Frank “Lee” Cadena, a former member of the KHTS staff and Santa Clarita community leader, died at his home on July 16 due to kidney failure. He was 55.

“He was a husband, a father, a son, a brother and a loyal friend,” said Cadena’s wife, Judith Cassis. “He was also well-known through an extensive career in the music industry.”

Cadena was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1963. And from an early age, Cadena wanted to be on the radio.

“Radio was everything to him,” said Cassis. “He was told when he was in high school that wouldn’t make it on the radio. His high school counselor said that he wouldn’t make it on-air, but he went after it anyway.”

Cadena and Troy Rocha Power 106 FM LA. Photo courtesy of Judith Cassis.

After getting his first few radio jobs before he even left high school, Cadena was able to earn himself a spot as the early morning show host at R&B station WKWM in Michigan at the age of 18.

In just a few years, under the guidance of Randy Franklin, now senior V.P. at Sony Music, he was promoted to program director and then music director. During his career, more than once, Cadena was awarded “National Program Director of the Year” and “Music Director of the Year” by both Impact Magazine and Urban Network Magazine.

By 1995, Cadena had moved to California and set up shop at Los Angeles’ top radio station, Power 106 F.M., with his show holding the No. 1 position in terms of ratings for its time slot for three years running.

Cadena joined Q-104.7 FM, Ventura for the nighttime slot, was hired by Hits Magazine as national rap editor in 1995 and then went on to Urban Network Magazine as national rap editor.

While at Urban Network he created the CD series “Rapology,” promoting new and upcoming hip-hop artists, which caught fire.

Some well-known artists first exposed through the “Rapology” series were: Self-Scientific, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown, Goodie MoB, Outkast, Black Moon, Ras Kass, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Styles of Beyond, Sick Jacken’s Psycho Realm and Street Platoon.

Cadena also helped market artists such as Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Big Pun, De La Soul, Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, The Roots, Warren G and countless others.

Cadena and rapper Jay Z. Photo courtesy of Judith Cassis.

Through a division in his company that offered artist management and development, Cadena began to work with a group of young musicians named Xero. That group would later change their name to Hybrid Theory, and Cadena would introduce them to a number of Hollywood venues such as The Whiskey, The Mint, The Roxy and the Troubadour.

After gaining popularity from those smaller shows, Hybrid Theory would garner the attention of Warner Brothers. When they signed with the record label, the group changed their name one last time to Linkin Park.

As a manager and project consultant, Cadena worked with a number of artists, including Teena Marie, George Duke and Tata Vega.

In addition to running the business for his own company, Cadena worked and lived in Santa Clarita for 15 years, even working at KHTS back when it was known as KBET.

“Jeri and I have known Lee Cadena and his wife, Judith, for most of the 29 years we’ve lived in Santa Clarita. Not only was Lee a brilliant radio D.J., he was a class act and an incredible talent,” said KHTS Co-Owner Carl Goldman. “Lee always had a smile on his face, even when he struggled with health challenges. Jeri and I will miss him. He was a tremendous asset to our valley. Our hearts and prayers go out to Judith and her boys.”

Lee and singer Teena Marie. Photo courtesy of Judith Cassis.

While living in Santa Clarita, Cadena was a master of ceremonies for a number of events, ran the local TidBits newspaper, and also fostered relationships and mentorships with a number of local business owners.

After more than a decade of living in Santa Clarita, Cadena and his family moved to Pine Mountain Club, Calif.

“He had one hand on LA and another on his home of Pine Mountain Club,” said Cassis.

At the end of his career, Cadena produced the “Lowrider Oldies Show” available online and edited remixes for DJs Worldwide.

Cadena is survived by his wife and two children.

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