She ‘fluttered men’s hearts’ as ‘la angelita’ of Spanish airwaves in Fort Worth

Thousands of Spanish speakers in the DFW Metroplex tuning to KBUY FM at 1 p.m. weekdays in 1972 heard Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’ instrumental version of “Angelito” (dear angel).

Aída Morossini’s theme song announced her arrival as she took to the airwaves, the first Latina locutora, or DJ, in Fort Worth. Men wrote marriage proposals, love letters, date requests, allured by her enchanting voice.

Unbeknownst to admirers, she was married to Francisco Sánchez Morossini, vice counsel for the Fort Worth Mexican consulate, and the mother of two teenage daughters, Aída and Narda.

Marcos Rodriguez Sánchez, program manager for KBUY FM, sought new talent to expand the business. Aware that most radio personalities were males on English and Spanish language stations, he foresaw the need to include women on the air. After one voice test, he hired Morossini and assigned her a program which proved a hit.

Born in Monterrey, México, on Oct. 22, 1934, the loquacious, book-loving Morossini moved at 16 to San Antonio, where she lived with an aunt to pursue her education and improve her English skills. While working at a library, she met Francisco Morossini, another avid reader and vice counsel with the San Antonio Mexican consulate. Within three months they married and, when transferred in 1961, moved to Fort Worth.

The Morossinis lived a charmed life on Fort Worth’s south side with a gardener, maid, and chauffer, courtesy of the Mexican government. It all ended with the death of Vice Counsel Morossini on Aug. 11, 1972, from a heart attack.

Widow Morossini faced a crossroad: return with daughters to Monterrey or stay in Fort Worth to pursue a radio career. An optimist and resilient, she remained and joined Sánchez and other investors to buy KBUY FM, converting it to La Fabulosa KESS FM in 1976.

During its heyday in the 1970s-1990s, KESS rose as the premier Spanish language station in the DFW Metroplex for news, music, public service announcements and interviews. Morossini never remarried, playing “Angelito” in her husband’s memory.

Broadcasting from the basement of Seminary South Shopping Center, now La Gran Plaza, at I-35 and Seminary Drive, Morossini, Sánchez and the other locutores entertained and informed over 200,000 Spanish speakers. They grasped that Spanish communication was powerful, growing, and lucrative.

Morossini hosted “Busco Trabajo” (I look for work), where she matched employers with employees on air. She interviewed educators from local districts and universities about the importance of bilingual, trade and higher education, enrollment and financial assistance processes. She coordinated Operaćion Juguetes (Operation Toys), with the Dallas Mexican Chamber of Commerce to raise funds to buy Christmas toys for barrio, indigent children.

Morossini spoke to professional women’s groups about the importance of promoting women in business, education and news industries. Local Latino civic groups, like LULAC, IMAGE, Pan American Round Table and the Pan American Golf Association invited her to emcee their events.

Scott Murray, of NBC 5, requested she host the Spanish speaking segment of the North Texas Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. A recipient of numerous accolades and awards, Morossini served as an exemplar for Latina entrepreneurs.

Today, listeners can tune to 18 DFW Spanish speaking AM/FM programs, covering sports, religion, news, and music. Forty-eight years ago, the lone Latina voice that fluttered men’s hearts and inspired thousands to improve their lives arose from Aída Morossini, “la angelita” of the airwaves.

Author Richard J. Gonzales writes and speaks about Fort Worth, national and international Latino history.