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Doug “Jocko” Henderson was a man of many talents, and by all accounts, ahead of his time.
Best known as a legendary DJ who heralded the rise of rock and roll, he once ran for Congress and recorded several of his own albums. In the early 1980s, he was able to convince local educators that rap lyrics might be a good vehicle for learning.
Here’s the story of how Jocko partnered with the School District of Philadelphia to use rap to teach history.
For this week's Headline of Yore we travel back to June 3, 1980…when a famed Philadelphia DJ invented the template for Hamilton (kinda…maybe…).
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
From the Philadelphia Tribune:
"'Jocko' uses 'Rap and Rhythm' to Teach 7th Graders History"
Let's thread…#phled pic.twitter.com/71lPuMiJeA
So this headline is sort of an excuse to talk about Doug "Jocko" Henderson, a legend in the radio business.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
Jocko was a longtime DJ in New York and Philly (for WHAT and WDAS)
Calling himself the "Ace from Outer Space," he helped herald the early rise of rock and roll… pic.twitter.com/500NxRK6IW
People from @questlove to Billy Crystal have said that the way Jocko introduced songs — with a distinctive, rhyming cadence — influenced early hip hop.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
A YouTuber threaded together some of those intros.
They're works of art:https://t.co/ZW5VScgI8q
But Jocko didn't merely inspire hip hop…he *was* an early hip hop artist.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
He recorded some songs in the late 1970s.
This track, "The Rocketship," was recorded on the famed Philadelphia International label. It's wild…https://t.co/6yWGP47m9g
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Oh and while he was cutting these records….he also unsuccessfully ran for Congress.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
Jocko wore a lot of hats.
Anyway…
In 1980, Jocko worked *with* the School District of Philadelphia to develop a lesson plan that would use rap to teach history to Philly middle-schoolers.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
Here's one of the verses: pic.twitter.com/kEwy9br356
Jocko showed off his new pedagogical technique at Fitz-Simons Junior High.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
"Each and everyone of these pupils know this song by heart and have memorized the facts," Jocko told the Trib.
"I am hoping this method can be used and expanded throughout the school district." #phled
And this was NOT a one-off thing for Jocko.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
He really believed in rap as a teaching tool.
In 1985, Jocko promoted the idea of using rap to teach Black history. And even showed off his "Civil War Rap" pic.twitter.com/DwAhpmRVPh
And in 1993, Jocko's production company produced an entire set of cassette tapes full of educational raps.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
According to this Tribune article, the release earned the attention of Ed Bradley and @dionnewarwick.
Warwick apparently appeared in infomercials for the product! pic.twitter.com/7y71sQ6KSF
Obviously, educational rap did NOT change social studies forever
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) June 3, 2021
But given the success of a *certain* Broadway play that blends history and hip hop….
…maybe the Ace from Outer Space was onto something… #phled