With Black History Month nearing an end, we here at Shadow and Act are giving our flowers and praise to more of our Black hidden figures with #BlackFilmFirsts

Before the Wayne Bradys and Steve Harveys of the world, 46 years ago, Adam Wade broke a glass ceiling when he became the first Black host of a nationally televised game show.

Wade was the host of the CBS afternoon program Musical Chairs, which aired on CBS between June to October 1975.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1935, Wade attended Virginia State University but dropped out in his sophomore year.

Wade began his career as a singer and entertainer. Influenced by Nat King Cole, Wade garnered popularity in the early 1960s, when he had three hit singles chart in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Toward the 1970s, Wade made appearances in the television shows such as Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, and Good Times, as well as the blaxploitation film Shaft.

Adam Wade

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