R.I.P.: Pioneering NYC disco DJ Carlos De Jesus

Radio-Info.com reports one of New York"s pioneering DJs, Carlos De Jesus, died Monday, February 13. Along with Paco, Rosko, Freddie Colon, Joe Causi, Al Bandiero and others, De Jesus was part of the on-air team at WKTU "Disco 92.3" in the late '70s and early '80s, the New York Daily News reports. The original WKTU was among the first outlets to pull long-ruling top 40 WABC from the top of the ratings.

The Daily News says that De Jesus "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 WKTU"s PD, and also hosted the WABC-TV show "New York Hot Tracks,” which played dance videos with De Jesus announcing from different city clubs. De Jesus started in New York radio in the early 1970s at non-com WKCR (89.9 FM), where he was one of the pioneers in playing Latin music. He also worked at WBLS and WNJR.

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