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Disco Music > Disco People Index > In Memory Of > Frankie Crocker
Frankie Crocker
(1937-2000)
Frankie Crocker (1937-2000)
Known in the New York radio market as the "Chief Rocker" Frankie Crocker. Crocker was the DJ and program director responsible for putting Black owned WBLS-FM on the map during the 1970's & 80's. Crocker died of pancreatic cancer in October 2000.
Frankie Crocker was best known for ending his radio show with King Pleasure's (?) song "Moody's Mood for Love," which featured the lyrics, "There I go..."
(Color photo on right of Frankie Crocker and Ken W. submitted by AsIDo 2.)
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COMMENTS ON Frankie Crocker
Thank You Frankie!!! for so many nights hanging out on the block on West 96 Street while getting down to WBLS and their disco jams.
I was a Frankie Crocker dvotee for all of the 1970s. Still the best radio deejay I've ever heard.
There were many great DJ's back in the day in NYC, particularly in the 1960's. The Late Hal Atkins, Jack Walker, and Murray The K; etc. Frakie Crocker was young, brash, full of sass, and immedialtly became a ledgend along with these great men. He'll never be forgotten.
I think we all had our radios tuned to WBLS ("The World's Best Looking Sound") during Frankie's reign. I've had the pleasure to meet a singer in CT who can do justice to the (I think) James Moody tune that Crocker always ended his program with ("There I go, there I go..."). Crocker was a singular person, but he had the advantage of having at his disposal some of the best R&B, Soul and Disco records ever cut.
I had a cookout this weekend and the talk turned to Frankie. We told stories of how Frankie was it. Like he said if your Frankie was not on your radio, your radio was not on. I have not had a feeling for radio since he left the scene. He had a powerful impact not only on the industry but with his listeners as well. " Frankie please don't go" Ooh Hollywoood"
The Best
Hello; I am looking for a recording of "There I go..." - the original one, whomever the artist was who sang it at the end of Frankie Crocker's radio show, in NY, many years ago. Can someone help me? Thanks.
The name of that song is "Moody's Mood for Love" I believe. I don't know the artist but I hope that helps.
Frankie Crocker was best known for ending his radio show with King Pleasure's song "I'm in the Mood for Love" (aka"Moody's Mood for Love"), which featured the lyrics, "There I go..." Various artists have done this song so double-check before buying it.
Frankie Crocker was the best radio DJ! He wanted to educate his listeners. He would go to London and bring back the best R&B, dance, pop or the combination of all them. He played the Go-Go-s and the Police, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Junior(Mama Used to Say fame), Kajagoogoo (Too Shy) and Talking Heads (Once in a Lifetime) during his set. He made me love Moodys Mood for Love by King Pleasure and the George Benson remake in 1980. If I have not heard the original song, I would not have been able to sing along with the George Benson with Patti Austin version.
Thank you brother, Black Radio and I miss you.
Elsewhere in this marvelous site there's an entry for Arthur Prysock. A number of real old-time blues and R&B performers had worked my club (the youngest I believe was 75). They confirmed that King Pleasure wrote "I'm In The Mood For Love" and that Prysock first performed it right here in Hartford, Connecticut. Queen Latifah did a wonderful cover of it on "The Dana Owens Album," which I was playing during the break, and that's how we got to talking about it. Looking above at the post by hkmsyr33 and all of those songs -- Where is Junior now? -- make me long for the man who, if not on your radio, then "your radio really isn't ON!" And I'm a white boy.
TO FRANKIE,YOU WERE WBLS..GAVE ME,AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THE GIFT OF MUSIC..TILL WE MEET AGAIN YOUR FRIEND NOW AND ALWAYS DJ STEVE THE SAGA PEREZ...R.I.P.
Thanks Frankie! From the clubs in 60's while at WWRL to WBLS in the 80's . I knew you so well. Thanks for the good time and you help - anytome you neede to get into Studio 54 I was there to make it happen, even thou Steve Rubell did not like black. - Billy Smith (NYC)
FRANKIE,THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO THE BEST DJ IN NEW YORK HISTORY.I WAS ONE OF THOSE WHITE GUYS WHO ENJOYED LISTENING TO YOU EVERY AFTERNOON AT 4 P.M.NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT BY MAY YOU LIVE AS LONG AS YOU WANT,BUT NEVER WANT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE, MAY YOU LIVE TO BE 100,BUT ME 100 MINUS A DAY SO I NEVER KNOW NICE PEOPLE LIVE YOU HAVE PAST AWAY GOD BLESS
''This is the show that's bound to put more dip in your hip, more cut in your strut, more glide in your stride, and if you can't dig it, you know you gotta whole in your soul.......AND YOU DON'T EAT CHICKEN ON SUNDAY!" Frankie's lyrics and creative chacterizations RULED the airways when I grew up in Queens during the 60's. I really can't say that there was ANY dj before him or since who was as cool. Frankie please don't go. Don't leave!
I remember listening to WBLS on those hot, sweltering summer night in Hell's Kitchen, sitting with my friends inside the outdoor yard of Printing H.S with Frankie Crocker taking us on a musical journey.
WBLS. New York. # 1 When you hear /
To-To hey beep-beep/Holiday/These are the Good Times/Love Comes Down”/Bounce,Rock,Skate,Roll/Use to Be my Girl/Keep on/It’s a LoveThing…...
All happening now on WBLS. America best 107.5 FM “Frankie ‘it’s him my idol’ Crocker”…
Remeber:
(((W))) (((B))) (((L))) (((S))).
As a lover of radio from way back, Frankie Crocker was probably one of the first radio dj's that I knew of that had this rock star quality. He was sharp, the ladies loved him, and as a child, when I was out playing, and I heard ''there I go, there I go...'', I knew it was eight o'clock and time to go in the house. Even his name was cool.
There probably isn't a significant moment of my life growing up in Brooklyn that wasn't punctuated in some form or fashion by some song on the radio being played by Frankie Crocker. I grew up listening to Frankie and he orchestrated the soundtrack of my life. It's years later and I can still feel the pang of loss knowing that he's gone. I didn't even know the guy, but his voice and personality are an indelible part of my life.
I remember Frankie when he would visit the world famous Paradise Garage in New York. He would always greet my friend Reeni & I as he was going towards the DJ booth to see Larry Levan. I remember him always saying how georgeous we looked and what songs were pumpin' that night. He was a regular and metered all of the music by the crowd. Later that week, I could hear him filtering the music onto the airwaves and it was so surreal I guess because we were there from the musics' inception and watched the songs perculate throughout the R&B charts I guess we helped spearhead some very important music with our dancing LOVE YA FRANKIE MISS U MUCH
Major props to the "Chief Rocker" Frankie Crocker for providing urban NY with his sweet tones and sweeter music. Your phrases were tops and your fantastic end song, King Pleasure's "Moody's Mood" (still looking for the actual version from his show) was the perfect ending to what you were all about. RIP, bro.. see you when I'm 100 years old...
Frankie, thanks for the wonderful and cherished memories. Meeting and talking to you as I accompanied most of the black recording artists visiting your studio at the old "BLS" on Second Ave. You were always very pleasant with nice words and greetings. Very professional, I was a fan in the every sense of the meaning. "There I go , there I go, there I go.......". Yes, when you are not on my radio, my radio is not really on. You will always be Mr. Frankie Crocker, the "Chief Rocker.
W.B.L.S. 107.5 in Stereo, o, o, o!
The 4 O'clock slot was heard in every home and car back in the days!
Way Out - Steve Arrington
Funky Sensation - Gwen McCrae
These songs were just some of the highlights aired in the Paradise Garage and on his, radio show!
Words can't describe the loss from Radio of a personality whose sense was being heard!
R.I.P.
Moody's Mood For Love was a special recorded version for Frankie Crocker. I know this because i called the show once and talked to him about it. No other version was like the one that ended his show.
Frankie Crocker requested someone to make a special recording of King Pleasure's Moody's Mood for Love and sang it on his show. Who was the person?
I need to know the song that frankie played just before the there i go song. it was a combination of organ a horn, can you help?
I recently downloaded a version of Moody's Mood from iTunes. But it's definitely not the same version that Frankie played.
During the the 60's we'd stop playing basketball in the Wycoff Gardens housing projects, gather around any available radio and listen as Frankie Crocker signed off the air....Greatest radio personality that ever lived. Teddy Parker, Franklin K. Lane H.S. Class of 1970 E mail, Teddydwightt@a0l.com
i met and hung out with frankie on many occasions.frankie was the coolist of the cool.atrue masterand student of his trade.he gave joy..........
When I was growing up everytime I heard that song starting to play I knew I had to go home and check in. Because shortly there after the street lights came on. :-) You could set a watch to, lol, oh how I loved to hear that song. Thanks for telling me who the artist was. Great childhood memories, God speed to the Chief Rockah. <3 <3 <3
what was the name of the song that frankie crocker opened with where he did his opening rap part of it was sweeter than a candy wrapper and how can I lose with the stuff I use. can someone please tell me the name of the
song, it has an organ playing in the song.
Franki Crocker is still the best on air talanet that has ever rocked the mic. He, if you really think about it, was doing rap and spoken word poetry years and years before it would get famous. Who else could change woith the times like he did? No d.j. in the world had the touch that he had. It was theater, high art if you will. The man was simply the best.
wobc.org
"The Meeko Show-Free form radio"
Every Wenesday at 3;00 a.m.
internet raido
I miss you Frankie! As you use to say..."may you live to be 100, and me 100, but minus a day...so I will never know that such nice people like you have passed away."
Hey, This is Meeko Israel of the Meeko Show:FormFree Radio WOBC.org on the web @3pm till 5pm every Sunday...91.5 on your FM dail in Oberlin, Ohio. I think Frankie Crocker should be in the raido and T.V hall of fame. He was the best of the best at what he did. He freely gave his listerners joy, love and soul. There will NEVER be another such of him. Do y'all remember this "If Frankie Crocker isn't on your radio...well then your raido isn't really on"
Later,
Meeko Joseph Israel
Who would ever think that my childhood idol would be the one to plug me in here in NYC. Thanks for all the support, friendship and good times hanging out in the booth on Friday nights at The Paradise Garage. Truly a legend in his own time.
I'm trying to find the single by Frankie Crocker Hey Mr DJ. Is it availabe anywhere?
Thanks
As a teenager I first heard Frankie Crocker on WLIB FM. I loved his style his delivery and the way he introduced you to the music. Radio was special then because he was the star of the show. There will never ever be another jock like him in any generation I miss what he gave us and he will always be a part of me He is still my IDOL!
I must have been on a cloud to not find out till now that the main man of wbls had moved on with the man above.....you better beleive heaven is definitely jammin now........Be yourself or you might find yourself by yourself and that definitely aint no fun......My favorite........
Frankie Crocker was a friend of mine in the seventies. He hired me to play mixed sets that he played on friday and saturday nights. He would be welcomed at every club in NEW YORK, something few people can claim. A sharp dresser as well. GOD BLESS.
as one of the founding djs of the sixties from queens nu sounds i had thepleasure learning the art of playing andprograming his style helped shape mine so I keep putting a little more glide in my stride more pep in step more dip in my hip so i dont have a hole in my sole and i still chckin on sunday .
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