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portrait: Cervantes
Ondas en Español on AM 870/FM 105.1 WKAR NewsTalk
Sundays 2pm-5pm

El Chayo Cervantes hosts music and information for mid-Michigan's Spanish speaking community.

History of Ondas en Español

The Spanish-language program Varidades en Español went on the air in 1968 and was renamed Ondas en Español in 1974. El Chayo has been with it from the beginning.

Through a joint venture between Michigan State University and Quinto Sol, a Spanish language newspaper that wanted to teach radio broadcasting/communication skills to Hispanic youth, a pilot Spanish language program was produced in the spring of 1968. The program was called Varidades en Español. Gilberto Martinez was appointed program coordinator, who worked with Juan Cavazos, Rogelio Guerrero, Lalo Marinez, Justo Trujillo, and Tony "El Chayo" Cervantes to shape and produce the pilot program.

Varidades en Español was renamed Ondas en Español in 1974.

Tony "El Chayo" Cervantes took over hosting duties July 20, 1987. Previous program hosts included Julio Guerrero and Andres Rivera.
 
Born in Texas, Cervantes move to Michigan at 15. He has been in broadcasting since 1968. In addition to bringing music to his listeners, he also brings news of community events, eulogies and is active with charitable activities such as the food bank and Toys for Tots.
 
In May 2008 WKAR AM 870 was honored at the City of Lansing's Diversity Day celebration for its 40-year commitment to providing music, news and information for mid-Michigan’s Spanish-speaking community on its weekly Ondas en Espanol series.

In June of 2018, the city of Lansing honored WKAR for 50-years of the "Ondas en Español" show.