May 23, 2012

Hal Jackson, Black Radio Pioneer and Host at 107.5 WBLS, Dies at 96

Urban Radio Nation Black Radio, Black Radio DJ, Hal Jackson, history of black radio, new york daily news, New York radio, Radio Pioneer, wbls

Jackson broke barriers as he hosted music, talk, sports and live shows; loved to help young people follow their dreams

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Hal Jackson, who once had to sneak in through the back door of radio stations and over 75 years made himself into one of the most dignified and important men in black radio history, died Wednesday. He was 96. The cause of death was not immediately announced. While he had recently been ill, he had remained on the air at WBLS (107.5 FM) doing his “Sunday Classics” show until a few weeks ago. That show capped a professional career that began in the late 1930s on Washington’s WINX, weeks after the station owner told him, “No n----- will ever be on my radio station.” Read More from the David Hinckley article from the New York Daily News

Hal Jackson was born on November 3, 1915. He grew up in Washington, D.C. and attended Howard University. Jackson began his broadcasting career by becoming the first African-American radio sports announcer, broadcasting Howard’s home baseball games and local American Negro Baseball League games over WOOK/Washington Read more at the Radio Hall of Fame website

Check out Hal Jackson and Talented Teen contest winner Michelle Thomas with Don Cornelius on Soul Train [VIDEO] Thomas went on to star on The Cosby Show as Theo's girlfriend and played the role of Myra on Family Matters.

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