The American Society of Composers, Authors
and Publishers (ASCAP) honored radio pioneer Hal Jackson
with the first-ever ASCAP Broadcaster Legend Award at
its 16th annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards celebration
at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The award
pays tribute to Jackson as an outstanding pioneer who
introduced millions of radio listeners to music by some
of the world’s most wonderful songwriters and
composers.
The wonderful synergy between ASCAP and
radio has helped promote many talented songwriters and
artists, and over the 60 years that he’s been
on the air, Jackson has helped promote important post-war
era artists like Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn,
as well as many other early R&B and doo-wop stars.
During his days hosting live remote concerts at the
Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey, Jackson featured
hot Motown acts like Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight
and the Pips.
Jackson was the first African-American
radio announcer in network radio; the first African-American
host of a jazz show on the ABC network; the first African-
American to host an interracial network television show
on NBC-TV; and in Spring 1980, Jackson was the first
African-American inducted into the National Association
of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 1999 Jackson celebrated
60 years in broadcasting, and continues to be heard
on New York’s WBLS Radio.
On receiving the award, Hal Jackson commented:
“This was one of the greatest nights of my life.
It was such an honor to receive this wonderful award
from ASCAP and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to
meet and share this experience with so many songwriters
and publishers. I can’t find the words to thank
ASCAP for presenting me with this very special honor.”
“Over his long career Jackson accomplished
many “firsts” that have paved the way for
other aspiring African-American broadcasters, musicians
and performers,” said Vincent Candilora, ASCAP
Senior Vice President of Licensing. “It is fitting,
therefore, that Jackson be the first to be honored with
the ASCAP Broadcaster Legend Award.”
ASCAP is a membership association of over
155,000 composers, songwriters and music publishers
of all genres of music. ASCAP members are the dominant
creative force in music. ASCAP songwriters secured 100%
of the Top Ten Hot Rap Singles, and 90% of the Top Ten
R&B/Hip Hop singles and airplay based on Billboard’s
2002 year-end charts. The world’s largest performing
rights organization, ASCAP protects the rights of its
members by licensing and collecting royalties for the
public performance of their copyrighted works. ASCAP
is the only member-owned performing rights organization
with a Board of Directors made up solely of writers
and publishers elected by the membership.
