Keith Solis reflects on 43 Years in Broadcasting
By Sylvia Powers
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
shine a light in a world that often needs hope.
For 43 years, Keith Solis has been more than a radio personality or a deejay entertaining you with songs. For some, he has been their newsman, a counselor, a source of inspiration and information, and someone who got him through all times, the good and the bad.
Folks not only heard him on the airwaves. He was in the community, at the schools, emceeing this social events and serving the communities that relied on him, time and time again.
The Lincoln Humanities and Communications Magnet graduate has been a trusted companion during commutes, a source of comfort during difficult times, and a steady voice of hope for listeners throughout North Texas.
This year marks an extraordinary milestone as Solis celebrates more than four decades in the radio industry. His career began with a high school internship and evolved into a legacy defined by faith, persistence, and service.
Born and raised in Dallas’ Oak Cliff community, Solis’ journey was anything but conventional. As a young student, he encountered an early setback when he failed the sixth grade. Determined to teach him a lesson in accountability, his parents withdrew him from private school and enrolled him at Boude Storey Middle School after he completed summer school, which ensured he would start school in the correct grade.
Keith Solis, Class of 1985, was recognized among the school’s distinguished alumni.
Although the transition presented social challenges, Solis adapted to his new environment and an eighth-grade field trip to KDFW-Channel 4 ignited a spark that would change the course of his life forever.
“It was the first time I met Clarice Tinsley,” Solis recalled. “Shortly after that, I realized that I wanted to be on the news. I wanted to sit next to Clarice every night on Channel 4. That was my goal in life.”
promotion.
That newfound passion led him to the Magnet Program at Lincoln High School, where mentor Louie White, better known as “DaWolf,” helped open the first doors into the broadcasting world.
The man Solis affectionately calls “Dr. White” introduced students to industry professionals and encouraged them to pursue their dreams and utilize their gifts to the fullest.
Additionally, Solis’ ninth and twelfth-grade English teacher, Beverly Talton, recognized something special in him long before he became a familiar voice on the radio.
“He was so teachable,” Talton said. “He valued learning, absorbed everything that you taught him, and he kept it with him. He used those skills to impact his professional life.”
radio industry during his 43-year career behind the microphone.
Talton proudly describes Solis as one of her success stories.
“When I look at Keith, I just know that anything is possible,” she said. “If you believe and you put in the hard work, you can be successful.”
During his junior year, Solis secured an internship at KNOK 107.5 FM in Fort Worth, through Program Director Dewayne Dancer.
After an on-air personality was not able to fulfill her radio commitment, Solis’ internship soon turned into a life-changing opportunity in the 5th largest market in the country.
“I always think the Lord chooses certain people to shine His light on, and Keith is one of those people,” Dancer said. “He is a hard worker, and he spends a lot of time in the community. I think both of those things have been assets to him in this business.”
Over the years, Solis witnessed radio evolve from vinyl records to carts, CDs, and today’s digital platforms. While many struggled to adapt to technological changes, Solis embraced them.
“I’ve seen people allow technology to get them out of the field because they weren’t willing to grow,” he said. “For me, it was always, ‘Okay, now I’ve got to learn something new.’”
His willingness to evolve helped him transition from a young on-air personality into one of the most respected African American voices in North Texas radio.
A member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Solis said that although he has experienced many changes throughout his career, he has viewed them more as opportunities than obstacles.
“Over the years, things have kind of fallen into my lap,” said Solis, who currently serves as Assistant Program Director and afternoon host at KRNB 105.7 Smooth R&B. “As I look back over my career, even with what I do now, it just kind of happened.”
But Solis also knows the importance of being prepared and his faith has remained an important part of his career, guiding his decisions and shaping the way he connects with audiences.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Solis gained an even deeper understanding of the responsibility that came with having a platform.
“People would call us with so much pain, despair, uncertainty, and fear,” he said. “The fact that we could just be there for them as a voice of reason and a voice of hope meant so much.”
Perhaps no story illustrates his impact more than the listener who named her son after him.
“One of my coworkers was doing a remote, and this guy came up to her and told her his name was Keith Solis,” he recalled. “His mother shared that when she was pregnant with him, he was very active. The only time he would calm down was when she placed the speaker next to her stomach while I was on the air.”
For Solis, moments like these serve as powerful reminders of radio’s ability to touch lives in ways broadcasters may never fully comprehend.
“It’s just the power of radio and how it can impact lives,” he reflected.
While he downplays the significance of the endless hours of work he put into preparing for his job, it’s important to note that not everyone can do the work that he does and seemingly with little or no effort.
A consummate professional, Solis can point to many stellar men and women who share the airwaves, and he knows that it takes more than being able to play music and have a “radio voice.”
and live broadcasts, including the celebrated State Fair Classic featuring Grambling State and Prairie View A&M
Universities football team.
Away from the microphone, Solis is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. This year, he and his wife celebrate 37 years of marriage. Solis says he cherishes time spent with his children and grandson and encourages others in the industry to cultivate lives beyond their careers.
Last month, it was announced that Urban One, which was founded by media mogul Cathy Hughes, had entered into an agreement to acquire KRNB 105.7 and its sister station, K104 (KKDA-FM), from Service Broadcasting Corporation, which has owned the stations for decades.
There’s a lot of speculation about the future of radio in this market and those men and women who wake you up in the morning, keep you going throughout the day, and help you to end the day on a good note.
Having experienced countless changes throughout his four-decade career, Solis remains focused on what he says has mattered most from the beginning.
“At the end of the day, I just wanted to be that light in this world of darkness,” he said. “I want to use my four hours on the air to guide you toward some positivity.”
Sylvia Powers is an award-winning author, accomplished writer, gifted photographer, and nationally recognized breast cancer advocate with a deep passion for empowering others.
