Downtown West in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Wiley Price, Jr.

Born November 15, 1912

Photographed by Jason Voigt, January 23, 2023

1. Wiley Price, Jr. Marker

Inscription. A native of St. Louis, Wiley Price, Jr., attended Sumner High School. He made St. Louis history when he became the first African American disc jockey to command the airways in 1944 at WTMV, based in East St. Louis. His radio shows were a mixture of gospel and rhythm and blues and to his audience he was "Mrs. Price's Boy Wiley."

Erected 2005 by Gateway Community Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.

Location. 38° 38.194′ N, 90° 12.426′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown West. It is on Doctor Martin Luther King Drive (Missouri Route D) west of North 20th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1934 Dr Martin Luther King Dr, Saint Louis MO 63106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

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the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Osborne Earl Smith (here, next to this marker); Representative Wyvetter Younge (here, next to this marker); James Thomas Bell (here, next to this marker); Virgil Akins (here, next to this marker); Reuben C. and Katherine J. Anderson (here, next to this marker); Robert Beeks (here, next to this marker); Sylvester Leclaire Smith (here, next to this marker); Dr. Ruth M. Harris (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Regarding Wiley Price, Jr.. Price suffered a stroke in 1961 and died at the age of 56 in 1969. His son, Wiley Price III is an award-winning photographer, and grandson, Wiley Price IV, has served in the Missouri House of Representatives since 2019 (as of February 2023).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 367 times since then and 27 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on February 2, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.