Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Roberts, Rick, 1941-2013
- Abstract:
- Collection consists primarily of materials related to Roberts's work at KYOK-AM in the 1960s and '70s including images of KYOK sponsored events such as the "We Love You" concert and associated publicity materials, a beauty pageant, radio contests, and on-site broadcasts throughout Houston. Also included are photographs of KYOK radio personalities and staff as well as candid and publicity photographs of visiting R&B artists.
- Extent:
- 60 photographs (black & white ; 8 x 10 in.), 60 negatives (black & white ; 4 x 5 in.), and 1 Audiocassette (analog)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
Rick Roberts Collection, SC 88, Archives of African American Music and Culture, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
Claude 'Rick' Roberts, Jr. (1941-2013) was a well-known and highly respected black disc jockey and radio executive based in Houston, Texas, whose career spanned over four decades. While a sophomore at Worthing High School, Roberts won first prize in a radio talent contest sponsored by KYOK in 1958, which included a scholarship to the Texas Academy of Broadcasting. After graduating from Worthing in 1960, Roberts began working at KYOK, but eventually took a position at WBOK-AM in New Orleans before returning to Houston in 1967 to begin a 21-year stint as a morning drive disc jockey and later program director at KYOK.
While at KYOK, Roberts broke numerous new artists and songs and did interviews with big names such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Ike and Tina Turner. He was also heavily involved in community outreach and promoted the "We Love KYOK" concert series, beauty pageants, sock hops, and other community events. One of his innovations included setting up an RV as a mobile broadcasting station, allowing KYOK to do remote broadcasts all over Houston, which proved extremely popular with listeners and community members.
In the late 1980s, Roberts became program director of KTSU-FM and then general manager from 1992-1995 following the death of Bernard Walker. At KTSU, Roberts became one of the first African Americans to do live play-by-play sports broadcasts and did the announcing for the Texas Southern University basketball and Tiger football games along with George Nelson and Ralph Cooper.
Those influenced by Roberts's legacy include Ralph Cooper, Tommy Dee, Larry Hale, Michael Harris, Charles Hudson, Rick Lauderdale, Don Rosette, Don Sam, Ed Shannon, Detra Ward, and Rickey Williams among many others.
- Scope and Content:
Collection consists primarily of materials related to Roberts's work at KYOK-AM in the 1960s and '70s including images of KYOK sponsored events such as the "We Love You" concert and associated publicity materials, a beauty pageant, radio contests, and on-site broadcasts throughout Houston. Also included are photographs of KYOK radio personalities and staff as well as candid and publicity photographs of visiting R&B artists.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift from Rick Roberts on 1991 March 19.
- Processing information:
Processed by AAAMC staff. Completed in 2012.
- Arrangement:
Arranged in one series:
- Series 1: Photographs
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Use of time-based media materials (audio and video) may require production of listening or viewing copies.
Access to streaming audio, moving image, and full resolution digital image materials may currently be restricted to researchers who can authenticate with an IU account or who are physically present on campus. Remote streaming to individual researchers may be allowed with the completion of applicable forms.
For further information about access to online audiovisual materials, contact AAAMC staff at aaamc@indiana.edu.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Indiana Public Records Act (5-14-3-2 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which Indiana University assumes no responsibility.
Copyright is retained by the creators/authors of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. All requests for copying and publishing materials must be submitted in writing to the Archives of African American Music and Culture, and may require the written permission of the creator(s)/author(s) or donor(s).
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Rick Roberts Collection, SC 88, Archives of African American Music and Culture, Indiana University, Bloomington.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
Smith Research Center, Rooms 180-1812805 East 10th StreetBloomington, Indiana 47408-2601, United States
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
812-855-8547aaamc@indiana.edu