The New York Amsterdam has confirmed that Hal Jackson, 97, passed away today due to illness, more information to come.
WBLS Biography – Who is Hal Jackson? Mr. Jackson is a popular radio and television personality and one of the most respected men in the communications industry. As a radio pioneer, Jackson has experienced many “firsts” that have assisted in opening doors for other aspiring Black broadcasters, musicians and performers.
What has Hal Jackson accomplished in his 70 years in the communications industry? He was the first Black radio announcer in network radio; the first Black host of a jazz show on the ABC network; the first Black play by play sports announcer on radio in the country; the first Black to host an interracial network television show on NBC-TV; the first person to broadcast from a theater live; organized and owned the first Black team to win the World’s Basketball championship; the first Black host of an international network television presentation; was instrumental in acquiring the first radio station owned and operated by Blacks in New York City; the first to broadcast live from New York into Japan; the first New York City radio personality to broadcast three daily shows on three different stations in the same day; the first to broadcast live via satellite from Jamaica into New York and currently hosts a radio program which has been rated #1 by Arbitron continuously in its time slot for over 11 years on 107.5 WBLS in New York.
For full biography see: wbls.com