Early Radio: According to an obituary in the New York Times: "He began his radio career as a jazz disc jockey at WHAT in Chester, Pa., moved to WDAS in Philadelphia, and then to WBLS in New York, playing jazz in live broadcasts from Palm Cafe in Manhattan. He played rhythm and blues on WNJR in Secaucus, N.J., in the late 1950s, but after refusing to cross a picket line at the station during an effort to create a union for disc jockeys, he was blacklisted for six months. He became the first black announcer for WINS, and was then hired as a disc jockey by KDIA in Oakland, California."
Later Radio: According to 440:Satisfaction.com, here is the rest of Rosko's Radio resume:
KGFJ, Los Angeles - 1964
KBLA, Los Angeles - 1965
WOR-FM, New York - 1966
WNEW-FM, New York - 1967 - 1970
KMET, Los Angeles - 1971 (taped)
WKTU, New York - 1981
Claim to Fame: According to the New York Times, Rosko was "...the first black news announcer on WINS in New York and, as Rosko, the first black disc jockey on KBLA in Los Angeles."
Awards: Rosko has been admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. (Rock artists are voted in, DJs are picked by the staff.)
