Voting Station

Frankie Crocker

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Radio Personality

The Resume

    (December 18, 1937-October 21, 2000)
    Born in Buffalo, New York
    Disc jockey and program director, primarily for WBLS-FM in New York City
    Hosted NBC's 'Friday Night Videos' (1990-93)
    VJ for VH-1
    Appeared in the films 'Cleopatra Jones' (1973), 'Five on the Black Hand Side' (1973) and 'Darktown Strutters' (1975)
    Master of ceremonies at the Apollo Theater

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a New York deejay who was nicknamed 'Hollywood.'
    He celebrated his birthday by riding a white stallion into Studio 54.
    He was convicted of lying to a grand jury investigating payola when he denied receiving payments from record company representatives (1976).
    He was charged with hitting Penthouse Pet Carmela Pope (1983), although the charges were later dropped.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His conviction in the payola investigation was overturned on appeal (1979).
    He coined the term 'urban contemporary' for the progressive R&B he played.
    He played a key role in making WBLS the most listened to FM station in the country (1976).
    He was credited with breaking dozens of hits, including Manu Dibango's 'Soul Makossa,' Kool and the Gang's 'Hollywood Swinging,' and McFadden and Whitehead's 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now.'
    He was one of the first American disc jockeys to regularly play reggae music.
    Although not personally a fan of rap music, he hired Mr. Magic (John Rivas) to host the first radio rap show, WBLS's 'Rap Attack.'
    He was name checked in the Sugarhill Gang's 'Rapper's Delight.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying