R.I.P.: Rob Crocker, Longtime NYC Radio Personality

Rob Crocker (1946-2024)

Rob Crocker, who worked as a radio host at WBGO for more than three decades, died on March 7, 2024, at his home in New York City. He was 78 years old.

The cause of death, according to his family, was coronary disease and complications from asthma. Crocker had the singular distinction of being the longest-running disc jockey in the history of jazz radio in New York City.

Born in Brooklyn on November 1, 1945, Crocker was a musician in high school, but his life took a turn towards broadcasting when injuries, sustained in Vietnam, cut short his future as a performer. He started his broadcasting career as a programmer in Europe; Crocker co-hosted the Holland-based show "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for Radio Free America.

After returning to the U.S., he produced, reported the news, and hosted jazz programs for the Pacifica Network. New York area listeners are sure to recognize Crocker's voice as having hosted the best of jazz, fusion, Latin, R&B, and dance music on some of the city's most popular FM radio stations such as WRVR, WWRL, WBLS and KISS FM (whose pop audience Crocker introduced to jazz) as well as WQCD. He was also instrumental in returning to New York the captivating beat of Brazilian music during the ’70’s. Crocker initially joined WBGO in the early '80s as a host.

In the early 1990’s, he relocated to Tokyo where he worked as a disc jockey in the Tokyo market—at BAY-FM and FM Yokohama, hosting programs including "Night Ship," "Evening Jazz," and "Night Moves," the first live all-night radio program in the history of Japanese FM radio.

As the new century began, Crocker returned to New York City. He continued to do Sunday evening radio for INTER FM (New York Groove) from New York until Spring 2002 ,when he returned to WBGO in the New York market, as host of “Lights Out.”\