Hal Jackson
Harold Baron "Hal" Jackson (born November 3, 1915 in Charleston , South Carolina ; † May 23, 2012 ) was an American radio host who campaigned successfully against racial discrimination .
Life
Hal Jackson, orphaned at age seven, grew up with relatives in Washington, DC . As a student at Howard University , he became the first African American to broadcast football and basketball games on the radio. In 1939, he became the first African American radio host when he directed The Bronze Review show with guests for WINX in Washington . Soon he had several shows on various radio stations that revolved around sports and music (especially R&B ). In the spring and summer of 1949 Jackson also hosted a television variety show from the Howard Theater in Washington.
In 1954 Jackson moved to New York . Here, too, he moderated music programs on various radio stations, including a jazz and an R&B program. At the end of the 1950s, he and others were suspected of having taken money from record companies in order to play their singles more often ( Payola scandal). He was fired and made a living as a building cleaner. After the charges were dismissed, Jackson was able to return to work as a moderator.
After a short time in Philadelphia , he returned to New York. In addition to his radio shows, Jackson presented concerts a. a. in Central Park . In the late 1960s, he organized the Miss Black Teen America competition for African American girls who were excluded from the Miss America competition. In 1971 he acquired a stake in the Inner City Broadcasting Corporation (ICBC), which owned the first African-American radio stations. Since 1984 he has hosted the Sunday Morning Classics , a successful oldie radio show.
Awards
- 1990: Induction into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame
- 1995: National Radio Hall of Fame
- 2001: Induction into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame
- 2003: Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation
Web links
- Hal Jackson on the website of the National Radio Hall of Fame (English)
- Hal Jackson in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Obituary (English)
- ^ Obituary New York Times
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Jackson, Hal |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Jackson, Harold Baron |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American radio host |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 3, 1915 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Charleston , South Carolina |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 23, 2012 |