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The board of directors of WDNA 88.9FM have announced the appointment of Gene de Souza to the position of general manager.
Listeners, local Miami music insiders, and a global online audience will recognize him as the long-running producer and host of Café Brasil, the only Florida program dedicated entirely to Brazilian music, a 25-year staple of the station’s schedule.
De Souza’s new role fills the vacancy left when longtime general manager Maggie Pelleyá passed away in 2023 after more than 30 years in that position. Having worked closely with Maggie for so many years prepares De Souza for this new step in his career – as does his experience with programming and hosting radio shows, producing concerts for city governments, theaters, and corporations, and booking North American tours for major Brazilian artists. Notably, his Café Brasil radio show has received the prestigious Ibermúsicas Award, multiple Miami New Times “Best of Miami” and Brazilian International Press awards.
“After an exhaustive search for just the right person to lead the station into its next chapter, we are thrilled that Gene has accepted the position,” said Cecil Persaud, board chair. “His combination of experience and focused determination make him an excellent choice for the station’s continued growth as we enter a time where listener support is more important than ever.”
A graduate of University of Richmond with a degree in international relations, De Souza served 16 years as the development director of The Rhythm Foundation, a premier presenter of world music in the Southeastern U.S. He also is a music columnist for newspaper AcheiUSA, a board member of Centro Cultural Brasil-USA da Florida (CCBU) and a member of the Brazil committee for the Latin Grammy Awards.
“I look forward to working with WDNA’s talented and dedicated team as we move forward into a new era,” De Souza said. “We’ll be working to strengthen all aspects of the station including the broadcast signal, streaming audience, digital and social platforms, jazz gallery events, grants, sponsors and new partnerships, further cementing WDNA’s reputation as a unique, ground-breaking radio station.”
De Souza lives in Bay Harbor Islands with his wife, Vanessa, and sons, Lucas and Tomas. They enjoy going to the boys’ soccer tournaments on the weekends, biking, bowling, beach activities, and exploring different restaurants around South Florida.
About WDNA
WDNA, a listener-supported public radio station broadcasting on 88.9FM, is based in Miami. Licensed in 1977 by the FCC to the Bascomb Memorial Broadcasting Foundation Inc, the station was the first non-governmental public radio station in the Miami market. With a focus on jazz, blues, Afro- Caribbean, South American, and world music, WDNA also features the WDNA Jazz Gallery, hosting performances by renowned artists, as well as students and faculty from local universities. The station’s operations are funded through grants, listener donations, corporate underwriting and partnerships. For more info visit wdna.org.
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