Jack Spector

Jack Spector was born on September 15, 1928, in New York.

He began working as a disk jockey in New York in 1961 at radio station WMCA, where he was a member of The Good Guys. He labeled himself Your Main Man Jake and usually closed his shows saying, "Look out street, here I come!"

In late December 1963, WMCA, with Spector, earned the distinction of being the first New York City radio station to play the Beatles' Capitol Records' single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (Outside New York, the single's broadcast debut is widely accepted to have occurred earlier at WWDC in Washington, D.C.) WMCA was keen on playing new product and breaking new hits, and consequently, Spector became associated with the radio station most credited for introducing Beatlemania - and the "British Invasion" musical movement - to New York City listeners.

Mr. Spector, is at WMCA some time in 1967. [ LISTEN ] (2:06)

WMCA would change formats away from Top 40 in just a few short years. But on this short, scoped aircheck, Jack still has the station cookin'.

Vik Venus

In 1969, while continuing to work as a DJ in New York, Spector released a single on Buddah Records under the name, "Vik Venus, Alias: Your Main Moon Man".

The single, "Moonflight", was a novelty "break-in" record in the style of Dickie Goodman. In it, a reporter asks the astronauts questions about a fictional "Achilles moon flight", with the responses taken from snippets of popular songs of the day. All response fragments used for this record were from previous hits on Buddah. The record peaked at #38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Good Guys meet the Beatles. Jack is in the back behind George and Ringo.

WMCA stated that..."Jack Spector is very New York: hard to type. He devours six newspapers a day and he dotes on the franks at Nathan's. He knows rarified mathematics and in the Brooklyn stickball league, he's know as a long ball hitter. Spector loves his city and sounds it. He thinks if he has a good time on WMCA, everyone else will, too. He does. It's catching."

WMCA moved to a talk format September 21, 1970, one day after the final top-40 broadcast. Spector stayed on as host of a sports talk show. In about 1971 Spector moved to WHN, then a vocal-based easy listening station. He remained for a while after WHN became a Country music station in 1973.

In 1974, Spector left WHN to go to WCBS-FM where he hosted a 1955-1964 based Oldies show called "The Saturday Night Sock Hop" and another regular weekend shift. He was also a full-time swing host there, filling in for various airstaffers over the years. In 1983, Cousin Brucie began doing every third Saturday night of the month.

WCBS-FM
1985

Spector remained at WCBS-FM until the Spring of 1985.

Later in 1985, Spector was at WNBC as the original host of "Sports Night", eventually replaced by Dave Sims. He went then to WPIX-FM, which was playing an adult contemporary format. Upon their change to NAC and soon after to smooth jazz, he became one of the first air personalities on CD 101.9. Spector also worked as an optician when he was not on the air.

Jack with fans in the 1960s.

Late in 1988, Spector left WQCD and joined the staff of WHLI at Hempstead, New York playing an Adult Standards format. That station began mixing in more rock and roll oldies by the early '90s. After a few Radio Greats Weekends at WCBS-FM, Jack Spector returned as a part-time swing announcer there in 1993 while working full-time at WHLI.

On March 8, 1994, shortly after starting a recording of Louis Prima's "I'm In The Mood For Love", he suffered an apparent heart attack and collapsed. Following a long silence after the song had finished, radio station employees ran into the studio and found Spector on the floor. Attempts to revive him failed. He was 65.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: New York Times, Wikipedia.