Saint Peter's Church in Midtown Manhattan has been the site of many memorials and celebrations-of-life for jazz musicians throughout the decades. Please join us for a celebration of the life and legacy of radio host and jazz producer, Rob Crocker on June 24.
This memorial is organized and funded by WBGO-FM with underwriting from the family of Rob Crocker, Saint Peter's Church, The Jazz Foundation of America, and Bob’s Your Uncle.
Streaming is available on Saint Peter's website and Facebook.
Robert Leon Crocker, affectionately known as “Radio Rob,” the oldest beloved son of Estelle and Philip Crocker, born in Brooklyn, New York (November 1, 1945), transitioned on March 7, 2024, at his home in New York City. He was 78 years old. A radio industry legend, Mr. Crocker held the distinction of being the longest-running disc jockey in the history of jazz radio in New York City. His smooth, distinctive voice was a mainstay for more than five decades on a variety of radio stations, both in New York City and abroad.
Rob’s career 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; as co-host of the Holland-based show "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" on Radio Free America. Later, he worked at the smooth jazz station CD101 before extending his radio experience to the Far East.
In the early 1990’s, Rob 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. In addition, Rob was the voice on satellite television for "Live At The Bluenote," the host and writer for "All That Jazz" on Space Shower TV, and part of the starting lineup of DJs for INTER-FM, Tokyo’s first one-man style FM radio station.
He lived in Japan for eight years before returning to NYC in 2000. In 2002, Crocker was asked to sit in for Kenny Washington at WBGO-FM. It wasn’t long before he was offered a regular spot on the jazz station where he worked until his passing.
Aside from his radio responsibilities, Crocker established himself as a record producer, having produced CDs such as “Alto Memories,” which featured Gary Bartz, Sonny Fortune, Kenny Barron, and Jack DeJohnette; “UK Underground” from Japanese alto saxophonist Malta; two CDs from Japan’s premier jazz vocalist and trumpeter Toku (whom Crocker discovered in Tokyo); “Philly Sounds” (with Randy Brecker, Jay Hoggard, Joe Ford, Uri Caine, Buster Williams, Nabaté Isles, and Grady Tate) and “Dread Rooster,” Babi Floyd’s reggae CD featuring Keith Richards on guitar.
The memorial begins at 6:30 p.m. and runs for two hours. There will be a reception at Bob's Your Uncle after the concert.
