Radio Hall of Fame Finally Recognizes Frankie Crocker, Jocko Henderson, Petey Greene, Melvin Lindsey and Many Other Radio Legends

In a move that legitimizes The Radio Hall of Fame in our opinion, the organization inducted several Black Radio On Air personalities who were not recognized years earlier as they should have been. For whatever reason these jocks were overlooked. These new inductees are being honored in much the same way football and baseball hall of fames considered names from the past that are for the most part forgotten by the general public.


The Radio Hall of Fame seemed to have righted some wrongs in 2020 by inducting quite a few Black personalities last year. Those inductees included Donnie Simpson, Sway Calloway, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, and DJ Envy from The Breakfast Club. Should they have gone into the Radio Hall of Fame before the list below? Absolutely not. But it is what it is. Past inductees also include Wendy Williams, Cathy Hughes, Herb Kent, Steve Harvey and Tom Joyner.


The hall inducted 33 radio legends in celebration of the 100th anniversary of radio. Surprisingly enough among the Black radio DJ's, there were quite a few New York City radio personalities that had been excluded from the Hall of Fame as well until now. All should have been recognized for their contributions to radio well before 2021.

Here's a partial list of the 33 radio legends:

Frankie Crocker, air personality in Buffalo and New York City in 1950–1980’s on WUFO, WWRL, WMCA  and WBLS-FM; The best that ever did it.

Don Cornelius, air personality, WVON-AM, Chicago; Much more influential as the legendary host and creator of Soul Train. But he did get his start in radio. 

Petey Greene, air personality in Washington D.C. in 1960-1980’s on WOL-AM; Take a listen to him on his TV show with a much younger Howard Stern (some may find this offensive, don't cancel Howard Stern)

Maurice “Hot Rod“ Hulbert, air personality in Baltimore and Memphis in 1950 -1970’s; WITH, WDIA, WHAT Philadelphia- Inspired "Jocko" 

 

Jocko Henderson, air personality in Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore in 1950-1970’s; WDAS,WHAT, WOV, WADO, WSID; the first jock to syndicate nationally using reel-to-reel tape to Black radio stations around the country

E. Rodney Jones, air personality in Chicago in the 1960’s on WVON-AM; influenced by Jocko

Chuck Leonard, air personality in New York City in 1960-1970’s on WWRL, WABC, WXLO, WRKS, WBLS and others; Sirius XM, First Black Jock at Top 40 770 WABC 

Melvin Lindsey, the originator of the “Quiet Storm“ late-night music programming format and Washington D.C air personality the 1970-1980’s; WHUR, WKYS and BET Host

Ron Lundy, air personality in New York City in 1960–1980’s on WABC and WCBS-FM;

Murray “Murray the K” Kaufman, air personality in New York City, 1950-1980’s on stations WINS and WOR-FM; His last break on WMCA Murray the K signs off, retires from radio and hands off to Frankie Crocker, called himself The Fifth Beatle This aircheck goes silent then plays again at the 3:10 mark 

Manuel “Paco“ Navarro, air personality in New York City in 1970-1980’s on WKTU-FM;

Eddie O’Jay, air personality and pioneer of R&B radio in Milwaukee and Cleveland in 1960-1980’s; WUFO Buffalo, WWRL New York, The O'Jay's from Ohio asked him if they could use his name for their group, 

Alison Steele, air personality in New York City in 1960-1980’s on WNEW-AM and WNEW-FM; The Night Bird

Martha Jean “The Queen“ Steinberg, air personality in Memphis and Detroit in 1950-1980’s; WDIA, WJLB, WCHB, WQBH

Rufus Thomas, air personality in Memphis in 1950-1980’s; WDIA and became a Soul and R&B recording artist

Nat D. Williams, air personality in Memphis in 1940-1970’s on WDIA-AM.

THE 2021 RADIO HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:

(These inductees were voted on from a list of nominees announced earlier this year.)

Brother Wease – Radio 95.1, Rochester, NY  – Longstanding Network/Syndication (20 years or more)

Elliot Segal – DC 101, Washington, DC  – Active Local/Regional (10 years or more)

Dan Patrick – The Dan Patrick Show – Longstanding Networks/Syndication (20 years or more)

Kim Komando – The Kim Komando Show – Active Network/Syndication (10 Years or more)

Javier Romero – WAMR-FM/Amor 107.5, Univision Miami- Music Format On-Air Personality
 

Preston & Steve – 93.3 WMMR, Philadelphia, PA – Spoken Word On-Air Personality

Erica Farber, President and CEO, Radio Advertising Bureau

Bill Siemering, Founding Director of Programming and Founding Member of the Board of Directors, NPR


The 2021 Radio Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at the in-person 2021 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at Chicago’s Wintrust Grand Banking Hall.