Born in Los Angeles, California, Rosko is the son of Hollywood film producer Joe Pasternak. He was influenced in his career choice by KYA Radio DJs, Lord Tim Hudson and Wolfman Jack, in Los Angeles. Pasternak’s opportunity to broadcast came whilst in the US Navy where he presented a show on the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, using the name Michael Prescott. He then moved to Europe and hosted sponsored programmes in France and Andorra.
He joined Radio Caroline in 1964. There, his American-influenced quick presentation style soon made him one of the station’s best-loved DJs. He was often joined on air by his mynah bird Alfie. After his time at Radio Caroline, speaking fluent French, he presented for French-language stations Radio Monte Carlo and Radio Luxembourg as ‘Le Président Rosko’.
As a disc jockey with BBC Radio 1 at its launch in September 1967, Rosko initially recorded shows in France for the Midday Spin programme. On his first Midday Spin show, Rosko introduced himself with “I am the Emperor, the geeter with the heater, your leader, your groovy host from the West Coast, here to clear up your skin and mess up your mind. It’ll make you feel good all over.” He highlighted the new Motown, reggae and rock music.
Rosko moved to the UK in 1968 and from 1970 presented Radio 1’s Friday Round Table, in which new records were reviewed by a panel of guests. He also presented in a Saturday lunchtime slot. Together with fellow Radio 1 DJ, Dave Lee Travis, he launched the first mobile discothèque, the ‘Rosko International Roadshow’. He stayed with Radio 1 until September 1976, when he left for America to rejoin his father, who was suffering from Parkinson’s. Around 1975, he briefly hosted Crackerjack on BBC Television with Little & Large. During that year he also presented a few editions of Top of the Pops, including the edition broadcast on 10 April.
When Rosko returned to Europe, he was heard via recorded shows on Radio Luxembourg. In 1981 he returned to Radio 1 for a 13-week Sunday series of shows, and continued to broadcast at weekends during the Summer for four years until he left Radio 1 in 1982. In 1988, he returned to Radio 1 to help celebrate the 21st birthday of the station. In 1992, he helped celebrate the station’s 25th birthday with a special broadcast, before joining Virgin Radio 1215 in April 1993.
Rosko was the inspiration for the Philip Seymour Hoffman character ‘The Count’ in the comedy film The Boat That Rocked.
In 2008 Rosko was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame.
In 2011 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Radio Festival in Zurich.
You can catch Emperor Rosko on Aycliffe Radio every Saturday from 12noon to 2.00pm with the newly revamped LA Connection show.
The LA Connection: Fresh each and every week from Los Angeles, California, Rosko packs in the latest Hollywood news and the Hollyweird; the latest music news and those things that can only happen in America. All wrapped up in six decades of great music. You’ll love the LA Connection wherever you are. If you have seen the movie ‘The Boat That Rocked’, you’ll recognise Rosko is the ‘real deal’, the main man, full of energy and entertainment value.

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