Jesse Coopwood facts for kids

Jesse Coopwood (born July 25, 1928 – died December 7, 2001) was an American jazz radio broadcaster. He was known for his smooth voice and long career on the radio.

A Voice on the Radio

Jesse Coopwood was often called "the perfect voice for radio." He was a popular radio personality in Gary, Indiana, for over 50 years! He played jazz music and hosted talk shows. During his long career, Coopwood worked at many different radio stations in Gary, including WMPP, WGRY, WWCA, and WLTH.

Helping Artists and Rights

Besides being on the radio, Jesse Coopwood also helped create music. He worked as a producer for Chance Records, helping jazz artists record their songs. A music producer helps guide the recording process to make sure the songs sound great.

Coopwood was also a civil rights activist. This means he worked to make sure all people had equal rights and were treated fairly, no matter their background. His important work for civil rights is even kept in the archives of The Civil Rights History Project at the Library of Congress, which is a very important place for historical records.

The Jackson 5's First Win

Jesse Coopwood played a special part in the early days of the famous music group, The Jackson 5. He was the host, or emcee, of the very first talent show they ever competed in. The Jackson 5 won first place! A newspaper picture of them winning, with Jesse Coopwood, was even shown on the back cover of the program for Michael Jackson's memorial service years later.

His Later Years

Jesse Coopwood passed away in 2001 in Gary, Indiana, when he was 73 years old. He is remembered for his voice on the radio, his work in music, and his efforts for civil rights.