Jack L. Cooper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack L. Cooper
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|---|---|
| Born |
Jack Leroy Cooper
September 18, 1888 |
| Died | January 12, 1970 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Radio presenter, broadcasting executive, vaudeville promoter and performer |
| Known for | First African-American DJ and innovator in US radio |
Jack Leroy Cooper (September 18, 1888 – January 12, 1970) was a very important person in American radio. He was the first African-American radio disc jockey, also known as a DJ. Many people called him "the undisputed patriarch of black radio in the United States." This means he was seen as the most important leader in radio for the Black community. In 2012, he was honored by being added to the National Radio Hall of Fame.
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Jack Cooper's Early Life
Jack Cooper was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was one of ten children in his family. When he was just ten years old, he left home to work in Cincinnati, Ohio.
As a teenager, Jack was very active. He was a successful boxer and also played baseball semi-professionally.
Starting in Show Business
By 1905, Jack Cooper began working in vaudeville. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts. He performed as a singer and dancer. He also started writing and producing his own shows. Soon, he had his own touring group with his first wife.
Jack managed at least two theaters for a group called the Theater Owners Booking Association (TOBA). He also began writing for newspapers in Memphis and Indianapolis.
Pioneering Black Radio
Around 1920, Jack Cooper moved to Chicago. He started writing theater reviews for a newspaper called Chicago Defender. At the same time, he wanted to get into the new world of radio.
First Radio Appearances
While working for the Defender in Washington, D.C., Jack got his first chance on the radio. He wrote and performed funny sketches on a station called WCAP.
He returned to Chicago in 1926. There, he came up with an idea for a new radio show.
The All-Negro Hour
Jack Cooper's new show was called The All-Negro Hour. It started on November 3, 1929, on station WSBC. At first, the show was on once a week. It featured live music and comedy sketches.
Over time, Jack made the show bigger and better. It became very popular with listeners. Businesses also wanted to advertise on his show. The All-Negro Hour continued until 1936. By the mid-1930s, Cooper was on WCAP for about nine and a half hours every week.
Innovations in Broadcasting
Jack Cooper was one of the first people to play gramophone records on the radio. He used his own record player to broadcast music. This included gospel music and jazz.
In 1938, he created another new show called Search for Missing Persons. This show helped listeners find family members they had lost touch with. He also started a mobile news team. They would go out and report on stories important to Chicago's Black community.
Jack Cooper's Impact and Legacy
By 1947, Jack L. Cooper had his own company, Jack L. Cooper Presentations. This company controlled about 40 hours of radio time each week. These shows were on four different stations in Chicago.
He helped many other African Americans become radio presenters. He was also among the first to broadcast live comments on Negro league baseball games. He made sure to share news that was important to the Black community. Jack also strongly supported youth groups, like the South Side Boy's Club.
Jack Cooper had a specific style on the radio. He used standard American English. He avoided using slang or playing certain types of music like urban blues. He wanted his shows to be a voice for well-educated African Americans. His style showed a desire for racial uplift and progress.
Jack Cooper stopped working in radio in 1959. He passed away in Chicago in 1970 when he was 81 years old. In 1975, a park in the West Pullman neighborhood was named Cooper Park to honor him.
