When I think of the DMV I think of the Mecca, Ben's Chilli Bowl, and The Green-Eyed Bandit Donnie Simpson. When I landed at National Airport in DC with my stiff Howard University t-shirt I was anxious. I glanced at my uncle to tell him not to take me to freshman orientation and then I heard the melody of the Commodores' Jesus is Love playing on the radio followed by Donnie Simpson's velvet smooth voice.
From BET's Video Soul to WPGC 95.5 to Majic 102.3 for the last 40 years, the soul of DC has been Donnie Simpson. In many ways, Simpson is as ingrained into the fabric of Washington as the old velvet paintings of Dr. King and the Last Supper's our grandmothers had hanging in the living room. For a few hours last Sunday Simpson's fan, friends, and family came together to celebrate one of Washington D.C.'s icons.