For nearly three decades, Franco Silva has been a steady, passionate voice for Latin culture in Tampa Bay. As the host of Latino 54 on WMNF 88.5 FM, Silva turned 54 minutes of airtime into a mission, not just to play music, but to educate, inspire, and preserve a living, evolving culture that continues to shape the identity of our region and our nation.
Now, as Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated across the country, WMNF honors Silva’s remarkable contribution to public radio and Latin cultural education in Tampa Bay, a legacy marked by resilience, pride, and an unwavering commitment to representation.
Latino 54: More Than Music
Silva’s journey at WMNF began with Oye Latino, a Sunday night magazine style show that dug deeper than the salsa and merengue filling the airwaves elsewhere. While commercial Latin stations focused on pop heavy playlists, Silva curated historical gems and underground classics, offering a musical education alongside rhythm and melody. He brought in seasoned collectors, cultural historians, and Latin legends like Tito Puente, Gumbi Ortiz, and Eddie Palmieri, turning his show into a dynamic cultural archive.
When Oye Latino was cut down and rebranded as Latino 54, Silva responded with the same grit and humor that has defined his career. “It’s 54 minutes long now,” he said, winking at the decision makers. The show moved to Tuesday mornings, where Silva faced a new set of challenges, juggling his day job as an animal care associate, working weekends, and still showing up every week to share stories, interviews, and the deep grooves of Latin America.
“I’ve missed four shows in eight years,” he once said. “I even did a show the night my wife went into labor.”
“I want my kids to grow up in a place that understands who they are,” Silva says. “I want them to be proud of who they are.”
A Voice for the Latino Community
For Franco Silva, Latin music is more than entertainment, it’s a vehicle for visibility, pride, and truth. “Latin music is so much a part of the culture in this country, and people don’t even realize it,” he says. From Afro-Cuban rhythms in rock to ranchera roots in country music, Silva consistently delivers one powerful message: Latin culture is American culture.
Every Thursday from 12:00 am to 3:00 am on WMNF 88.5 FM, Silva uses Latino 54 to explore identity, immigration, history, and justice. He gives voice to stories that often go unheard in mainstream media, reminding Tampa Bay listeners that America extends beyond borders and that the Southwest was once part of Mexico, long before “the border crossed them.”
“WMNF is supposed to represent and reflect the community,” Silva says. “Latino 54 fulfills that mission.”
With 27% of Hillsborough County’s population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, Latino 54 remains one of the few platforms in the region dedicated to their stories, sounds, and cultural heritage, a vital bridge that connects generations, unites communities, and amplifies Latin voices in a way few others do.
A Legacy That Endures
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor those who shape our collective identity, and Franco Silva is one of those people. For nearly 30 years, he carries the sounds and stories of Latin America into Tampa homes, champions cultural authenticity, and refuses to be silenced.
About Hispanic Heritage Month
Running from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.