Cherry Martinez

Last updated
Cherry Martinez
Born
Deborah Tennyson

(1974-10-13) October 13, 1974 (age 48)
Boston, Massachusetts
NationalityHonduran
Education Emerson College
OccupationRadio Personality
Years active1991–present
Children1
Website http://www.cherryontop.com/

Deborah Tennyson (born October 10, 1974), known professionally as Cherry Martinez, is a radio personality, [1] [2] DJ, program director, philanthropist, and chairman/publisher of Cherry On Top. [3] Cherry Martinez was host of No. 1 evening DJ program in New York, Power 105.1 and following host for the nationally syndicated radio program “Power After Hours”. [4] Also specializing in celebrity news, guest interviews included Jae Millz, [5] Chrisette Michele, [6] Adrienne Bailon, [7] and Charlie Baltimore. [8] Cherry is also known for founding the annual women's media/entertainment ceremonial Girl Power Awards, with (VH1 Executive Producer, CEO) Mona Scott [2] and a developed feud with radio DJ Funkmaster Flex of rival station Hot 97. [9] She is recognized as the voice on the Hip Hop record “Funkorama” by Redman off the Insomnia (Erick Sermon album).

Contents

Radio career

Cherry Martinez attended Emerson College where she penned the handle “Cherry Martinez” while hosting the WERS-FM (88.9) College radio program. [2]

Cherry received her first position in 1992 as an intern for Boston's Wild AM (1090) radio station. Cherry was then hired by the program director Stephen Hill, now vice president of music programming and talent at BET, to run segments on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

In June 2003, while at Sirius Satellite Radio in Philadelphia, Cherry was hired by WWPR-FM (Power 105.1) program director Michael Saunders to serve as a DJ, moving on to host the 6pm show.

Public Disputes

In 2006, DJ Funkmaster Flex of Hot 97 reportedly made derogatory remarks against Cherry Martinez on air and made references against her surname citing Hot 97 co-host, Angie Martinez, “is the only Martinez that matters.” For his part, Flex says of the name calling, I didn't say it; somebody said it while I was on the air. I made sure that they never said it again." Adding “I was teasing her about it because it's what radio is built on. You're in a war; it's about building your name and staying on top.”

Cherry Martinez responded to the broadcast with a release of a Diss track that played as the intro for listeners of the show and published an open letter on observations of struggle for women in media, citing “The radio industry is like Highschool”. [10] [11]

Award Ceremonies

In 2012, Cherry Martinez founded an award ceremony celebrating powerful women in media and entertainment honoring Mona Scott in production of VH1 show Love and Hip Hop, as well presenting the “Girl Power Award” to Jennifer Graziano of Mob Wives. [2] [12] Awards were also given to publicly voted sororities, and schools in African American, and Hispanic communities. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "LA Radio People". Los Angeles Radio People.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Cherry On Top". Boston Globe.
  3. ↑ "CHERRYONTOP HONOR'S MONA SCOTT YOUNG W/ #GIRLPOWER AWARD". Left Over Cake.
  4. ↑ "WWPR's Cherry Martinez Named "Power After Hours" Host -". All Access.
  5. ↑ M, Danny. "Jae Millz Interview With Cherry Martinez On Power 105.1". Youngmoney HQ.
  6. ↑ "CHRISETTE MICHELE INTERVIEW WITH CHERRY MARTINEZ". This Is RNB.
  7. ↑ Hillie, Adriana. "Adrienne Bailon: Rob Kardashian Tattoo is 'Ratchet,' She Says". En Stars.
  8. ↑ "Charlie Baltimore Says She Hasn't Watched Notorious Movie". XXL.
  9. ↑ Jones, Vanessa E. "Cherry On Top". Boston Globe.
  10. ↑ Ross, Kev. "Cherry Martinez: The Radio Industry is like High School". Radio Facts. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
  11. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE The Radio Industry Is Like High School". Global Grind.
  12. ↑ "'MOB WIVES' POWER UP". New York Daily News.
  13. ↑ "GIRL POWER AWARDS". Power 105.1.
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