Hunter Hancock

Biography

Hunter Dunagan Hancock (April 21, 1916 – August 4, 2004) was an American disc jockey regarded as the first in the Western United States to play rhythm and blues records on the radio, and among the first to broadcast rock and roll. He was born in Uvalde, Texas, and raised 90 miles (140 km) away in San Antonio. After schooling, he took on many jobs, including singing in a vaudeville troupe and a stint at a Massachusetts burlesque club. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 1940s he entered radio and was heard on the following stations there: KFVD (1947–1951), KFOX (1951–1954), KFVD/KPOP (1954–1957) and KGFJ (1957–1966). Inspired by local black record store owner John Dolphin of Dolphin's of Hollywood record shop, he called himself "Ol' H.H." He hosted several shows on different stations, often at the same time, including Harlem Holiday, Harlematinee, Huntin' With Hunter and the gospel show Songs of Soul and Spirit. Hancock became one of the emcees for the famed Cavalcade of Jazz concerts held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which were produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. starting with the fifth concert on July 10, 1949. He also emceed for the Cavalcade of Jazz concert held in San Diego at Lane Field on September 3, 1949. Hancock also wrote a column in the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper. Hancock continued to emcee until the fourteenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at the Shrine Auditorium on August 3, 1958. The final Cavalcade of Jazz concert was a tribute to the city's most prominent R&B disc-jockeys of the time as Charles Trammel, Huggy Boy (Dick Hugg) and Jim Randolph teamed up with Hancock for this event. Lionel Hampton, Big Jay McNeely, Dinah Washington, Betty Carter, Billy Eckstine, Jimmy Witherspoon, Louis Jordan, Nat "King" Cole, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Sam Cooke were just a few of the numerous artists that performed over the years at the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts. Hancock also appeared briefly on the L.A. CBS TV station, KNXT in 1955 with the Friday ni

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