Kool DJ Red Alert Sets November Farewell to Radio and Sony Hall Celebration

The New York radio pioneer is preparing one final broadcast while keeping his connection to live DJing alive.

Kool DJ Red Alert’s radio farewell is scheduled for November 30, with a four-hour final set on 107.5 WBLS. The announcement closes a broadcast chapter spanning more than four decades, but it does not signal an end to his work behind the turntables.

In his farewell message, Red Alert said he intends to continue performing at special events and community celebrations. His decision separates his departure from radio from his wider musical life, leaving room for audiences to experience his sets in person.

Before that final broadcast, The Red Alert Experience Gala takes place at Sony Hall on November 24. The New York venue describes the evening as a celebration of his 70th birthday and 50 years in music, bringing two milestones together just days before his sign-off.

The gala’s announced guests include Teddy Riley, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kid Capri, DJ Brucie B and DJ Spinna. Riley and WBLS’ Bugsy are listed as hosts, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m. The venue requests black formal attire for the celebration.

Red Alert’s own biography dates “Red Alert Goes Berserk” to 1983 on KISS FM. His programming helped bring rap records to mainstream radio, while his support extended to artists including Boogie Down Productions, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and Queen Latifah.

That history already has a physical tribute in Harlem. A sculpture by Sherwin Banfield was unveiled at Montefiore Square in 2024, honoring his long relationship with the city’s listeners. This month’s gala and final broadcast offer two further ways to mark that relationship, with the next stage of his career continuing beyond the studio.

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