Florida’s French Radio Program
…20 Years Old and Still Going Strong

Way back in 1985, South Florida’s Community Public Radio Station, W-DNA 88.9 FM was in its infancy. So were many other organizations that were just starting to flourish in our multi-dimensional, thriving city. Over 800 new immigrants from the states and around the world were moving into the magic city on a daily basis. It was the perfect time and place to construct innovative projects and realize unattainable dreams.  Among the newcomers were French couple Robert and Marguerite Gil and their daughter Ursa-Noelle. Robert, an architect and planner was enchanted with the potential for new buildings in this tropical paradise. Marguerite, a painter/sculptor and arts instructor was fascinated with the faces and customs of her newly found neighbors in NE Miami. Ursa was just happy to be with mom and dad.
 
One day, their Haitian friend, Ringo Cayard, offered Marguerite an unusual challenge.  He wanted her to host a fifteen minute, French radio segment on his weekly, 3-hour live Haitian show.  Without any broadcasting experience, she accepted the challenge, under the condition that Robert join her as a co-host. They would create a husband and wife radio team who would bring French music, information and most of all a fun dialogue to South Florida.  The quarter hour quickly became a full hour show for Robert and Marguerite and the rest as they say…is history.  The couple left the Haitian show after financial problems reduced the three hour program to only one hour.  But loyal listeners wanted the French couple to continue airing their entertaining show and that’s when W-DNA opened the mikes to the French community’s loquacious couple.
 
For over twenty years Robert and Marguerite have brought the best in interviews, news, music and entertainment to W-DNA devotees. Although the program was originally broadcast in the French language only, Marguerite noticed that many people who listened to the weekly show did not really speak or even understand French.  That was when both hosts decided to try something unusual.  They would start speaking in “Fre-glish.” Robert continued to run the board and play the latest French hits, while Marguerite would now read a wide assortment of news and arts releases in both French and English.  As a result, the station started receiving calls, celebrating the new format. Listeners happily informed the couple that they were now able to follow the conversation and even improve their knowledge of the French language. 
 
Over the years, many famous and less famous guests have come to spend time with Robert and Marguerite on their program entitled “Effets Speciaux” which means Special Effects in French.  Besides a wide variety of ministers, ambassadors, consuls and cultural attachés, they have interviewed a nice kaleidoscope of well known actors and performers including French mime Marcel Marceau, singers Enrico Macias, Veronique Sanson, Charles Aznavour, Frederic Francois, Eric Vincent, jazz man Stephane Grapelli and artists such as ERTE, Rene Gruot, Serge Prokofiev, film-makers Francis Weber, Gerard Corbiau, Brigette Rouan and many, many others. Scientists have also been high on the guest list including Dr. Luc Montanier who was responsible for finding the AIDS virus. 
 
Last month, both co-hosts were given a plaque of recognition by W-DNA’s board members for their 20th year of continuous dedication to uplifting, informative and most of all entertaining programming.  In 1999 Robert and Marguerite were the first couple ever, to both simultaneously receive Knighthoods in the Order of Arts and Letters, from the French Minister of Culture and Communication, Madame Trautman (Chevalier Dans l’Ordre Des Arts et Des Lettres).
 
The couple hopes to continue their promotion of French culture and language, as well as their “fun antics” for many years; on the longest running French/American Radio Program in the USA.
 
The show airs every Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00pm on W-DNA 88.9 FM.
 
PHOTO IDS
1. Marguerite and Robert Gil