Kool DJ Red Alert Announces Retirement From New York Radio After More Than 40 Years

After more than 40 years mixing on New York radio, legendary Kool DJ Red Alert will retire from the New York City radio airwaves. He most recently appeared each afternoon on 107.5 WBLS in the late afternoon as the mix DJ with Jus Nik along with his own Saturday night show from 6pm to 8pm. DJ Red Alert will retire at the end of November. The announcement arrives during a particularly meaningful year for the pioneering DJ, coinciding with his 50th anniversary as a DJ and his upcoming 70th birthday. Somewhere along the way, he dropped the “Kool” from his name.

We should mention the image above, a vinyl album cover of DJ Red Alert's mixes, that album was once one of our prized possessions. It was his third album. Unless you lived in the New York City area or were lucky enough to get your hands on a cassette tape of what was being recorded on the air at Kiss or 'BLS, you had no idea what was really happening during this era of hip hop on the radio. At the time of this album's release, Red Alert was actively holding down the mix on 98.7 Kiss FM. However he was the second hip hop mix show to hit the airwaves in 1983. A year earlier, Frankie Crocker added "The Rap Attack" on WBLS with Mr. Magic and Marley Marl. This set off the first Hip Hop radio war in New York City for who would reign supreme in the mix world. (What a time it was.) 

Red Alert, born Fred Crute, has also mixed for Hot 97 and Power 105.1 during his radio career. Here's a taste of what he used to do at Kiss FM with Diana King. (Fast forward to 50:00 minute mark. Our favorite part!) 

 

Red Alert's arrival in 1983 came during a transformative period when hip hop was establishing itself as a powerful cultural force. Radio was one of the most important platforms for introducing new artists, breaking records, exposing listeners to emerging sounds, and connecting communities through music.

Red Alert became an important part of that movement. A movement that brought us the likes of Mister Cee and lives today through Funk(master) Flex at Hot 97. 

Before stepping away from radio, Red Alert will deliver a special four-hour mix show on WBLS on Monday, November 30. The broadcast will serve as a fitting farewell to a career that helped define the sound, identity, and energy of New York radio.

Also included in the commemorative celebration a week before will be a tribute event in New York City on November 24 at Sony Hall. The gathering will feature an impressive lineup of fellow DJs, musicians, and cultural figures, including Teddy Riley, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kid Capri, DJ Brucie B, DJ Spinna, Rashad "Ringo" Smith, DJ Joe Cool, DJ Str8Heat, and additional surprise guests.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by kooldjredalert (@kooldjredalert)

...