Hal Jackson

Harold Baron Jackson (born 3 November 1915) is an American disk jockey and radio personality who broke a number of color barriers in American radio broadcasting. Jackson was born in Charleston, South Carolina and grew up in Washington, D.C. where he was educated at Howard University. Jackson began his broadcasting career as the first African-American radio sports announcer, broadcasting Howard’s home baseball games and local Negro league baseball... more

Harold Baron Jackson (born 3 November 1915) is an American disk jockey and radio personality who broke a number of color barriers in American radio broadcasting. Jackson was born in Charleston, South Carolina and grew up in Washington, D.C. where he was educated at Howard University. Jackson began his broadcasting career as the first African-American radio sports announcer, broadcasting Howard’s home baseball games and local Negro league baseball games. In 1939, he became the first African American host at WINX/Washington with The Bronze Review, a nightly interview program. He later hosted talk show, a program of jazz and blues on WOOK-TV. Jackson moved to New York in 1954 and became the first radio personality to broadcast three daily shows on three different New York stations. Four million listeners tuned in nightly to hear Jackson’s mix of music and conversations with jazz and show business celebrities. In 1971, Jackson and Percy Sutton, a former Manhattan borough president, co... less