The Open Line and other 98.7 Kiss FM shows are now on 107.5 WBLS

Today the rest of the country got a taste of the New York Tri-State area public affairs show stylings of  the "Open Line" with hosts Bob Slade, James Mtume, and Bob Pickett. The trio were guest hosting for Al Sharpton's syndicated program "Keeping It Real." The Open Line, which was a part of the weekend lineup at the former 98.7 Kiss FM, has made the transition over to 107.5 WBLS.

Station VP/general manager Deon Levingston followed through on his promise to bring the Open Line over to WBLS. A statement he made on air during the show's last scheduled broadcast on Kiss FM when many listeners thought as well as the hosts that it would be the end of the line for the Open Line. There was no confirmation at the time that any of the weekend shows from Kiss would be added to the 'BLS lineup. The immediate concern was to lockdown midday host Shaila and night host Lenny Green. As a result of the changes, syndicated personalities Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden were gone from the New York City airwaves.

The New York Daily News reported that "Open Line" would remain in their same 10 a.m.-noon time slot on Sundays. WBLS will also bring in Fred 'Bugsy' Buggs for the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday shift, filling the vacancy left by the sudden death of Brian Carter. The rest of the WBLS Saturday schedule will remain the same.  SOURCE Also added is the very popular Kiss program 'Rhythm Revue" with Felix Hernandez. It will now air for only 3 hours from Noon-3p.m. followed by the legendary on-air personality 97 year old Hal Jackson with Sunday Classics.


Bob Slade began doing news radio in 1971 at a Long Island radio station, and then he proceeded to a radio station in Upstate New York. It was in 1980 that Bob joined WRKS-FM (WRKO at the time) and became  News Director.


Bob Pickett is an Attorney At Law with 33 years of experience in complex litigation, both civil and criminal, and a former Judge in the Administrative Courts of New Jersey.


James Mtume is the former music producer for Fox Network’s highly rated weekly crime drama New York Undercover. He is the son of the great jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath. Mtume was a conga player and percussionist who recorded and toured with Miles Davis during his funk and electric period of his career in the late 60's and early 70's. He has been featured on albums by the Heath Brothers, Sonny Rollins, and Herbie Hancock as well. His band Mtume, had a number one R&B hit, "Juicy Fruit" for Epic Records in 1983.