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{{short description|American disc jockey}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2009}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2009}}
'''Hunter Hancock''' (1916 - August 4, 2004) was a white [[United States|American]] [[disc jockey]] regarded as the first in the [[Western United States]] to play [[rhythm and blues]] records on the radio, and among the first to broadcast [[rock and roll]].
'''Hunter Dunagan Hancock''' (April 21, 1916 – September 11, 2001) was an American [[disc jockey]] regarded as the first in the [[Western United States]] to play [[rhythm and blues]] records on the radio, and among the first to broadcast [[rock and roll]].


He was born in [[Uvalde, Texas]], and raised {{convert|90|mi}} away in [[San Antonio]]. After school, he took on many jobs, including singing in a [[vaudeville]] troupe and a stint at a Massachusetts [[burlesque]] club. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 1940s he entered radio and was heard on the following stations there: [[KTNQ|KFVD]] (1947–1951), [[KFRN|KFOX]] (1951–1954), [[KTNQ|KFVD/KPOP]] (1954–1957) and [[KYPA|KGFJ]] (1957–1966).<ref name=people>[http://www.laradio.com/whereh.htm Los Angeles Radio People, Where are They Now? &ndash; H], retrieved 2012-01-01</ref> Inspired by a local black record store owner he called himself "Ol' H.H." He hosted several shows on different stations, often at the same time, including ''Harlem Holiday'', ''Harlematinee'', ''Huntin' With Hunter'' and the gospel show ''Songs of Soul and Spirit''.
He was born in [[Uvalde, Texas]], and raised {{convert|90|mi}} away in [[San Antonio]]. After schooling, he took on many jobs, including singing in a [[vaudeville]] troupe and a stint at a Massachusetts [[burlesque]] club. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 1940s he entered radio and was heard on the following stations there: [[KTNQ|KFVD]] (1947–1951),<ref name="LarkinBlues">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Blues]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1995|edition=Second|isbn=0-85112-673-1|page=159}}</ref> [[KFRN|KFOX]] (1951–1954), [[KTNQ|KFVD/KPOP]] (1954–1957) and [[KYPA|KGFJ]] (1957–1966).<ref name=people>[http://www.laradio.com/whereh.htm Los Angeles Radio People, Where are They Now? &ndash; H], retrieved 2012-01-01</ref> Inspired by local black record store owner [[John Dolphin (music producer)|John Dolphin]] of Dolphin's of Hollywood record shop, he called himself "Ol' H.H." He hosted several shows on different stations, often at the same time, including ''Harlem Holiday'', ''Harlematinee'',<ref name="LarkinBlues"/> ''Huntin' With Hunter'' and the gospel show ''Songs of Soul and Spirit''.


Hancock became one of the [[Master of ceremonies|emcees]] for the famed Cavalcade of Jazz concerts held at [[Wrigley Field (Los Angeles)|Wrigley Field]] in Los Angeles which were produced by [[Leon Hefflin, Sr.|Leon Hefflin Sr.]] starting with the fifth concert on July 10, 1949. He also emceed for the Cavalcade of Jazz concert held in San Diego at [[Lane Field (baseball)|Lane Field]] on September 3, 1949. Hancock also wrote a column in the ''[[Los Angeles Sentinel]]'' newspaper.<ref>“Huntin’ with Hunter” Article Los Angeles Sentinel July 7, 1949.
⚫
Hancock also appeared briefly on the L.A. CBS TV station, [[KCBS-TV|KNXT]] in 1955 with the Friday night show "Rhythm and Bluesville," interviewing such musicians as [[Duke Ellington]], [[Fats Domino]], [[Little Richard]], [[Gene & Eunice]] and [[The Platters]].
</ref> Hancock would continue to emcee until the fourteenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at the [[Shrine Auditorium]] on August 3, 1958. The final Cavalcade of Jazz concert was a tribute to the city's most prominent R&B disc-jockeys of the time as Charles Trammel, [[Dick Hugg|Huggy Boy]] (Dick Hugg) and Jim Randolph teamed up with Hancock for this event.<ref name="Guralnick, Peter. 2005">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dreamboogietrium00gura|title=Dream boogie : the triumph of Sam Cooke|last=Guralnick, Peter.|date=2005|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=0316377945|edition=1st|location=New York|oclc=57393650}}</ref> [[Lionel Hampton]], [[Big Jay McNeely]], [[Dinah Washington]], [[Betty Carter]], [[Billy Eckstine]], [[Jimmy Witherspoon]], [[Louis Jordan]], [[Nat King Cole|Nat "King" Cole]], [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Count Basie]], and [[Sam Cooke]] were just a few of the numerous artists that performed over the years at the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Black music history of Los Angeles, its roots : 50 years in Black music : a classical pictorial history of Los Angeles Black music of the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's : photographic essays that define the people, the artistry and their contributions to the wonderful world of entertainment|last=Reed, Tom.|date=1992|publisher=Black Accent on L.A. Press|isbn=096329086X|edition= 1st, limited |location=Los Angeles|oclc=28801394}}</ref><ref name="Guralnick, Peter. 2005"/>


⚫
Hancock also appeared briefly on the L.A. CBS TV station, [[KCBS-TV|KNXT]] in 1955 with the Friday night show "Rhythm and Bluesville", interviewing such musicians as [[Duke Ellington]], [[Fats Domino]], [[Little Richard]], [[Gene & Eunice]] and [[The Platters]].
⚫
For several years, the Pulse survey rated Hancock's shows No. 1 among black listeners in Southern California. In 1950, the [[Los Angeles Sentinel]] newspaper rated Hancock the most popular DJ in Los Angeles among blacks. He was also one of the first DJs to play rock and roll music, and landed a cameo spot in a 1957 British rock and roll film called ''Rock Around the World''.


⚫
For several years, the Pulse radio listener survey rated Hancock's shows No. 1 among black listeners in Southern California. In 1950, the ''[[Los Angeles Sentinel]]'' newspaper rated Hancock the most popular DJ in Los Angeles among blacks. He was also one of the first DJs to play rock and roll music, and landed a cameo spot in a 1957 British rock and roll film called ''Rock Around the World''.
⚫
A recreated example of Mr. Hancock's program on Los Angeles' former R&B radio station [[KGFJ]] can be found on Ron Jacobs' "Cruisin' 1959" (Increase Records INCR 5-2004). This recreation includes several classic R&B songs of that era, contemporary commercials (e.g., Champion spark plugs, the ''[[Saturday Evening Post]]'', and others), and DJ patter.(1)

⚫
A recreated example of Hancock's program on Los Angeles' former R&B radio station [[KYPA|KGFJ]] can be found on Ron Jacobs' "Cruisin' 1959" (Increase Records INCR 5-2004). This recreation includes several classic R&B songs of that era, contemporary commercials (e.g., Champion spark plugs, the ''[[Saturday Evening Post]]'', and others), and DJ patter.
He was convicted in 1962 and sentenced to probation for failing to report $18,000 income on tax forms for 1956-1958. Allegedly, the money was [[payola]] from record companies. He thought the money had been given as [[gifts]].
He was convicted in 1962 and sentenced to probation for failing to report $18,000 income on tax forms for 1956–1958. Allegedly, the money was [[payola]] from record companies. Hancock believed the money had been given as [[gifts]].


Hancock died August 4, 2004 of natural causes in a [[retirement home]] in [[Claremont, California]].
Hancock died August 4, 2004, of natural causes in a [[retirement home]] in [[Claremont, California]].


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.electricearl.com/dws/hunter.html Huntin' with Hunter]
*[http://www.electricearl.com/dws/hunter.html Huntin' with Hunter]
* [http://www.reelradio.com/rj/cruisin/index.html "Cruisin 1959" reelradio.com]
*[http://www.reelradio.com/rj/cruisin/index.html "Cruisin 1959" reelradio.com]
*{{Pop Chronicles|2|5}}

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Hancock, Hunter
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1916
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = August 4, 2004
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hancock, Hunter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hancock, Hunter}}
[[Category:American DJs]]
[[Category:American radio DJs]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:American vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American musicians]]


{{US-radio-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 18:16, 7 October 2024

Hunter Dunagan Hancock (April 21, 1916 – September 11, 2001) was an American disc jockey regarded as the first in the Western United States to play rhythm and blues records on the radio, and among the first to broadcast rock and roll.

He was born in Uvalde, Texas, and raised 90 miles (140 km) away in San Antonio. After schooling, he took on many jobs, including singing in a vaudeville troupe and a stint at a Massachusetts burlesque club. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 1940s he entered radio and was heard on the following stations there: KFVD (1947–1951),[1] KFOX (1951–1954), KFVD/KPOP (1954–1957) and KGFJ (1957–1966).[2] Inspired by local black record store owner John Dolphin of Dolphin's of Hollywood record shop, he called himself "Ol' H.H." He hosted several shows on different stations, often at the same time, including Harlem Holiday, Harlematinee,[1] Huntin' With Hunter and the gospel show Songs of Soul and Spirit.

Hancock became one of the emcees for the famed Cavalcade of Jazz concerts held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which were produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. starting with the fifth concert on July 10, 1949. He also emceed for the Cavalcade of Jazz concert held in San Diego at Lane Field on September 3, 1949. Hancock also wrote a column in the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper.[3] Hancock would continue to emcee until the fourteenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at the Shrine Auditorium on August 3, 1958. The final Cavalcade of Jazz concert was a tribute to the city's most prominent R&B disc-jockeys of the time as Charles Trammel, Huggy Boy (Dick Hugg) and Jim Randolph teamed up with Hancock for this event.[4] Lionel Hampton, Big Jay McNeely, Dinah Washington, Betty Carter, Billy Eckstine, Jimmy Witherspoon, Louis Jordan, Nat "King" Cole, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Sam Cooke were just a few of the numerous artists that performed over the years at the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts.[5][4]

Hancock also appeared briefly on the L.A. CBS TV station, KNXT in 1955 with the Friday night show "Rhythm and Bluesville", interviewing such musicians as Duke Ellington, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Gene & Eunice and The Platters.

For several years, the Pulse radio listener survey rated Hancock's shows No. 1 among black listeners in Southern California. In 1950, the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper rated Hancock the most popular DJ in Los Angeles among blacks. He was also one of the first DJs to play rock and roll music, and landed a cameo spot in a 1957 British rock and roll film called Rock Around the World.

A recreated example of Hancock's program on Los Angeles' former R&B radio station KGFJ can be found on Ron Jacobs' "Cruisin' 1959" (Increase Records INCR 5-2004). This recreation includes several classic R&B songs of that era, contemporary commercials (e.g., Champion spark plugs, the Saturday Evening Post, and others), and DJ patter.

He was convicted in 1962 and sentenced to probation for failing to report $18,000 income on tax forms for 1956–1958. Allegedly, the money was payola from record companies. Hancock believed the money had been given as gifts.

Hancock died August 4, 2004, of natural causes in a retirement home in Claremont, California.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 159. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
  2. ^ Los Angeles Radio People, Where are They Now? – H, retrieved 2012-01-01
  3. ^ “Huntin’ with Hunter” Article Los Angeles Sentinel July 7, 1949.
  4. ^ a b Guralnick, Peter. (2005). Dream boogie : the triumph of Sam Cooke (1st ed.). New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316377945. OCLC 57393650.
  5. ^ Reed, Tom. (1992). The Black music history of Los Angeles, its roots : 50 years in Black music : a classical pictorial history of Los Angeles Black music of the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's : photographic essays that define the people, the artistry and their contributions to the wonderful world of entertainment (1st, limited ed.). Los Angeles: Black Accent on L.A. Press. ISBN 096329086X. OCLC 28801394.
[edit]
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