About This Video
BMF organized a very accurate and impressive tribute to one of the greatest music industry conferences of all time, Jack the Rapper. “JACK THE RAPPER” is an iconic name, coined, developed, and made famous by the legendary radio and media pioneer Jack “The Rapper” Gibson. Jack commenced his radio career in the late 1940s at Atlanta’s WERD, the first Black-owned and operated radio station in America.
Additionally, Jack served as the inaugural National Director of Promotions and Public Relations for Motown Records. Jack The Rapper is considered to be the father of Black Radio and pioneered the style of hip on-air announcing that many hosts like Daddy O, Jocko Henderson, and Frankie Crocker helped to popularize.
In 1977, Jack launched the first Jack The Rapper Family Affair convention for th
Background & Context
Man, Jack ‘The Rapper’ Gibson was a true pioneer in our industry. In a time of racial segregation, he started his career at WERD, the first black-owned radio station in the US. His contribution to the music industry is undeniable, and this tribute by BMF does him justice. The ‘Jack the Rapper’ conference was a linchpin event, nurturing the growth of many industry legends. We owe Jack a great deal, his innovative spirit is still alive in the industry today.
Key Takeaways
- Jack ‘The Rapper’ Gibson was a pioneer in the music and radio industry
- He started his career at WERD, the first black-owned radio station in the US
- He was instrumental in the promotion and public relations of music
- The ‘Jack the Rapper’ conference was key in the development of the music industry
- BMF’s tribute to Jack rightly acknowledges his substantial impact
About Kevin Ross
Kevin Ross is a music and broadcast industry veteran with more than
30 years of firsthand experience spanning radio programming, on-air
talent, record promotion, voice work, publishing, and digital media.
He has worked every side of the business — from the air studio to
the boardroom — and built one of the longest-running digital platforms
dedicated to Black radio and music industry coverage.
30 Plus Years In is where that experience lives on video.
