get a job. I came at July 1960 and if we have time to run through this quickly, I uhh the audition I never I had at this wonderful television station. Uh and I couldn't get a job in the industry in Rochester. Now you came here you had all this experience in the clothing industry in New York and I presume in those days, in 1960 Rochester was still full of clothing. [Andrew]: Yes, Michael Sterns and others yes. Uhh there was nothing available. What happened- any of those company? [Andrew]: No. Uhh in banks there was nothing available in the industry there was nothing available because blacks in those days was not employed in anything in an executive

position our character, uhh uhh a click. I had responded to an ad on a friend by the name of ?inaudible? this August in 1960. they were looking for a person who had a setting appearance a go getter, commission of a sales at a store click and downtown. When I went there it changed. That wasn't available. It's almost like the house bill. They wanted someone to be mannequins so I said you want a strong back and a weak mind I got a strong mind and a weak back and I went across the a store by the name of National Clothing and that's what kept me in the Rochester, til today. National Clothing was owned by uh the Horowitz. The late George Horowitz, uhh the late Jesse Horowitz. Uhh Samta and George. Uh they, I interviewed with them and they said my father was looking for someone like you. [Bill]: Really? [Andrew]: Uhh says that the dollar doesn't change when it comes

out of your hand it's still green and we believe you have what it takes. So that was uhh, I worked at National Clothing, and uh shirts, dress shirts, neckties, uhh sportswear, and I was promoted to the second floor uh I was wearing clothing in the system. So they buy on the stock and sought them. I was there from um July uh no, September of 1960 to July 1964 I stood up several records. In the meantime I had ambition of still being in television and I made a lot of calls on my off day and I's think about auditioning. [Bill]: Now 60 to 64 you're obviously struggling but in 64 you bought the house on Rose Street. [Andrew]: we bought the house on Rose View and I resigned National Clothing and I went to the production insurance company that's what they call a special agent, an underwriter. Uhh a friend of mine by the name of Dr. Walter Cooper gave the a name to Stan Wrassler who was the general manager. [Bill]: Walter Cooper who's one of the New York state regions today.

He's helped an awful lot of people this year [Andrew]: and he really has and it was a great help for him giving my name to stand right off uh the Prudential Insurance Government because I went to Metropolitan John Hancock, and others and they turned me down. They said I- I've been with ?them in the past there where folks? came to see me, this way you got to go see them. And uh it's not the same. "[host]: You were in sales in New York." "[Andrew]: I- I was in sales in New York but they didn't understand that I could do sales." "[host]: Uh huh." "[Andew]: They didn't know. Either way I went to Prudential and the re- rest is history. Uh, uh, let that come there for 20 odd years. Uh, I set a record - I went there in July of 1964. Now, the other agents was there uh, uh, from January. So, I became the rookie of the year, uh, president qualified uh, president ?on I got? everything they had I won. But I didn't stop there. I did it every year, continuously. "[host]: Now you became a million dollar salesperson." "[Andrew]: A multi- multimillion dollar producer and then later on became a uh, uh-" "[host]: Now, how did you do?" "[Andrew]: By selling." "[host]: No, how did you do that?" [chuckles]

"[Andrew]: Okay. Uh, I'm glad you asked that, Bill. [chuckles] Well, how did I do that is because I was always a student uh, people, and business. And I learned this from the garments center. You want to be successful, you call on successful people. You uh, uh, then you listen to them and uh, ah, and you hear what they have, and you get their attention, and you sell them. But it's they who are buying, not you, you are selling them. So no one wanna be sold. They want to buy. So they want to the uh, uh, idea that they are- they wanna be the one making the decision. Um, I then sold my own agency in 1977 and the rest is history. It's still not 160 Ellen's Creek Rd. I've done uh, business and various countries and we have-" "[host]: We've got to get to WDKX before this interview ends. Now, how do you get to W D K X and when- when do you start investigating our radio broadcasting station of your own?" "[Andrew]: Okay. Since I didn't get a job in television when I came in 1960 uh, my wife and I went to the library to research and see if a television station was for sale. And thank God none was. [laughs]

There was 103.9 FM, was available - the frequency. But, it had two weeks before they wanted to close. There was 3 other applicants and I was the last applicant to be a profile for 103.9. We incorporated and we uh, did the ascertainment and all those other things. Uh, -" "[host]: Now this was a partnership of sorts or whatever..." "[Andrew]: Well, uh, uh, I financed this uh, uh, from my income from the insurance business." "[host]: M hm." "[Andrew]: Yes. And now what happened is we've ?been a competitor here? and no one expects us to win. But we want-" "[Host]: You were in a comparative hearing with two or three others or..?" "[Andrew]: 3 other applicants, Bill. Uh,-" "[Host]: All from Rochester?" "[Andrew]: No. Uh, Rochester Radio was a cooperation out of New York City. Their proposed background music like 'musak'. "[host]: M hm." "[Andrew]: You know, ?inaudible? publishing come out of New York, proposed fashion uh, uh, what to wear and how to be attractive for ladies. And then what the Bible says open- old mission on West Main Street, Reverand ?Byra? proposed religious program there for seven days a week. Whether we propose or do we propose to

fill a void that we felt existed, when it comes to- in those days you would call us black, black music. Uh, been from ?the south?,the music that blacks grew up on was gospel, country and western, Midnight Train To Georgia, the country western tune, jazz, and other types of music. All right? So that void- then uh, there was a void here. There was n- there was no black in radio or television in those days." "[host]: And, and, and, the black community was growing, the black population was growing rapidly." "[Andrew]: Yes." "[host]: Now, what year was this you put DK X on the air?" "[Andrew]: Uh, we commenced broadcast ?inaidble? on um, April the 6th 1974 at 5:30. 24 hours a day and we have been doing it ever since 1974, at 5 today we have been 19 years of age. But the corporation will be 28 years of age because we only went on the air since April uh, 6th, 1974." "[Host]: Now, Andrew Langston, you have a remarkable story of- From Dawson Georgia to Rochester and- and all the jobs in between. What are you going to do next?"

Well, uh, what I'm gunna do, uh, Bill, is make Rochetser a better community." "[host]: How are you going to do that?" "[Andrew]: Uh, by programming um, WTX and working with XXI [laughs] and- and- and the people of this community to improve the lives of people in this community. What I proposed that though is, I'm a champ- I'm chairman of a fund raiser for Wilson commencement ?part?. What is Wilson commencement ?part?? That is ?the ladies? who was on the wrong side of life. Unfortunate substance abuse, children and other things and they didn't finished their education. But Wilson commencement ?park? was on Joesph Avenue. Um, the Wilson foundation built that park. But that park needs money to sustain it. It also needs money to improve it. And what we have done there- what they have done there they have gotten several of those ladies off those bad habits, finish high school, some will finish college, and some are going to grad school." "[Host]: It- you- You're doing remarkable community work. Now, we want to get into your opinions about this

town and where do you think we're going in the future? Now, you, you know all the issues that are abroad, Andrew Langaston, and you are a key player in this community now. [chuckles]" "[Andrew]: Ah, well, b- b- Bill, I- I'm quite sad by a lot of things in this community today. Uh,-" "[Host]: Are you optimistic about anything.? "[Andrew]: Well, uh, uh, I am optimistic because I think well, and I think good." "[Host]: Anybody in sales has to be opti-. [chuckles]" "[Andrew]: Have to thank- have to be optimistic not pessimistic but I am saying to you, I think you'll find out today, and um, in housing in Rochester, I don't think is what it should be, employment, surely is not. As example I think just again, maybe ?inaudible? the codex of this world and Xerox have employed less blacks in '93, than it did in '83. Now uh, there's a study going to be done about that, so if a person hasn't got a chance to earn a living, what can you do to support a family? And then that's one of the- maybe the major problems I see with

children and the violence in the community. When we came in the 60s you didn't lock your doors. Now, uh, it's different. Uh, that was on the- killing, uh, handguns and others. I think the biggest problem is education and uh, education- it's jobs. But it has to be rethought all together and it's not bein done." [music quietly in background] "[Host]: Do you have any hope for us?" "[Andrew]: Yes. Yes, Bill, I do have hope." "[Host]: Let's- let's end on that hopeful-" "[Andrew]: Thank you, Bill." "[Host]: Andrew Langston, chairman, CEO, of WDKX, you've had a remarkable career so far and we're going to expect more from you." "[Andrew]: Thank you." "[Host]: Yhank you. I'm Bill Pierce, see you next time on The Rochester; I know. So long for know." [music gets louder] [music cont.] [music cont.]

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