MIAMI.— Radio Mambí celebrated its 41st anniversary with a meeting that served to renew ties with the community and reaffirm its continuity on the dial. Artists, advertisers, personalities and talent from the station met at the El Manchego restaurant, in southwest Miami-Dade, to support a new stage of this historic platform of the Cuban exile.
The celebration took on special meaning after programming changes and announcements last December led many listeners to mistakenly believe that “La Grande,” as the 710 AM station is known, had disappeared.
“Many said that Radio Mambí had disappeared. No,” said Ulises Menocal, programming director and host of The afternoons here with Ulysses and Taimya space he shares with his wife.
As he explained, the station maintained part of its programs during December and reorganized its offer in January. The anniversary was an opportunity to introduce the current team and show that their microphones are still open.
A story linked to exile
Radio Mambí began broadcasting on October 23, 1985, after Cuban businessman Amancio Suárez acquired WGBS-AM for $3.5 million. With voices like Armando Pérez Roura, Agustín Tamargo and Martha Flores, it became an exile forum that combined denunciation of Castroism, political debate, culture and community service.
Its signal reached Cuba, where it was subject to government interference. The singer-songwriter Amaury Gutiérrez recalled that connection during the anniversary: “We listened to this station (…) in hiding in Cuba.” His participation, he said, was an opportunity to thank the support received since his first album.
In 2022, Latino Media Network agreed to acquire 18 stations from TelevisaUnivision, including Mambí and WQBA, for $60 million. The Democratic ties of its founders and the financing related to Soros Fund Management generated concern among exile sectors.
In December 2025, management announced the end of live news and opinion programming, extending the perception of a closure, although other content would continue.
Menocal offered a clarification about what happened: he assured that Carlucho’s program remained on the air, The afternoons here with Ulysses and Taimy and the broadcasts of the Miami Heat and the Miami Marlins.
In January, he added, the programming was reorganized with Rodrigo Durán in the morning and noon newscasts, along with other spaces such as Let’s talk about everything! and The scandal of the day.
“We do remote work on the streets, we go to different restaurants,” explained the programming director about the effort to bring the station closer to its audience again.
The voices of this stage
For Danelis Aparicio, director of the station, the meeting allowed us to celebrate both the trajectory and the permanence of Mambí in a demanding market.
“Mambi is still alive, Mambí continues to represent Hispanics here in South Florida,” he said. He also announced that they are preparing new events and projects.
For his part, comedian and presenter Carlucho contributed a personal memory: Radio Mambí was his first job when he arrived in the United States 30 years ago.
“Today, being able to transmit my voice through this same frequency is a great commitment and also a great opportunity,” he said.
Meanwhile, driver Rodrigo Durán highlighted the responsibility of integrating the current team, while Ángela Furió and Gustavo, from Let’s talk about everything!expressed their commitment to this new stage.
In addition to the renowned Cuban singer-songwriter Amaury Gutiérrez, the Spanish singer José Iglesias, ‘The Voice of Miami’, joined the celebration, who thanked the support received since his arrival in the city.
Between music, memories and meetings with its advertisers, Radio Mambí celebrated its career and renewed its commitment to continue accompanying the community. The challenge of this new stage is to connect with other generations and preserve the bond that made “La Grande” a daily presence for thousands of families in South Florida.
