KMOJ’s Walter Q Bear Banks
Walter Q Bear Banks
(Photography by Nikki Love, 2022)
Walter Q-Bear Banks is a DJ and Operations Manager at KMOJFM radio station. Born and raised in Minneapolis Minnesota, Banks has been broadcasting the Minneapolis sound through the airwaves for 40 plus years. Banks listened to all kinds of music (jazz, blues, reggae, gospel, Hip Hop and the list goes on). He loves to sing, and is a member of the Twin Cities Golf Club, Twin Cities Bowlers Guide, Twin Cities Anglers, ONLG (Old Negro Golf League) and the recipient of many other awards.
In 2020 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey proclaimed Monday, Feb. 17 as “Walter Q-Bear Banks Jr. Day,” a tribute that extended to the capital city of St. Paul. “I hope that this annual celebration can enhance efforts to develop more positive initiatives in our communities.” Tune into the Afternoon Drive on KMOJ 89.9 Mon-Fri from 4pm-6pm and get some Q-logy.
Walter is the third out of six children born to Marie Banks and Walter Lee Banks June 28th 1959. He has three brothers and two sisters. He went to John Hay Elementary, Lincoln Junior High and North Community High School graduating the class of 1977.
He said, “I am always there to help collaborate with many of the surrounding churches, when serving meals or giving away essentials.” Churches like New Hope, New Bethel, Fellowship Missionary Baptist, New Creation Baptist Church, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Heal the Heart of the City, High Praise Ministry, Greater Friendship Baptist and New Salem Church. When they are having a food drives, need a live remote for an event or just want to have some smooth music playing, they contact KMOJ community engagement coordinator Walter “Q-Bear” Banks.
He also programs the Sunday morning sermons you hear on KMOJ starting with Open Door Ministries, Shiloh International Church, Greater Mount Vernon and ending with Zion Baptist Church. If you miss church on any given Sunday, tune in to KMOJ radio catch the word.
Walter has worked with organizations like Guns Down Love Up, A Mothers Love, and We Push for Peace, Salem Inc., AAC Land Trust, Turning Point Recovery Center and Minnesota Safe Street. He have been a part of major press conferences in Minnesota such as police brutality, dismantling the Minneapolis police department, killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile and the Terry Willis Thousand-Mile Walk from Alabama to Minneapolis. He has always been involved with the Get Out and Vote campaigns amongst other historical events taken place here in the state of Minnesota.
What can we say about a man who is a product of his community? The term community engagement manager is a perfect fit for Banks. He is a jack of trades when it comes to music, sports and community.
Author: Nikki Love (Local Journalist, Photographer & Entrepreneur).
Link: Nikki Love
