Emperor Rosko

[Videoskooter]

I remember excellent disco-compilations from a guy called "Rosko". I don't own them because they were hardly released in Belgium. Here companies promoted the Rick Delisle-albums
(Disco Radio Action).

I looked on the net and found out the guy is still around and even has his own site. But I also discovered there was another Rosko and he was also famous. Now I don't know who is who? Can somebody help me about this one?

The Rosko I refer to is the one who did the voice over on the Tight Fit record that was a compilation like Stars on 45.

I regognized the voice immediately. Is this the same guy who did the compils and spoke between the songs?

His jingle was R-O-S-K-O
:)

[DISCODISK]

videoskooter i cant say who did the tight fit record as im afraid thats always gone in one ear and out of the other with me im afraid, but the rosco you are looking for is the one with the website he was a pirate radio d.j for caroline /radio Luxembourg he joned radio 1 in the u.k in the late 60s and those albums were released on atlantic records at a guess around 1971/2

[Nano]

Yes, the Rosko I remember released some compilation albums (at least two) in Atlantic featuring old and contemporary hits from the Stax/Atlantic vaults. This records were named "The Rosko Show" and the guy talked in between songs like a radio DJ (in fact, that's what he was in the USA). I have great memories of him because that was the first time I listened to classics like Aretha's "I say a little prayer" or Blue Magic's "I just don't want to be lonely". I was, like, 10 years old. 8)
Some years ago there was a CD compilation called also "The Rosko Show" and featuring tracks from those two LPs, with the cover of the first (black, with a photo of the guy donning black glasses and an old-Elvis kinda dress style).
Around 2000 a local radio station made a contract with Rosko to repeat his transmissions from a California radio station (I think it was in L.A.), the music was like always and it went on Saturday nights. Here it lasted around a year and of course it was great. 8)
Long live Rosko!

[Videoskooter]

Thanks for the replies!

Yesterday I had a call from a friend and he also knew exactly who I was referring to. It seems that the shows I heard were not always released on record but where special tapes from his radio-shows with the publicity cut out. Must be, coz' I still have a tape from the late 70's with music from SNF, Thank God it's Friday (oh-what a soundtrack) and Gainsbourg "Sea, sex and sun". And I checked my copy of Tight Fit and yes, it's him (his name is not mentioned on the label but they call him "That well-known DJ".

I still remember an anniversary-show from Belgian's Radio 21 that in the early eighties had special discoshows on saturday nights and Rosko made a special program for them. It was the very first time ever I heard Prince's "Dirty mind" and I was hooked for life.

OMG, Radio Luxembourg, Radio Caroline: those were the days.
:D

The other Ros(c)ko I found was a black DJ and probably American. Does anybody have more info on him?

Thx

[QUINNY]

The Emperor Rosko was the slickest DJ on British radio and just about the only one who played early club records. There was many a record that I first heard on one of his shows.
He was the best there was!!

[Videoskooter]

He was the best there was!!

ABSOLUTELY

I just listened to his current show-It's the guy I'm talking about! He's still on the air and he's still kickin' it :D

[Bernie]

The Rosko that I heard in the 1970s was a Black radio DJ for WKTU-FM (Disco 92) in New York City. He was also a poet and released one record called Desiderata on Prelude Records where he just talks over the music about being the best you can be. He had a very distinctive voice, but passed away some time back.

[Nano]

Hey! There was a copy of the "Desiderata" single at home back in '72. I guess one of my older brothers bought it; it was heavily played. I didn't know Rosko was involved... Or maybe it's another track, because that "Desiderata" text is well known and possibly has been recorded by many artists.
In fact, our copy was in Spanish (or maybe English on one side, Spanish on the other) so it probably was another version... Who knows :roll:

[ladyboygrimsby]

A friend of mine is an engineer at the BBC and he (very sneakily and possibly illegally) copied Rosko's first BBC R1 show on to CD from either early 70s or late 60s. What a presenter he was, so exciting and vibey.

[Videoskooter]

Just listened to a great show by the one and only EMPEROR! The guy is still kickin' butt and plays great stuff.

Are there current DJ-members that were influenced by this radiogod? I know Quinny digs him but the others? And is there somebody who still has albums or cd's of the "Rosko show"?

In Belgium they're unavailable, even in second-hand shops :icon_sad: I know they were in the shops BITD and they all featured that legendary deep-voice R.O.S.K.O jingle!!!

I can only trace this CD

Amazon.co.uk: The Best of the Rosko Show: Music: Various Artists



Has anyone ever met the guy????

0--> EMPEROR ROSKO <--0

[Greg Wilson]

Are there current DJ-members that were influenced by this radiogod? I know Quinny digs him but the others? And is there somebody who still has albums or cd's of the "Rosko show"?

Hi Videoskooter: I was a big Rosko fan - nobody has mentioned that his style was very much influenced by the US legend, Wolfman Jack (who, in turn, was influenced by pioneering black DJ's with colourful names like Dr. Jive, Jocky Jock, Professor Bob and Sugar Daddy).

I have all of the 'Rosko Show' albums (on 'frantic' Atlantic) - there were actually 3 of them - and it was great to pick up the CD when it was released. I actually used the end of side 1 of the first 'Rosko Show' album to finish my Monastic Mix back in '96 (it was originally done for the first side of a cassette):

H Track - Listening Station
http://www.rogie.net/mixes/gregwilson.php



I wrote something about his DJ book in June's Time Capsule text:

It was quite a revelation to learn that there was a way of getting records before they were available in the shops (you'd be mailed a record up to 6 weeks in advance of its UK release), especially as you didn't even have to pay for the privilege! However, it wasn't until I bought a copy of 'Emperor Rosko's DJ Book' that I had the addresses and phone numbers for all the main record companies in this country; this vital information being discovered in the appendix section at the back of the book. I quickly set about phoning all the numbers to find out if they had mailing lists and how I could get on them.

samurai.fm | Greg Wilson's Time Capsule

[Videoskooter]

Hi Greg,

Thank you so much for your reply! Indeed, there are some similarities between the style of Rosko and the Wolfman!

I believe that the Wolfman was influenced by Alan Freed (who started the howling, but I'm not sure about that).

So you recommend the CD? Like always, I trust you and will command it :icon_biggrin:

The only stuff I have is an old tape that we played at the bumpertrack in 1979 and that features f.i. "You're The One That I Want", "Thank God It's Friday", "Sea Sex And Sun" and others. It's presented by the Emperor and I do remember very well that "R.O.S.K.O. jingle" pumpin' through the heavy soundsystem and the youngsters shoutin' it. :icon_eek:

Like I already said, the "Tight Fit" record "Back To The 60's" (sort of Stars On 45 with old Soul and R'nR tubes) features the introduction by "That Well Known DJ" and I'm sure it's Rosko and not the Wolfman!

"Back To The 60's "(Featuring That Well Known DJ) (8:50)

1.Dancing In The Street
2.Satisfaction
3.You Really Got Me
4.Doo Wah Diddy Diddy
5.Black Is Black
6.Bend Me Shape Me
7.When You Walk In The Room
8.Mony Mony

*EMPEROR ROSKO* - Rosko Radio



Listen to Da Voice: http://www.emperorrosko.com/SoundClips/rosko.rm (Realplayer)



See the man live with Otis Redding:

[Greg Wilson]

Hi Greg,

Thank you so much for your reply! Indeed, there are some similarities between the style of Rosko and the Wolfman!

I believe that the Wolfman was influenced by Alan Freed (who started the howling, but I'm not sure about that).

Wolfman Jack was definitely black influenced (as Freed himself was). More info here:

Wolfman Jack

So you recommend the CD? Like always, I trust you and will command it :icon_biggrin:

The CD, 'The Best Of The Rosko Show' is made up the 12 tracks from Vol 1, 'The Rosko Show' (1972) - although the opening link from Side 2 of the vinyl is missing, plus part of the closing link - 6 tracks from Vol 2, 'I'll Take You There - The 2nd Rosko Show' (1974) and 4 tracks from Vol 3, 'Rosko Road Show Vol 3' (1975). There are also 2 tracks on the CD that don't appear on any of the 3 LP's, Blue Magic's 'Just Don't Want To Be Lonely' and 'Supernatural Thing' by Ben E. King (which makes me wonder if there was actually a 4th album that I'm unaware of).

My advice would be to definitely buy the CD, but also try to get hold of the vinyl if possible.

See the man live with Otis Redding:

Big thanks for posting this

Otis is my favourite singer and I've got quite a bit of footage of him, but have never seen this. It's from the Stax Volt tour in '67 (I've got a recording of Rosko introducing the acts). My older brother got to see him on this tour - I'm still extremely envious to this day! There's film footage of one of the dates on the 'Remebering Otis' video, but it's not the same show as the clip you've posted (it's also in b/w, whereas this is in colour).

[Videoskooter]

Greg, thx for the additional info: I've tracked the sleeves, but 1 is missing! I can clearly (very clearly) remember a sleeve with a parrot and a text balloon R-O-S-K-O (and no, it's not Monthy Python, the parrot is alive). Which one is that? Could it be that he made a Disco compilation at the end of the 70's?????

[Greg Wilson]

Greg, thx for the additional info: I've tracked the sleeves, but 1 is missing! I can clearly (very clearly) remember a sleeve with a parrot and a text balloon R-O-S-K-O (and no, it's not Monthy Python, the parrot is alive). Which one is that? Could it be that he made a Disco compilation at the end of the 70's?????

Done a bit of research and, yes, there is a fourth album - the one you mentioned with the parrot on the cover. I'm presuming it's another Atlantic Soul comp, which includes the 2 tracks from the CD I mentioned that aren't on the 3 albums I have (Blue Magic and Ben E. King).

If you come across it let me know.

[DISCODISK]

i have this 4th album, yes its atlantic stuff a mixture of old and new really cant remember whats on it but i do remember darrell banks angel baby is on it:icon_cool:

[Videoskooter]

This is just great stuff, heavy nostalgia 4 the Brit jocks on this board

:icon_mrgreen:

Just4fun

[Videoskooter]

And the Emperor is still groovin'. This was recorded last Friday:

Russ, you gotsta to book the man for one of your clubnights!!!!

Soul Survivors

[Chala]

The Rosko that I heard in the 1970s was a Black radio DJ for WKTU-FM (Disco 92) in New York City. He was also a poet and released one record called Desiderata on Prelude Records where he just talks over the music about being the best you can be. He had a very distinctive voice, but passed away some time back.

The Rosko us New Yorkers and Californians remember most is "Hello This is Roscoe" William Roscoe Mercer. He died of cancer in 2000. Those of you who are interested his entire bio is chronicled in a myspace page. He had a very distinguished voice, listen to it.
MySpace.com - Rosko Mercer (Official Rosko Site) - NEW YORK, New York - Funk - www.myspace.com/roskomercer

[Videoskooter]

Chala, thx for that link as I know that sometimes there's confusion on this board when we talk about Rosko and most of the Americans think it's about the famous US Radio jock!

As I'm not that familiar with him it's great to discover this personality too.

[Chala]

Chala, thx for that link as I know that sometimes there's confusion on this board when we talk about Rosko and most of the Americans think it's about the famous US Radio jock!

As I'm not that familiar with him it's great to discover this personality too.

Glad to help Videoskooter, if you get a chance listen to him, his voice is so cathartic and soothing.

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

The Rosko us New Yorkers and Californians remember most is "Hello This is Roscoe"...

Oh yes... That deeeeep voice! And I remember, when he was on WBLS, his theme was the saxaphone solo from "No One Has Wanted, More Than I Want You", from Phyllis Hyman's 1st LP.

I've got goose-bumps. Thanks, CHALA for bringing that memory back to me.

[Videoskooter]

Oh yes... That deeeeep voice!

I think this is the man himself:

[Chala]

Oh yes... That deeeeep voice! And I remember, when he was on WBLS, his theme was the saxaphone solo from "No One Has Wanted, More Than I Want You", from Phyllis Hyman's 1st LP.

I've got goose-bumps. Thanks, CHALA for bringing that memory back to me.

Anytime Stephen

[Chala]

I think this is the man himself:

Thats him skooter great job! That voice over with the soft music...lol...awesome!