Deejay Carlos De Jesus, disco era legend and rap pioneer in NYC, is dead

[milven]

Deejay Carlos De Jesus, disco era legend and rap pioneer in NYC, is dead

By David Hinckley / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 6:59 PM

Carlos De Jesus, one of the brightest voices of radio’s disco era in New York, died Monday.

No further details were immediately available.

Along with Paco, Rosko, Freddie Colon, Joe Causi, Al Bandiero and others, De Jesus was part of the deejay team at WKTU, Disco 92.3, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The original WKTU for a time was the hottest station in the city, one of the first to topple long-ruling WABC from the top of the ratings.

De Jesus was known for a friendly, conversational style on the air, and an ear for music that was hot on the streets.

He is credited as one of the first DJs to play rap on a commercial station, spinning the Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” on WKTU. He later said he did it as a joke, but then got such a response that he knew something was happening.

He eventually became program director of WKTU.

He also hosted the WABC-TV show “New York Hot Tracks,” which played dance videos that had De Jesus announcing from different city clubs.

Colon posted a tribute on the New York Radio Message Board, saying, “You will always be remembered as one of the best there is, best there was and best that ever will be.”

De Jesus started in New York radio in the early 1970s at WKCR [[89.9 FM), where he was one of the pioneers in playing Latin music.

Besides WKTU, he worked at WBLS and WNJR.

J.I. Starr, his one-time colleague at WKTU who is now heard on WSKQ, said there will be a wake Thursday at Funeraria San Camilo, 253 Mount Prospect St., Newark, 9-11:30 a.m., with burial at St. Raymond Cemetery in the Bronx.

[SupremeBoy]

Deejay Carlos De Jesus, disco era legend and rap pioneer in NYC, is dead

By David Hinckley / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 6:59 PM

Carlos De Jesus, one of the brightest voices of radio’s disco era in New York, died Monday.

No further details were immediately available.

Along with Paco, Rosko, Freddie Colon, Joe Causi, Al Bandiero and others, De Jesus was part of the deejay team at WKTU, Disco 92.3, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The original WKTU for a time was the hottest station in the city, one of the first to topple long-ruling WABC from the top of the ratings.

De Jesus was known for a friendly, conversational style on the air, and an ear for music that was hot on the streets.

He is credited as one of the first DJs to play rap on a commercial station, spinning the Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” on WKTU. He later said he did it as a joke, but then got such a response that he knew something was happening.

He eventually became program director of WKTU.

He also hosted the WABC-TV show “New York Hot Tracks,” which played dance videos that had De Jesus announcing from different city clubs.

Colon posted a tribute on the New York Radio Message Board, saying, “You will always be remembered as one of the best there is, best there was and best that ever will be.”

De Jesus started in New York radio in the early 1970s at WKCR [[89.9 FM), where he was one of the pioneers in playing Latin music.

Besides WKTU, he worked at WBLS and WNJR.

J.I. Starr, his one-time colleague at WKTU who is now heard on WSKQ, said there will be a wake Thursday at Funeraria San Camilo, 253 Mount Prospect St., Newark, 9-11:30 a.m., with burial at St. Raymond Cemetery in the Bronx.

Definitely remember Carlos De Jesus and the whole KTU team back in the early to mid 80's in my pre-teen years. So sad to hear of his passing he and that station definitely made an impact.