New York Hot Tracks

1983–1989· 60 min★ 9.1·

New York Hot Tracks is a syndicated music television series which aired from 1983 to 1989, and achieved the number one music variety show spot in the United States. Hot Tracks was Executive Produced and Syndicated by M.K. Thomas & Company of Chicago in association with WABC-TV, New York. The sixty-minute weekly series was distributed to more than 110 markets across the country. The show debuted on July 22, 1983, a full week before NBC's Friday Night Videos. The original host was WKTU disc jockey Carlos DeJesus who would introduce the videos from various locations in and around New York City; usually dance nightclubs. Everybody who was anybody in the music world would venture to New York and, when they did, Hot Tracks was on their "A" list of places to visit. Many music stars actually co-hosted the show when they were in New York. The list included: Tina Turner, Madonna, Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Anita Baker, David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson, and many more. This attracted attention of many national sponsors who loyally supported the show. Executive Producers were Michelle K. Thomas, CEO of M. K. Thomas& Company, along with Brooke Johnson, V.P. Programming at WABC-TV, and was deftly Line Produced weekly by David Novarro and Vincent Rubino.