"Karla With a K," that is my name, spell it with a "C" and it's just not the same."
...This moniker has been with me all my life, but it wasn't until I became an Air Personality on 103.9 & 98.3 KACE in Los Angeles, that it took on a whole new significance for me.
Now, Karla With a K, is my legal name with AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and SAG (Screen Actors Guild).
From June 1994 to February 2000, I was on the radio dial jammin' L. A .'s Best R&B Oldies and producing the Kultural Kalendar, a pre-recorded list of events in L. A.
The station was sold and changed to Spanish language in Feb. 2000, but since the station closed, as a performer, I've continued to pursue acting and voiceover work (an ongoing effort that never ceases) and I host and emcee comedy shows, concerts, as well as church and community events.
I've been blessed to make my living working as a Substitute Teacher in middle and high school English/History/Computer Ed. classes for the Los Angeles Unified School District. This time has given me the opportunity to reassess and rejuvenate my performing career.
Currently, I host two cable shows, "It's A Process," a faith-based show for non-church goers that features interviews with guests who share their personal testimony or educate us on church doctrine. We also feature musical guests that have a positive "message in the music." The other show, "Minute By Minute," created and produced by Al Noble, is an issues-oriented program co-hosted by me and journalist, Ron Brewington. We discuss current events that affect our community.
I also have moderated numerous public forums including: IBON 2000 Breakfast Meetings, Urban Issues Breakfast Forums, the AABE Energy Crisis Forum, NAACP ACT-SO Awards, "Recycled For God" Concert, SEASONFEST 2003 and others.
Although acting is my first love and I was nominated for an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Performance, Female, radio is the gig I'm best known for in L. A.
Between doing Overnights, Quite Storm, Middays, Weekends, station drops, image liners and the Kultural Kalendar, my voice could be heard on the air on KACE, 24/7.
I also had the pleasure of putting together a Reggae Sunsplash Promotion that took me and 8 lucky couples to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, courtesy of KACE and the Jamaican Tourist Board.
As a service to the community, KACE asked me to produce a pre-recorded spot I called the "Kultural Kalendar," a free public service listing of the happenings in Southern California. Before it was all over, the Kultural Kalendar was sponsored and created additional revenue for KACE. I was proud to create a vehicle that contributed to the station in a fiscal way.
As an actress, in 1995, I guest starred on an episode of Martin called "Uptown Saturday Night" with Micole White and Kym E. Whitley. We played a trio of bandits robbing Romey Rome's Club Shiznit.
In 1997, on the sit-com Moesha, I played myself, radio personality, Karla With a K, where I introduced the musical group, Dru Hill on an episode called "Labor Day Jammy."
I've also been in several commercials, including a national Lexus commercial (remember the Black man who surprised his wife with a Lexus for Christmas and she covered her mouth in surprise?) that ran during the 1999 Christmas/New Year season.
A graduate of Howard University, with a B. A. in Communications (Radio, TV, Film) and Theatre, I am still pursuing my goal of being an artistic force in the media.
Straight out of college, my first job was working behind the scenes in Production at the ABC affiliate, WXEX-TV8, in Richmond/Petersburg, VA. Due to job dissatisfaction and frustration, I took a part-time gig as a D. J. at Richmond/Petersburg's Magic 99FM and stepped in front of a radio mike for the first time in June 1984. But even my new found love of radio didn't satisfy my soul. It was time to leave home.
The day after Christmas 1984, I left Petersburg to take my career to the next level in Los Angeles, California.
With my survival instincts kicking in first, I put my performing on hold and worked behind the scenes on film, TV and stage projects.
Over the years, I've worked on numerous productions, including:
- Warren G's "I Shot The Sheriff," directed by Paul Hunter,
- NAACP Image Awards (1988),
- Lou Rawls Parade Of The Stars,
- HBO's Pay Per View "Rapmania" with Sinbad and Debbie Allen and
- worked in Marketing/Booking for the Harlem Globetrotters(1989-90).
I'm also very proud of having helped Michael Williams pioneer L. A.'s 1st Black comedy club,The Comedy Act Theatre (The CAT) in 1985. Its 12 year history, some of the best comedy talent ever, graced the stage of the CAT in Los Angeles or Atlanta to hone their talents before hitting it big. Between L. A. and Atlanta, the CAT roster included: Martin Lawrence, Robert Townsend, Keenan and Damon Wayans, the late Robin Harris, Lewis Dix, Ricky Harris, Michael Colyar, Chris Tucker, Don D. C. Curry and many others.
Over the years, I've continued to be involved with the comedy scene via the SAG/AFTRA/WGA Comedians Caucus. --------------------------------------------------------
On the L.A. theatre scene, I received a nomination in 1992 from the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theatre Awards for Best Supporting Performance, Female for my role in Stacey McClain's comedy stageplay, "Culture Shock."
I also had a long run playing Hazel Simpkin in Kenneth B. Davis' renowned stageplay, "South of Where We Live." 
-------------------------------------------------------- In 1991, I went back home to Petersburg, VA, as a victim of domestic violence, but while there, I wrote a book, "My Steps To Healing," as a SURVIVOR. The book is a collection of original poems inspired by the Biblical scripture I read that helped lead to my spiritual, emotional and physical healing; I also included notes that chronicle the healing process. While writing the book, I resumed my radio career right where it had begun, at Magic 99FM in Richmond/Petersburg, VA.
In 1992, I accepted a position as Public Affairs Director at Virginia State University's WVST, 91.3FM.
In that capacity, among other duties, I produced 6 radio talk shows which I coined "Urban Talk," and I played contemporary jazz and r&b music as the Midday host.
Upon returning to Los Angeles in 1994, KACE hired me to do Overnights which ultimately led me to become the Midday host in Los Angeles.
On January 14, 1998, while on the air in the Midday, I was stricken with symptoms of what turned out to be a deadly strain of bacterial meningitis that almost killed me.
It was scary for a minute, but by God's grace, I fully recovered. I resumed my on-air presence at KACE from June '99 until we were sold in Feb. 2000.
It is now Spring 2003. I've repackaged myself as performers do from time to time to stay "fresh," and I've stepped into the intimidatingly challenging, horrifyingly scary, often misunderstood, yet oversaturated arena of Stand-Up comedy. So look for me--a tall, Christian, Politically INcorrect, blonde-afroed, Black woman on the Stand-Up comedy scene who challenges you to think! I'm a work in progress, so....may God bless!
