The Final Call

Family, faith and radio - The life and legacy of Wali Muhammad, ‘The Communicator’

By Starla Muhammad -Assistant Editor- | Last updated: Jul 31, 2015 - 3:08:51 PM

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CHICAGO - Friends, colleagues, family members and admirers of Wali Fard Muhammad gathered in Chicago at his funeral and memorial service to honor and pay tribute to the nationally known radio personality affectionately called, “The Communicator.”

Mr. Muhammad, whose smooth voice and calming yet infectious spirit, passed from this life on July 16. He succumbed from complications after a fall at his home. He was 67.

(L-R) Student Minister Ishmael R. Muhammad and Imam Darnell Karriem.

Wali Muhammad’s lasting legacy as a pioneering broadcaster and radio legend was only superseded by the kindness and warmth he demonstrated toward people, his unwavering commitment to his faith and as a helper in the work of his grandfather, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, patriarch of the Nation of Islam.

Fond memories and personal stories highlighting Wali Muhammad’s work and his professional and personal impact was shared by many who attended a memorial service in his honor July 21 at Salaam Restaurant and Janaaza (Islamic funeral service) held the day before at Mosque Maryam at Nation of Islam headquarters. 

“Wali would not want us to be sad,” said Imam Darnell Karriem who conducted the Janaaza. “We are family and God has brought us back together today,” he added. 

Family and loved ones at internment for Wali F. Muhammad at Mount Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Glenwood, Illinois.

Ishmael R. Muhammad, national assistant minister to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and a son of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, extended condolences on behalf of the Farrakhan and Muhammad families. Wali Muhammad had a beautiful heart and soul, said Student Minister Ishmael R. Muhammad. “Allah (God) brings the living together to remember the beauty of the dead,” he said. “It’s not how long we live but it is the quality of that life.”

That quality of life was evident from the time Wali Muhammad was a youngster, according to family and friends. He worked in various Nation of Islam businesses including the Muhammad Speaks newspaper, Guaranty Bank and Trust and Shabazz retail food store. But it was his skills and talent in radio and communications that was his calling. After getting money for broadcasting school from his grandmother, Mother Clara Muhammad, young Wali eventually became an announcer for his grandfather’s national radio program, “Mr. Muhammad Speaks.” He wrote and announced radio commercials advertising Nation of Islam businesses and through the years, worked at several radio stations in Chicago including WGCI, WJPC, WEAW and other stations in New York, New Jersey and California. In 1974 the first broadcast of his now legendary show, “The Communicator,” was launched. It ran off and on for 30 years and was popular among Muslims and non-Muslims. 

“When I first started ‘The Communicator,’ my whole idea was to come up with a concept on radio that would be completely different than what I would hear everywhere else. So my concept was to do number one, a show that would promote the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam…so that’s the first thing I did,” said Wali Muhammad during an interview recorded at The Final Call Administration Building in Chicago in December of last year.

He explained that the theme of his show was “positive thoughts and music with a message,” and that it was important to him to help his grandfather. Wali Muhammad also impacted peers and those who looked up to him in broadcasting.

“Brother Wali was an amazing Muslim pioneer in media and understood the role of media in uplifting our people. I only knew him a short while but I was fond of him and am honored that I may have had the final interview with him,” said Final Call editor Richard B. Muhammad, who taped the two-hour conversation in his office several months ago.

Final Call editor Richard B Muhammad holds program from memorial service and stands with Muslim pioneer Naeem Muhammad.

Troi Tyler is a radio personality at Chicago-based radio station V103. There is where she first met and worked with Wali Muhammad in the year 2000. She was already familiar with his work.  “He had a beautiful voice and he just made you feel at ease all the time,” Ms. Tyler told The Final Call. He was such a calming and gentle spirit, she said.

“I mean Wali Muhammad was just truly the genuine article and a gentle man and truly a devout Muslim and well-respected,” said Ms. Tyler after the funeral service.

“Wali was about his family, about his faith and about radio and those were really important things to him,” said television and radio personality Richard Steele, who first met Wali Muhammad in the early 1970s. They shared a 40-year bond as friends and colleagues. Mr. Steele shared a story that exemplified the importance of faith in Wali Muhammad’s life when he was trying to get an on-air job at a Chicago radio station.

“They wanted Wali to use a different name. So Wali and I talked. We went back and forth for about a week. You know he loved radio and he really wanted this job and so the brother that was thinking about hiring him said, ‘Well what about if we just went with the name Wali and no Muhammad on there?’” said Mr. Steele.

“Wali and I talked back and forth and at the end of the day, and mind you, he loved radio, you know that. But he was true to his faith and he said, ‘you know Brother Steele, I really want to do this job but I can’t go with that. I’m Wali Muhammad and that’s what I have to do.’ ”

The memorial gave family and friends an opportunity to share memories as video footage and photos featuring Wali Muhammad were displayed on television screens during the evening.  Educated at Muhammad University of Islam, the independent school system established by his grandfather, Wali Muhammad was also remembered fondly by classmates, including Otto Ali who was the emcee at the memorial tribute.  

“Whether he was on WBEZ playing jazz or whether he was on WJPC doing hip hop, he was The Communicator and he bridged many bridges and filled many gaps when it came to music,” said Mr. Ali. 

His effect on family was also profound. Abdullah Rasul is the nephew of the late, great Nation of Islam Supreme Captain Raymond Sharieff, who was married to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s daughter Ethel. When he was going through personal difficulties and challenges, it was Wali Muhammad’s advice and example that helped him, said Mr. Rasul.

“He just told me to be patient with it and it will come through and it did. That was one of the beautiful things about my cousin that I remember and that glow he had and always working,” said Mr. Rasul.

Wali Muhammad’s cousin Alif Muhammad talked about how his older cousin served as a chaperone for him and his wife of 40 years, Maria Farrakhan, daughter of Minister Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah Farrakhan when they were courting.

And through the years, no matter what health challenges afflicted Wali, including hypertension, kidney and heart problems and other ailments, he never complained, said Alif Muhammad.

“I don’t ever recall Wali ever complaining about his health, ever. Wali might have said some other things he was having some hard times with, he never complained about his health,” he added.

“Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘Alaihe wa Sallam (May the peace and blessings of Allah, God, be upon him) says that our suffering in this life wipes away our sin and you get blessings for that as long as you don’t complain. Wali never complained,” said Alif Muhammad.

Calling her father “one of the Black pioneers of radio,” his oldest daughter, Naeemah Muhammad McMillion said her father “lived his life.” He was friends with Min. Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, met, interviewed and worked with stars like Kool and the Gang and many more.

He voiced cartoon characters in the animated series, “The Adventures of Muhammad Ali,” and announced professional boxing matches in addition to his distinguished radio and broadcasting career.

Wali Muhammad is survived by his brother Ameer Muhammad, sisters Ayesha Johnson and Halima M. Ali, daughters, Naeemah Muhammad McMillion and Hamidah Muhammad, adopted daughter Khadijah Jenkins, son Raheem Muhammad, grandchildren and a host of family and friends to cherish his memory.