In Memphis, WDIA host Bev Johnson still shines after 42 years at America's first all

When you visit the Shop and Save in Memphis, Tennessee, you'll hear laughter, conversation — and WDIA.

For more than 75 years, listeners have been loyal to America's first all-Black radio station. For 42 of those years, they've been loyal to host Bev Johnson.

"She's connected to the community," one listener said.

"The queen," another said.

Johnson spoke to CBS News about what's behind her continued success and why people turn to WDIA.

"I think people want to know, they want to become educated and WDIA has always done that," said Johnson, who's lived in Memphis since her college days. "I'm also known as 'your girlfriend.' And you know how you can tell your girlfriend stuff? Well, they tell me things."

WDIA signed on in June 1947 at 730 AM in Memphis. At first, it was just another smal