Hunter Hancock, the legendary disc jockey regarded as the first in the western United States to spin rhythm and blues records and among the first to broadcast rock 'n' roll, has died. He was 88.
Hancock, a top Los Angeles DJ of the mid-20th century, died Aug. 4 of natural causes at a retirement complex in Claremont, said his daughter, Rosemary Davis.
Known on the air as "Ol' H.H.," Hancock, in his high-pitched, frantic, exaggerated voice, was heard over local airwaves from 1943 to 1968, hosting the Sunday show "Harlem Holiday" on KFVD-AM (later KPOP-AM); the daily "Harlematinee"; the KGFJ-AM nightly Top 20 "Huntin' With Hunter"; and the KGER-AM Sunday gospel show "Songs of Soul and Spirit."
He also had a brief run on KCBS-TV Channel 2 in 1955 with the Friday night show "Rhythm and Bluesville," interviewing such musicians as Duke Ellington, Fats Domino, Little Richard and the Platters.
In 1970, Hancock's voice introduced his R&B oldies anew via the "Cruisin' " album series, intoning his standard opening: "From bebop to ballad, swing to sweet, and blues to boogie
For several years, Pulse survey, a precursor to Arbitron, rated Hancock's shows No. 1 among African American listeners in Southern California. In 1950, the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper rated Hancock the most popular DJ in Los Angeles among blacks.
To the surprise of black and white audiences at live concerts, however, Hancock was white. Born in Uvalde, Texas, Hancock tried about 22 jobs in half a dozen years -- salesman, bank clerk, chauffeur, drummer and singer. But he found work in radio.
KMAC-AM in San Antonio hired him to read commercials and news copy. Four months later, he was transferred to sister station KPAB-AM in Laredo as chief announcer and program director.
"I hated Laredo
He landed a weekend announcer's spot on KFVD, a "sundown station" that went off the air at dusk. When Todd Clothes bought a one-hour program on Sundays specifying that it appeal to African Americans, Hancock became the host.
Still known as an announcer before the term "disc jockey" became popular, he played jazz recordings on the new show he dubbed "Harlem Holiday." Bandleader Chick Webb's "Holiday in Harlem" featuring Ella Fitzgerald became the theme song.
By 1947, Hancock was encouraged to add a daily half-hour show he called "Harlematinee," and he soon learned that jazz was not the only music that appealed to his audience. A Modern Records salesman bluntly told him, "Hancock
