Rob Crocker, who worked as a radio host at WBGO for more than three decades, died on March 7, 2024, at his home in New York City. He was 78 years old. The cause of death, according to his family, was coronary disease and complications from asthma. Crocker had the singular distinction of being the longest-running disc jockey in the history of jazz radio in New York City.
WBGO’s Gary Walker paid tribute to his old friend and colleague. Listen, above.
Born in Brooklyn on November 1, 1945, Crocker was a musician in high school, but his life took a turn towards broadcasting when injuries, sustained in Vietnam, cut short his future as a performer. He started his broadcasting career as a programmer in Europe; Crocker co-hosted the Holland-based show "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for Radio Free America.
After returning to the U.S., he produced, reported the news, and hosted jazz programs for the Pacifica Network. New York area listeners are sure to recognize Crocker's voice as having hosted the best of jazz, fusion, Latin, R&B, and dance music on some of the city's most popular FM radio stations such as WRVR, WWRL, WBLS and KISS FM (whose pop audience Crocker introduced to jazz) as well as WQCD. He was also instrumental in returning to New York the captivating beat of Brazilian music during the ’70’s. Crocker initially joined WBGO in the early '80s as a host.
In the early 1990’s, he relocated to Tokyo where he worked as a disc jockey in the Tokyo market—at BAY-FM and FM Yokohama, hosting programs including "Night Ship," "Evening Jazz," and "Night Moves," the first live all-night radio program in the history of Japanese FM radio. In addition, Crocker was the voice on satellite television for "Live At The Blue Note,” the host and writer for "All That Jazz" on Space Shower TV; and part of the starting lineup of DJs for INTER-FM, Tokyo’s first one-man style FM radio station. There he featured jazz on the nightly program “Mid Nite Groove.”
As the new century began, Crocker returned to New York City. He continued to do Sunday evening radio for INTER FM (New York Groove) from New York until Spring 2002 ,when he returned to WBGO in the New York market, as host of “Lights Out.” He also returned home to New York with two close companions. Miles and Kimiko, 2 black cats (named for Miles Davis, and the Japanese jazz singer Kimiko Itoh) from the Hiro section of Tokyo. He also programmed and produced the New York jazz segment of Nissan Murano Crossover Style on INTER FM (a radio collaboration he helped arranged between WBGO & INTER FM, using the voice of WBGO's then mid-day host Rhonda Hamilton) from 2005-2009.
In February 2020, Crocker received the Roy Wilkins Black History Month Award from the Mid-Manhattan Branch of the NAACP.
Aside from his long career in radio, Crocker also produced jazz albums, including Alto Memories (With Sonny Fortune, Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams and Jack DeJohnette); UK Underground from Japanese alto saxophonist Malta; the first and second CDs from Japan's premier jazz vocalist and trumpeter Toku (whom Crocker discovered in Tokyo); Philly Sounds (with Randy Brecker, Jay Hoggard, Joe Ford, Uri Caine, Buster Williams, Nabaté Isles and Grady Tate) and Dread Rooster, Babi Floyd's reggae CD featuring Keith Richards on guitar.
Among the live shows he produced over the years was the Bobby Hutcherson tribute at New York City’s Birdland jazz club in 2012 (featuring Jay Hoggard, Steve Nelson, Mark Sherman & Warren Wolf on vibes, with George Cables, Buster Williams, and Victor Lewis in the rhythm section).
As a New York City-based jazz programmer over the decades, Crocker designed musical concepts for such cultural organizations as The Burgess Collection of Fine Art, The National Museum of Sports, and The Brooklyn Museum.
In addition to his work at WBGO, Crocker also did programs for J-WAVE in Tokyo through the London- based Sha La La Company.
Crocker is survived by his father, four brothers and two sisters, three sister-in-laws and a host of loving nieces, nephews and close cousins.
Details about funeral and memorial arrangements will be shared when available.
View a gallery of photos from Rob's colorful life, above.
Listen to a episode of "Jazz Minute" with Rob Crocker reminiscing about the liner notes to the Alto Memories album by Gary Bartz and Sonny Fortune here.
Listen to a episode of "Jazz Minute" with Rob Crocker about meeting up with Roy Haynes in Japan here.
Listen and read remembrances from his friends and colleagues here.
