Entertainment reporter A. J. Calloway was born Albert Johnson Calloway Jr. on August 29, 1974, to Ava Claire Calloway and Albert Johnson Calloway Jr. in Newark, New Jersey.
In 1993, he graduated from the prestigious Saint Benedict’s (Catholic) Preparatory School in the Newark, where he was active in producing and marketing activities on campus. Afterward, he enrolled at Howard University in Washington, DC, and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1997. He was initiated into the Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Callaway hosts 106 & Park, which originally aired on BET in 2000. His co-host was Marie “Free” Wright.
106 & Park aired on BET from 2000 until 2005. During that time Calloway also served as the New York City correspondent for ExtraTV, a syndicated television show for entertainment news. He remained with Extra TV until 2019. Calloway also owned and operated Black Diamonds Entertainment, a club management, promotions, and marketing company in New York. In recognition of his professional excellence, Calloway was honored with Emmys for “Outstanding Entertainment New Program” in both 2014 and 2016.
In 2013, Calloway began his philanthropic efforts by creating the Build a Bridge Foundation that encourages alums to give back to their school. He hosted a fundraiser and a scholarship brunch during Howard University’s Homecoming Weekend to raise money for needy undergraduates and to encourage those of his generation to begin thinking about philanthropy early in their careers.
On October 19, 2024, Callaway produced a show at the historic Howard Theater in Washington, DC, supporting fellow Howard University Alumnus and United States Vice President Kamala Harris soon after she became the Democratic nominee for President, replacing President Joe Biden. The show, “Stand Up for Kamala Harris” included a variety of performers including comedians Timmy Hall, Teddy Carpenter, Buddy Lewis, and Tony Woods.
AJ Callaway has been married twice, first to Lao Sealey, a pediatrician, in 2005 and later to Dionne Walker in 2013. He and Walker are the parents of three children, Amy Belle Johnson, Ava Claire Johnson, and Albert Johnson, III.
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“A.J. Callaway and Wife Welcome Second Child,” https://bckonline.com/2015/01/05/aj-calloway-and-wife-welcome-second-child/;
“Morning Preciousness: AJ Calloway & Wife Dionne Shares First Photo Of Their New Baby Girl Ava Claire,” https://bossip.com/1085984/morning-preciousness-aj-calloway-wife-dionne-shares-first-photo-of-their-new-baby-girl-ava-claire/4/;
Tonya Pendleton, “AJ Calloway Encourages Howard Alumni To Give Back,” AJ Calloway Encourages Howard Alumni To Give Back – Black America Web.
