New York Hot Tracks

New York Hot Tracks
Starring	Carlos DeJesus (1983-1986) Debbi Morgan (1986-1989) Darnell Williams (1986-1989) Gene Anthony Ray (1989)
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	60 minutes
Release
Original network	WABC-TV (New York)
Original release	July 22, 1983 – circa 1989

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 introduced 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, and Janet Jackson. This attracted the 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. The show was line produced weekly by David Novarro and Vincent Rubino.

From 1986 to 1989, Hot Tracks was hosted by Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams, who concurrently portrayed Angie and Jesse Hubbard on the ABC soap opera All My Children. During this period the show led as number one in all significant ratings categories according to the A.C. Nielsen Company, November, 1987.

The third and final host of Hot Tracks was Gene Anthony Ray, from the motion picture Fame and the television series it spawned.

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