Percy Sutton:

Man of Influence
12/28, 2009
By Vetalle Fusilier

"He never stopped building bridges and laying the groundwork.  We are very glad to be the beneficiaries of his work."- Rev. Jesse Jackson

 The son of a slave was beaten by policemen for being “a nigger out of his neighborhood” while passing out NAACP brochures.  The son of a slave graduated college and law school, passed the bar and became the lawyer for Malcolm X.  The son of  a slave served in the New York State Assembly before taking over as Manhattan borough president in 1966.  He then was the highest-ranking black elected official in the state of New York.  The son of a slave gave our struggles, triumphs, and culture a voice through Inner City Broadcasting, The Amsterdam News and thru the 125th street home of our art.   We can thank the son of  slave for the continued operation of the Apollo Theater, forever-sacred ground.  Percy Sutton, wheeler, dealer, baller in what was a brand new game then, has passed. 

The son of a slave, product of a Texas upbringing became a pilot, when unable to become a veterinarian because they didn’t let his “kind” study veterinary medicine.  One of fifteen children, all college graduates, this true Prince of Harlem began acquiring New York radio stations in the 70”s, built the icons we know as WBLS and WLIB.  Inner City Broadcasting grew to own over 90 stations across the country.  Black radio today is imperiled, as is most radio, but its impact on our culture was tremendous, pervasive, and constant.

Chuck D black radio

WLIB and WBLS transmittex our culture to New Yorkers, its visitors, and its observers.  Every city has its jocks, DC had Petey Greene, Memphis had Rufus Thomas and WBLS has its Radio Hall of Famers, Hal Jackson and Wendy Williams, and swag pioneer, Frankie Crocker who ruled the airwaves and set it off more times than we can remember.  Percy himself had much swagger, he ran off to New York when he was just a kid, rescued downed pilots in World War II, matriculated at Columbia Law School while working at all night handling mail and as a conductor on the D train, keeping a schedule that would lead his first wife to divorce him.  But he persevered, and enjoyed success, being appointed as an Air Force Attorney, and establishing himself in private practice in New York.  His acquisition of the Apollo Theater kept the tumbling giant from crumbling on 125th street, and bolstered it.  He then re-built its international reputation thru the televised production of “Showtime at the Apollo”, which always featured a historical segment and the world renowned amateur hour, birthplace of some of our best known singers, dancers, and entertainers.  It was also the home of Miss Kiki Shepherd, but that’s another story.  Still, the Apollo presents art, for us to view, sometimes well in advance of the industry buzz they will soon generate.

Apollo amateur G Martin

In addition to being a captain of industry Percy also hemorrhaged money in failed enterprises: shipping heavy equipment in Europe, buying oil wells in Africa.  Even the Apollo lost tens of millions, eventually slipping from his grip amid accusations of financial improprieties.  Through it all he remained the adventurous, risk-taking futurist that won far more than he lost.  His newest endeavor Synematics seeks to create seamless link networks, distribute information, and connect radio, mobile phones and the web.

Another facet of his jewel like career was his political involvement.  He served in the New York state legislature from 1965-1977, including a decade as president of the borough of Manhattan.  He lost the Democratic bid for mayoral candidacy to eventual Mayor Ed Koch, but  remained a force behind the scenes in New York and national politics, most recently embroiled in the Obama “who paid for
Harvard” story. Still the president-to-be made one of his most impressive black whistle stops at the Apollo Theater, continuing its engagement in historical events.

Barack at Apollo

Percy defended our brother Malcolm, survived his own personal and professional failures while never once being overwhelmed by his success.  He built the cultural Ark, sailed it thru the rain of the Civil rights era.  He saw the Apollo taken from him, radio diminished in its impact, and yet he remained a never dimming beacon of enterprise, black enterprise, American enterprise. In this time of closing traditional outlets for us, of fewer things to hear and see by us about us, Percy Sutton gave us much to see and hear in our recent past, and much inspiration to spur our next distribution of culture.   Realized Investment Performance.  Amen.