Frank Ski facts for kids

Frank Rodriguez, professionally known as Frank Ski (born May 9, 1964), is an American DJ, journalist, philanthropist, radio personality, and public forums host. He also was a Baltimore club and house music artist who recorded as solo, as well as a part of the group 2 Hyped Brothers & a Dog in the 1990s. From 1998 to 2012, and again from 2017 to January 2019, he was the host of the Frank and Wanda Morning Show alongside co-host Wanda Smith on the Atlanta urban contemporary radio station WVEE. He now hosts another morning show called The Morning Culture alongside Jade Novah and J.R. Jackson.

Biography

Career highlights

In 2002, Reverend Jesse Jackson awarded Ski the title of "Journalist of the Year" by the Rainbow Push Coalition.

After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Ski spearheaded a fundraising movement to help the victims. He raised $500,000 to support the causes of Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry and Homeless and Metro Atlanta Respite & Development Services.

Ski hosts the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. The Walk is a partnership between the Trumpet Awards Foundation and the National Park Service. It was created in 2004 to give recognition to civil rights leaders who promote justice and equality.

In 2009, he finished second (to Neal Boortz) in an unscientific ajc.com poll for the most obnoxious Atlanta radio personality.

Ski had a lengthy career as a radio personality and record producer in the Baltimore radio market. He was also one of the pioneers of Baltimore club music at V-103-Baltimore (1988–1996) and at WERQ Baltimore (1996–1998), before moving to Atlanta in 1998. He recorded songs with "Miss Tony," a club-track vocalist who performed as a gay man at hip-hop parties.

Awards and recognition

• Rainbow Push Coalition, Reverend Jesse Jackson (2002)
• Georgia March of Dimes, Achievement in Radio Award (A.I.R.)
• National Urban League, Atlanta Chapter; Distinguished Community Service Award (2007)
• Ludacris Foundation, Community Service Award, 2008
• 11 Alive Community Service Award (2009)
• Mentioned by Uganda Musician Ritah Kigozi in her song "Twandibadewo" (3:23-3:25)

Frank Ski Kids

The Frank Ski Kids Foundation is an Atlanta area organization created by Ski in 2000. Its mission statement is "exposing kids to their future through science, technology, athletics, and the arts".

The foundation hosts a yearly Youth Bowl football competition. It gives young people the opportunity to travel abroad on excursions that support the foundation's science, technology and art programs and organizes a yearly trip to the NASA Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. There have also been excursions to the Galapagos Islands (2007), the Amazon rainforest (2008) and an international artistic enrichment trip to Florence, Italy (2009).

Studio albums

• Ya Rollin' Doo Doo (with 2 Hyped Brothers & a Dog) (1991)
• Frank Ski Club Trax (1992)

Singles

• "Doo Doo Brown" (with 2 Hyped Brothers & a Dog) (1991)