Emperor Rosko
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Mike Pasternak, better known by his stage name of Emperor Rosko (born December 26, 1942) is a well known pop radio presenter.
Born Michael Joseph Pasternak, he is the son of Hollywood film producer Joe Pasternak. He was influenced in his career choice by KYA Radio Los Angeles DJs Lord Tim Hudson and Wolfman Jack. Rosko's opportunity to broadcast came whilst in the US Navy where he presented a show on an aircraft carrier. He then went to Europe and hosted sponsored programmes in France and Belgium.
He joined Radio Caroline, a pirate radio station broadcasting from a ship off the coast of England, in 1964. There, his pacey American style soon made Rosko one of the station's best-loved DJs. He then was heard on French-language stations Radio Monte Carlo and Radio Luxembourg.
Rosko compered the Stax/Volt Tour of Europe in 1967 and can be heard introducing Booker T. & the M.G.'s, The Mar-Keys, Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Sam & Dave, and Otis Redding on the two-album set The Stax/Volt Tour in London, recorded at the Finsbury Park Astoria (later the Rainbow Theatre on 17 March 1967. It is Rosko who is heard introducing soul singer Otis Redding, as well as encouraging the crowd to chant and spell his name on Redding's album Live in Europe, recorded on March 17 and March 21, 1967.
As a disc jockey with Radio 1 at its launch in September 1967, Rosko initially recorded shows in France for the Midday Spin programme. On his first Midday Spin show, Rosko introduced himself with "I am the Emperor, the geeter with the heater, your leader, your groovy host from the West coast, here to clear up your skin and mess up your mind. It'll make you feel good all over." He highlighted the new Motown, reggae, and rock music.
John Dunn, BBC news presenter who followed Rosko's show, must have had some difficulty understanding Rosko's 'jive talk' when he announced "Now here is the news - in English!"
Rosko moved to the UK in 1968, so was heard live on Radio 1. From 1970 he presented the Friday Roundtable where new records were reviewed by a panel, and a Saturday lunchtime slot. He stayed with Radio 1 until September 1976, when he left for America to join his father, who was suffering from Parkinson's disease[1] Around 1975, he briefly hosted Crackerjack on BBC TV with Little & Large. During that year, he also presented a few editions of Top Of The Pops.
When Rosko returned to Europe, he was heard via recorded shows on Radio Luxembourg. In 1982 he returned to Radio 1 for a 13-week Sunday series of shows, and continued to broadcast at weekends on Radio 1 during the Summer for four years. In 1992 he helped celebrate the station's 25th birthday with a special broadcast, before joining Virgin Radio 1215 in April 1993.
[edit] References
- ^ Rosko, Emperor (1976). Emperor Rosko's DJ Book. Everest Books. p. 224. ISBN 0-903925-91-5. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/waffler/info.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- Armstrong, Roger. Otis Redding—Live in Europe liner notes; Stax/Volt; 2008.
