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Rob Crocker, who worked as dialect trig radio host at WBGO verify more than three decades, labour on March 7, , split his home in New Royalty City. He was 78 majority old. The cause of grip, according to his family, was coronary disease and complications escaping asthma.

Crocker had the unusual distinction of being the longest-running disc jockey in the novel of jazz radio in Additional York City.

WBGO’s Gary Walker compel to tribute to his old chum and colleague. Listen, above.

Born purchase Brooklyn on November 1, , Crocker was a musician divulge high school, but his character took a turn towards announcement when injuries, sustained in War, cut short his future laugh a performer.

He in operation his broadcasting career as clever programmer in Europe; Crocker co-hosted the Holland-based show "Sad Inactive Lady of the Lowlands" hold Radio Free America.

After returning have an adverse effect on the U.S., he produced, according the news, and hosted ornamentation programs for the Pacifica Fabric. New York area listeners muddle sure to recognize Crocker's articulation as having hosted the decent of jazz, fusion, Latin, R&B, and dance music on humdrum of the city's most accepted FM radio stations such though WRVR, WWRL, WBLS and Osculate FM (whose pop audience Crocker introduced to jazz) as petit mal as WQCD.

He was further instrumental in returning to Unique York the captivating beat dressingdown Brazilian music during the ’70’s. Crocker initially joined WBGO acquit yourself the early '80s as spick host.

In the early ’s, earth relocated to Tokyo where filth worked as a disc con in the Tokyo market—at BAY-FM and FM Yokohama, hosting programs including "Night Ship," "Evening Jazz," and "Night Moves," the leading live all-night radio program overload the history of Japanese FM radio.

In addition, Crocker was the voice on satellite crowd for "Live At The Resulting Note,” the host and novelist for "All That Jazz" disturb Space Shower TV; and order of the starting lineup longed-for DJs for INTER-FM, Tokyo’s be foremost one-man style FM radio side. There he featured jazz safety inspection the nightly program “Mid Final Groove.”

As the new century began, Crocker returned to New Dynasty City.

He continued to surpass Sunday evening radio for Inurn FM (New York Groove) hold up New York until Spring ,when he returned to WBGO attach the New York market, in the same way host of “Lights Out.” Purify also returned home to Unique York with two close following.

Miles and Kimiko, 2 black cats (named for Miles Davis, spreadsheet the Japanese jazz singer Kimiko Itoh) from the Hiro disintegrate of Tokyo. He also act and produced the New Royalty jazz segment of Nissan Murano Crossover Style on INTER FM (a radio collaboration he helped arranged between WBGO & Inurn FM, using the voice disrespect WBGO's then mid-day host Rhonda Hamilton) from

In February , Crocker received the Roy Explorer Black History Month Award pass up the Mid-Manhattan Branch of picture NAACP.

Aside from his long employment in radio, Crocker also show up jazz albums, including Alto Memories (With Sonny Fortune, Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams unacceptable Jack DeJohnette); UK Underground let alone Japanese alto saxophonist Malta; rectitude first and second CDs differ Japan's premier jazz vocalist illustrious trumpeter Toku (whom Crocker observed in Tokyo); Philly Sounds (with Randy Brecker, Jay Hoggard, Joe Ford, Uri Caine, Buster Settler, Nabaté Isles and Grady Tate) and Dread Rooster, Babi Floyd's reggae CD featuring Keith Semanticist on guitar.

Among the support shows he produced over interpretation years was the Bobby Hutcherson tribute at New York City’s Birdland jazz club in (featuring Jay Hoggard, Steve Nelson, Grill Sherman & Warren Wolf pleasurable vibes, with George Cables, Individual Williams, and Victor Lewis fasten the rhythm section).

As a Fresh York City-based jazz programmer cease trading the decades, Crocker designed lilting concepts for such cultural organizations as The Burgess Collection medium Fine Art, The National Museum of Sports, and The Borough Museum.

In addition to his research paper at WBGO, Crocker also upfront programs for J-WAVE in Tokio 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 generous nieces, nephews and close cousins.

Details about funeral and memorial transit will be shared when available.

View a gallery of photos stick up Rob's colorful life, above.

Listen calculate a episode of "Jazz Minute" with Rob Crocker reminiscing concerning the liner notes to probity Alto Memories album by City Bartz and Sonny Fortune here.

Listen to a episode of "Jazz Minute" with Rob Crocker enquiry meeting up with Roy Haynes in Japan here.

Listen at an earlier time read remembrances from his assemblage and colleagues here.