Emperor Rosko
Encyclopedia
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. Along with fellow DJ Dave Lee Travis
he launched the first mobile discothèque, the Rosko International Roadshow. Rosko is still active in Los Angeles performing as a DJ at parties under his Rosko Party Productions label.
Round about 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
, too.
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
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.
He has since been heard on the Classic Gold
network and REM.FM, his programme being pre-recorded in California
. He is currently running Rosko Radio, his own soul station with UK soul DJ Rob Jones.
Rosko also broadcasts a programme called "The LA Connection" from his studios in California, which can be heard in the UK every Sunday at 4pm on 96.5 Bolton FM
and across Europe on several stations including Central FM in southern Spain, and Radio Ayia Napa in Cyprus.
He also does a show at Forest FM Verwood
, Dorset
on a Saturday from 12:00-14:00pm, as well as Saturday nights on Vixen101
, East Yorkshire. On 11 April 2009 he presented a three hour show within a BBC-sponsored commemorative broadcast from the lightship LV18 berthed at Harwich. Since 1st September 2011, Rosko has presented a two hour Breakfast Show on Covent Garden Radio every Sunday morning and sydicated his country music show to the station.
In December 2009 Rosko released the first of his 'radio show' series for the Boisdale restaurants, sponsored by Glenfarclas. The series kicked off with a Christmas holiday special, which can be heard playing at the restaurants over the festive period.
It is thought that he was the inspiration for the character "The Count" in the 2009 film The Boat That Rocked
, known as Pirate Radio in the United States.
Born Michael Joseph Pasternak, he is the son of Hollywood film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
Joe Pasternak
Joe Pasternak
thumb|right|250px|Pasterrnak receiving his star on [[Hollywood Boulevard]] from [[Johnny Grant |Johnny Grant]] with [[Gene Kelly]] on the left on July 29, 1991....
. He was influenced in his career choice by KYA Radio Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
DJs Lord Tim Hudson
Lord Tim Hudson
Lord' Tim Hudson , was an English DJ in Los Angeles for KFWB during the 1960s, and was the manager of The Seeds and The Lollipop Shoppe...
and Wolfman Jack
Wolfman Jack
Robert Weston Smith, known commonly as Wolfman Jack was a gravelly voiced US disc jockey who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early career:...
. 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
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and hosted sponsored programmes in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
He joined Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
, 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
Radio Monte Carlo
Radio Monte Carlo is the name of six radio stations owned and managed by three different entities:*RMC Info is a French-speaking station, broadcasting in France and Monaco from Paris with some contributions from Monaco. Radio Monte-Carlo was one of 23 founding broadcasting organisations of the...
and Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (French)
Radio Luxembourg - 1933-1939 and 1951- is the name of a Long Wave commercial radio station that began broadcasting from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1933 as a daytime and evening service in the French language from Monday to Saturday and until 12 Noon on Sundays.The station closed down at the...
.
Rosko compered the Stax/Volt Tour of Europe in 1967 and can be heard introducing Booker T. & the M.G.'s
Booker T. & the M.G.'s
Booker T. & the M.G.'s is an instrumental R&B band that was influential in shaping the sound of southern soul and Memphis soul. Original members of the group were Booker T. Jones , Steve Cropper , Lewie Steinberg , and Al Jackson, Jr....
, The Mar-Keys
The Mar-Keys
The Mar-Keys, formed in 1958, were an American studio session band for the Stax label from Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1960s. As the first house band for the label, their backing music formed the foundation for the early 1960s Stax sound.-Career:...
, Carla Thomas
Carla Thomas
Carla Thomas is an American singer, who is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul. She is the daughter of Rufus Thomas.-Childhood:...
, Eddie Floyd
Eddie Floyd
Eddie Lee Floyd is an American soul/R&B singer and songwriter, best known for his work on the Stax record label in the 1960s and 1970s and the song "Knock on Wood".-Biography:...
, Sam & Dave
Sam & Dave
Sam & Dave were an American soul and rhythm and blues duo who performed together from 1961 through 1981. The tenor voice was Samuel David Moore , and the baritone/tenor voice was Dave Prater .Sam & Dave are members of...
, and Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
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
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
, 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
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
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
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
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. Along with fellow DJ Dave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis , also known professionally as DLT and the Hairy Cornflake, is a British radio presenter, best known for his career on BBC Radio 1.-Early life:...
he launched the first mobile discothèque, the Rosko International Roadshow. Rosko is still active in Los Angeles performing as a DJ at parties under his Rosko Party Productions label.
Round about 1975, he briefly hosted Crackerjack on BBC TV with Little & Large
Little and Large
Little and Large were a British comedy double act comprising straight man Syd Little and comic Eddie Large . They formed their partnership in 1962, appearing as singers in local pubs around the North-West of England...
. During that year, he also presented a few editions of Top Of The Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, too.
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
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
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
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
1215 in April 1993.
He has since been heard on the Classic Gold
Classic Gold Digital Network
Classic Gold Digital Network was one of the biggest 'gold' formatted radio networks in the United Kingdom, with a potential audience of 47 million. Classic Gold was broadcast on analogue and DAB digital platforms, as well as Sky channel 0189.-History:...
network and REM.FM, his programme being pre-recorded in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He is currently running Rosko Radio, his own soul station with UK soul DJ Rob Jones.
Rosko also broadcasts a programme called "The LA Connection" from his studios in California, which can be heard in the UK every Sunday at 4pm on 96.5 Bolton FM
96.5 Bolton FM
96.5 Bolton FM is a Community Radio station based in Bolton, UK. Its studios are located at Office 6, Ashburner Street Market, Bolton.96.5 Bolton FM launched at 11am on 20 June 2009 at the One Bolton Festival launch event located Victoria Square, Bolton....
and across Europe on several stations including Central FM in southern Spain, and Radio Ayia Napa in Cyprus.
He also does a show at Forest FM Verwood
Verwood
Verwood is a town and civil parish in Dorset, England. The town lies north of Bournemouth and north of Poole. The town has a population of 14,820 according to latest figures from Dorset County Council, making it the largest town in Dorset without an upper school in terms of population.-Early...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
on a Saturday from 12:00-14:00pm, as well as Saturday nights on Vixen101
Vixen FM
Vixen 101 is a community radio organisation based in the town of Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, England....
, East Yorkshire. On 11 April 2009 he presented a three hour show within a BBC-sponsored commemorative broadcast from the lightship LV18 berthed at Harwich. Since 1st September 2011, Rosko has presented a two hour Breakfast Show on Covent Garden Radio every Sunday morning and sydicated his country music show to the station.
In December 2009 Rosko released the first of his 'radio show' series for the Boisdale restaurants, sponsored by Glenfarclas. The series kicked off with a Christmas holiday special, which can be heard playing at the restaurants over the festive period.
It is thought that he was the inspiration for the character "The Count" in the 2009 film The Boat That Rocked
The Boat That Rocked
The Boat That Rocked is a 2009 British comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis, with pirate radio in the United Kingdom during the 1960s as its setting. The film has an ensemble cast featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, and Kenneth Branagh...
, known as Pirate Radio in the United States.