Jocko Henderson facts for kids

Douglas "Jocko" Henderson (March 8, 1918–July 15, 2000) was a famous American disc jockey, a person who plays music on the radio. He was also a businessman and an early leader in hip hop music.

Early Life

Jocko Henderson grew up in Baltimore, where both of his parents were teachers.

Blasting Off on the Radio Waves

Jocko started his radio career in 1952 in Baltimore. In 1953, he began broadcasting in Philadelphia.

He hosted a popular show called Jocko's Rocket Ship Show. This show was on radio stations in New York City and Philadelphia from 1954 to 1964. It was one of the first places where listeners could hear rock & roll music.

Jocko was known for his special way of talking on the radio. He used a rhythmic, fast-talking style with rhymes and street slang. This unique style was very popular with his listeners. He learned this way of talking from another DJ in Baltimore.

His show was broadcast in many cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, St. Louis, Detroit, Miami, and Boston. He continued to be a DJ until 1974. He also hosted concerts and a TV music show in New York.

What Was "Payola"?

In the 1950s and early 1960s, it was common for record companies to give gifts to disc jockeys. They did this so the DJs would play their songs on the radio. This practice was called "payola."

People started to worry that payola was unfair. It meant that songs might be played because of gifts, not because they were the best music. Jocko Henderson was given publishing rights to popular songs. However, he sold these rights to avoid any problems related to payola.

What Jocko Did Next

Later in his life, Jocko Henderson tried to become a politician. In 1978, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania, but he did not win.

He also made some early rap recordings. He continued to be a DJ on radio stations that played old songs into the 1990s. Jocko Henderson passed away in 2000 after battling cancer and diabetes.

Jocko's Music

Here are some of the songs Jocko Henderson recorded:

• "A little bit of everything" (around 1963)
• "Blast Off to Love" (around 1963)
• "Rhythm Talk" (Philadelphia International, 1979)
• "The Rocketship" (Philadelphia International, 1979)
• "Everybody's Uptight (Trying to Get Their Money Right)" (Sugar Hill Records, 1983)

See also

• Arthur Bernard Leaner
• Kool DJ Red Alert
• Bob Perkins
• Daddy-O Daylie
• Yvonne Daniels
• DJ Nat D.