Renny Roker (September 6, 1942 – December 20, 2022) was an American actor, sports and music promoter, and youth sports advocate credited for helping raise the profile of BMX racing in the United States.
In 1978, Roker created the JAG BMX World Championship.
Roker also founded several record labels with his brother Wally Roker in the 1970s. As a record and concert promoter, he worked with such bands and performers as Kiss (helping them achieve platinum album status for Destroyer), Donna Summer, and The Commodores. For a time, he was head of Casablanca Records's Black music division.Palm Coast / Ormand Beach Observer; June 2, 2012, "Donna Summer promoter remembers old times"
His acting career sparked after Nat King Cole introduced Roker to film director Otto Preminger, who cast him in a small part in 1968's Skidoo. Roker went on to a recurring role that year on the TV sitcom Gomer Pyle, a featured turn as a detective on ABC's short-lived comedy Nobody's Perfect (1980), and five episodes as attorney Byron Brown on Hill Street Blues. He also had starring roles in two films from groundbreaking Black film director Horace Jackson: 1974's Tough and Deliver Us From Evil.
Background Roker was born in New York City on September 6, 1942.GigMasters, Inc. - Renny Roker He also lived in South Carolina, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico before retiring in Florida.
He had acting aspirations from the age of ten. He studied drama, speech and broadcasting at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, earning money as an award-winning D.J. in his spare time.The Indianapolis Recorder, Saturday July 9, 1977 - Page 11 Actor's Life Diversified
His work organizing the JAG BMX racing championships ended in 1986, though he returned to promoting the sport in 2010.BMXNews.com, September 11, 2010 - Interview: Renny Roker Talks About Jag Race
Roker's daughter, Sineta Roker, auditioned for American Idol in 2007. Their distant family includes Al Roker, actress Roxie Roker, and performer Lenny Kravitz.Daytona Times, March 3, 2016 - An update on actress with local ties - Jeroline D. McCarthy
Roker's book Positivity: Your Key To Success, a mix of life advice and memoir, was published in 2015.Patch Media, Jul 14, 2015 - Entertainment, TV/Film and Sports Trailblazer Renny Roker Releases New Book "POSITIVITY By Ivan Thomas
Roker died in Florida on December 20, 2022, at the age of 80.
Film and television career Roker's first professional acting role came at the age of 15 with a recurring part in Recuerdos de Maria, a Puerto Rican soap opera (he played one of Maria's neighbors).The Indianapolis Recorder, Saturday July 9, 1977 - Page 11 Actor's Life Diversified
From the late 1960s through the mid 1980s, he guest-starred in episodes of such TV hits as Julia, Mission: Impossible, The Mod Squad, and director Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories. His final role was as Lieutenant Galey in the 1999 TV movie Kidnapped in Paradise, directed by Rob Hedden.Turner Classic Movies - Kidnapped in Paradise(1999)
Music career After graduating college in Puerto Rico, Roker worked in New York as national promotion director of K.C. Records. From there, he was a freelance promoter for several acts, including The Exciters, The Cadillacs, Theola Kilgore, and Wilson Pickett. In June 1962, Liberty Records announced that he was appointed to national R&B promo-sales representative, headquartered in the label's east coast office.
Roker Records, which Renny ran with his brother Wally, released singles from 1969 to 1971, including songs by The Four Monitors, Irma Thomas, Swamp Dogg, The Whispers, and Gloria Lynne.45Cat - Roker - Label Discography By March 1970, their Roker Record Group was operating not just the Roker label, but also the RRG, Soulclock and Stardom labels.Billboard, December 5, 1970 - Page 73 Rokers Switch Label's Name
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.Billboard, September 9, 1972 - Page 16 Swamp Dog's 'Stone' 45 Spurs Anti-Drug DriveBillboard, May 27, 1972 - Page 40 Soul, Soul Sauce, BITS AND PIECES
In the late 1970s he was president of R&B Productions, which was based in Los Angeles.Billboard, November 17, 1979 - Horizons 12 BLACK MUSIC: Time to Translate Creative to Corporate Power? By DAVE DEXTER JR. Also in the late 1970s, he organized the First Funk Fest in Soldier Field, Chicago, an event that was attended by 70,000.Billboard, September 30, 1978 - Page 43 Radio Station Must Go All-Out In Concert Tie-Ins ... Or Else
Youth sports advocacy 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.CNN.com Transcripts, Aired August 12, 2002 - CNN LIVE TODAY, Interview with Renny Roker (Interviewed by Leon Harris) 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.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
Owner/founder of Jag BMX bicycles, Roker arranged for a BMX race to be featured in an episode of the 1970s TV series CHiPs. He was inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame in 2023.
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 IMDb - Renny Roker, Filmography The Ballad of Billie Blue Al Ken Osborne 1972 Turner Classic Movies - The Ballad of Billie Blue(1972) 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 ShortIMDb - Renny Roker, Filmography
References
External links Imdb: Renny Roker EURweb.com: Entertainment & Sports Trailblazer, Renny Roker Releases New Book ‘Positivity’