NEW YORK (December 18, 2023) — Metropolitan Magazine has listed radio personality Rich Valdes as Best Hispanic Radio Host of 2023.
Just being himself and sharing his opinions and conversations with experts and newsmakers has empowered Valdés to dominate the national airwaves from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM (Eastern Time) on hundreds of radio stations across the country. The show is broadcasted live each weeknight from New York’s WFAS “New Talk for New York“ (1230 AM) by the Westwood One radio network.
Valdés was born in Brooklyn, NY to parents hailing from Puerto Rico and spent his teenage years in Hudson County, NJ. Prior to his career in broadcasting Valdés owned Phat Fades Barbershop and held other professional positions before serving in the Administration of the Governor of the State of New Jersey.
Valdés started doing radio advertising voice-overs in 2009 and as a radio producer in 2018 on the “Mark Levin Show” and quickly became a substitute host for Mark Levin, Sid Rosenberg, and Rudy Giuliani. He soon landed his own show on 77 WABC Radio in New York City, a weekend show on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia, and a nationally ranked podcast (This Is America with Rich Valdés).
In the spring of 2022 Valdés became the long-term fill-in host for broadcasting legend Jim Bohannon who was the successor to Larry King’s popular night time radio show. In the fall of 2022 Valdes was signed to a multi-year deal to permanently take over the nationally syndicated late night time-slot The network rebranded the show as “Rich Valdes America at Night” in January of 2023.
Late night radio’s “Liberty-Loving Latino Amigo” is how Rich Valdés is introduced to his millions of listeners and his show is dubbed “America’s favorite late night talk program.” As a radio talk show, the program features a blend of news, entertainment, interesting interviews, pop culture and insightful opinions with a “dash of sofrito.” Valdés has interviewed the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, actor Stephen Baldwin, various musicians, scientists, and others.
Valdés’s show balances humor and analysis on the hottest headlines of each evening and that earned him additional accolades including a spot on the Talkers Magazine Heavy Hundred List, where he was named one of the thetop 100 most important talk radio show hosts in the United States. In the fall of 2023 the podcast version of “Rich Valdés America At Night” was nominated for a People’s Choice Podcast Award in the Government category.
On being awarded Metropolitan Magazine’s distinction of Best Hispanic Radio Host of 2023, Valdés said “I’m grateful to God, my family, and my listeners without them I’ve got nothing. And like Sinatra sang, ‘New York, New York, if you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere.’”
Others named to Metropolitan Magazine’s ‘Best of 2023’ list include Astra Viola (Astra On The Air) as Best Radio Personality of 2023, Xen Sams as Best Female Radio Host, and several other New York tastemakers in various categories.
In addition to his nightly radio broadcast, Valdés appears frequently on television, other podcasts, and is a keynote speaker at conferences on a variety of topics pertaining to society and culture.
The nightly show can be live-streamed from anywhere at 10:00 PM until 1:00 AM (Eastern Time) or on-demand at any time at RichValdesAmericaAtNight.com.
Photo credit: Instagram @RichValdes.
About the Author:
Barbara Gibson contributes reports on the radio, television, and media communities.
