Renny Roker

Renny Roker
Born (1942-09-06) September 6, 1942
New York City, New York, United States
Nationality American
Occupation Actor, record label executive
Years active 1960s to present

Renny Roker is a promoter and actor. As a promoter, he has been involved in both music and sport. He also ran various record labels with his brother Wally Roker in the 1970s. As an actor his career which really started in the 1960s has carried on through to the 2010s.

Background

Roker was born on September 6, 1942 in New York City, New York.[1] He has lived in places as diverse as South Carolina, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. He had acting aspirations from the age of ten. He went to college in Puerto Rico ands majored in drama and speech. While he was in his teens he won a D.J. contest and that enabled him to work in that field through his junior and senior college years.[2] As an actor, Roker made history of sorts by being the first African American to have a role in the television comedy Gomer Pyle.[3] He was heavily involved in the promotional side of BMX racing and left it in the early 1980s but returned to it around 2010.[4] He is also related to Al Roker, and actress Roxie Roker.[5]

In 2015, his book Positivity was published.[6]

Film and television career

His earliest role was at the age of around fifteen. He landed a small recurring part in Recuerdos de Maria, a Puerto Rican soap opera where he played one of Maria's neighbors.[7]

He played the part of Detective Galey in the 1999 film Kidnapped in Paradise which was directed by Rob Hedden.[8]

Filmography

Film
Title Role Director Year Notes #
Skidoo Prison guard Otto Preminger 1968
Terror in the Sky Phone operator Bernard L. Kowalski 1971 Made for television
Melinda Dennis Smith Hugh A. Robertson 1972 [9]
The Ballad of Billie Blue Al Ken Osborne 1972 [10]
The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat Robert Taylor 1974 Voice
Tough Phil Horace Jackson 1974 Also assistant to the producer
Sky Heist Lee H. Katzin 1975
Joey Chris Townes Horace Jasckson 1975
Brothers Lewis Arthur Barron 1977
And Baby Makes Six Mailman Waris Hussein 1979 Made for television
Honky Tonk Freeway Sheriff John Schlesinger 1981
Mysterious Two Williams Gary Sherman 1982 Made for television
The Versace Murder Barnie Rogers Menahem Golan 1998
Kidnapped in Paradise Lieutenant Galey Rob Hedden 1999 Made for television
Technopolis Nathan Andre Dixon 2015 Short[11]

Music career

He ran Roker Records with his brother Wally. The label released singles from 1969 to 1971. It released singles by The Four Monitors, Irma Thomas, Swamp Dogg, The Whispers and Gloria Lynne.[12] Around March 1970, he and his brother formed Canyon Records. It was reported in the December 5, 1970 issue of Billboard that due to the name conflicting with a similar company in Denver, they were changing it. At that time under their Roker Record Group, they operated the RRG, Roker, Soulclock and Stardom record labels.[13]

In 1972, Roker and Swamp Dogg were set to appear on TV show Target, which was broadcast on WPVI-TV in Philadelphia. Their two appearances were connected to the release of the single "Sam Stone" which tells of the plight of a Vietnam Vet who returns home with a heavy drug habit. The single was released through Cream Records which Roker was connected with.[14][15]

In the late 1970s he was president of R&B Productions, which was based in Los Angeles.[16] Also in the late 1970s, he organized the First Funk Fest in Soldier Field, Chicago, an event that was attended by 70,000.[17]

Sport

Roker co-founded Teens on the Green, an organization that originally started out addressing the issue of minority youngsters who were dropping out of the game. Also providing them access to the more prestigious golf venues.[18] Some of the teens who have gone through the program have gone to play in other countries, in college and according to Roker, some have played in the LPGA.[19]

References

  1. ↑ GigMasters, Inc. - Renny Roker
  2. ↑ The Indianapolis Recorder, Saturday July 9, 1977 - Page 11 Actor's Life Diversified
  3. ↑ Daytona Times, May 25, 2017 - Series of shows gives locals a taste of Broadway - Jeroline D. McCarthy
  4. ↑ BMXNews.com, September 11, 2010 - Interview: Renny Roker Talks About Jag Race
  5. ↑ Daytona Times, March 3, 2016 - An update on actress with local ties - Jeroline D. McCarthy
  6. ↑ Patch Media, Jul 14, 2015 - Entertainment, TV/Film and Sports Trailblazer Renny Roker Releases New Book "POSITIVITY By Ivan Thomas
  7. ↑ The Indianapolis Recorder, Saturday July 9, 1977 - Page 11 Actor's Life Diversified
  8. ↑ Turner Classic Movies - Kidnapped in Paradise(1999)
  9. ↑ Imdb - Renny Roker, Filmography
  10. ↑ Turner Classic Movies - The Ballad of Billie Blue(1972)
  11. ↑ Imdb - Renny Roker, Filmography
  12. ↑ 45Cat - Roker - Label Discography
  13. ↑ Billboard, December 5, 1970 - Page 73 Rokers Switch Label's Name
  14. ↑ Billboard, September 9, 1972 - Page 16 Swamp Dog's 'Stone' 45 Spurs Anti-Drug Drive
  15. ↑ Billboard, May 27, 1972 - Page 40 Soul, Soul Sauce, BITS AND PIECES
  16. ↑ Billboard, November 17, 1979 - Horizons 12 BLACK MUSIC: Time to Translate Creative to Corporate Power? By DAVE DEXTER JR.
  17. ↑ Billboard, September 30, 1978 - Page 43 Radio Station Must Go All-Out In Concert Tie-Ins ... Or Else
  18. ↑ CNN.com Transcripts, Aired August 12, 2002 - CNN LIVE TODAY, Interview with Renny Roker (Interviewed by Leon Harris)
  19. ↑ Palm Coast Observer, 11 Sep. 2016 - High grades, low scores: Green for Teens wants to assist students with their education and golf skills — for free by: Jeff Dawsey
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