Frank Ski

About Frank

Frank Ski, has been called “a rainmaker of urban radio” because he connects with his audience and increases ratings. With a distinctive style and sense of humor, Ski balances music with celebrity guests and discussions of culture, local and national headlines, and topical subject matter that means the most to the listeners and viewers. Once he turns off the board at the end of his show, his passion for connecting with the audience continues dozens of times a month out in the community.

He is a radio broadcaster best known for hosting The Frank Ski Show for the past three decades. The up-tempo lifestyle program is designed to entertain, inspire, and inform every day. Atlanta’s V-103, Washington, DC’s WHUR, and Baltimore’s V103 and 92Q have all placed their trust in him, where they experienced record-breaking Arbitron ratings during his broadcast time.

Frank Ski’s career has evolved from a disc jockey and recording artist to a radio, film and T.V. personality, motivational speaker, journalist, producer as well as a philanthropist working to help children and, most importantly, a devoted father.

Early Career in Broadcasting

The Harlem-born, Miami, raised Ski moved to Washington DC, and attended the University of the District of Columbia to pursue a career in law. It was there that Ski started his career in radio broadcasting as a part-time disc jockey. The show ‘Breakers Delight’ was the first show in D.C. and the third in the U.S. to play all rap music. It became the most listened to show in the region. During his college years, Ski also worked as a paralegal. Then, in 1985, V103 took notice of his talent and offered Ski a position as an evening shift disc jockey. He worked in that capacity for almost ten years and eventually became the co-host for the number one rated morning show.

Ski joined 92Q F.M. in Baltimore in 1996 and took the Morning Show from tenth to first place in less than one year. In 1998, he moved his morning show to the Atlanta station V-103, which became the top-rated morning radio program over locally programmed shows and syndicated shows. Over 1.2 million listeners tuned in every week to listen to “Frank & Wanda in the Morning.” It was consistently a listener favorite, partly due to its humorous take on news and lifestyle issues. Ski’s roster of celebrity interviews covers a wide range of actors, athletes, musicians, and elected officials, from Stevie Wonder, Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, T.I. and Young Jeezy to former U.S. President Bill Clinton and current President Barack Obama, to name a few.

Ski also has an established career as a distinguished journalist and has reported several prominent news stories over the years. Career highlights include the final interview with Coretta Scott King, and an exclusive interview with convicted child murderer Wayne Williams, which helped launch the re-investigation of the Atlanta Child Murders. The interview and subsequent reopening of the case made national headlines. In 2002, the honorable Reverend Jesse Jackson presented Ski with the distinguished “Journalist of the Year” award on behalf of the Rainbow Push Coalition.

Music and Film

Frank Ski has been called “The Pied Piper” of Club D.J.’s. He was playing to Sold-Out venues both locally and around the world. Perhaps less central, but equally as notable, is Frank Ski’s name in the music industry. Frank Ski released the Billboard Magazine nominated Independent Record of The Year “Doo Doo Brown” in 1992. Ski went on to produce many Rap, Dance and Gospel hits for not only himself but many artists, including Luke, Hezekiah Walker, and others. Ski won a Gospel Stellar Award for his work on Hezekiah Walker’s song “99 ½”. Ski has other hits under his belt, including the “Wobble” and the 1992 Track “Whores in This House,” a massive club hit that was sampled in 2018 by Lil Wayne and Gucci. Ski also brought his musical talent to the big screen as he contributed to soundtracks for The Player’s Club (1996), Ax ‘Em (2002), HBO’s The Corner (2000), and The Wire (2002).

Ski started his acting debut by appearing in the film, Detention (teacher) in 1994. He has also had roles in Big Ain’t Bad (celebrity, 2002), Motives (senator, 2004), The Gospel (supporting cast, 2005), ATL (radio personality, 2006), The Path (adult Zechariah, 2006) and Stomp the Yard (celebrity guest judge, 2007).

In addition to connecting to his audience through radio and personal appearances, he has connected to them through television. Ski teamed up with Bounce T.V., the broadcast multicast channel targeting African-American viewers, as on-air talent. He provided behind-the-scenes commentary to the network’s boxing matches presented through the Premier Boxing Champions network.

Inspirational Vitamin

“Ski has kept V-103 listeners entertained and informed for decades, lending his voice and platform to highlight community concerns such as gun control, police brutality and politics, and dispensing timeless wisdom during his Inspirational Vitamin segments.” – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 09, 2017

“Ski re-introduced his Inspirational Vitamin, his daily spiritual note. “I want you to know if God has given you a vision for your life, stay the course,” he said. “Be patient, stay in faith. If it seems like it’s taking too long, be patient because it will surely take place.” – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb 12, 2018

Philanthropy and Community Service

When not on-air or in front of the camera, philanthropy is Frank Ski’s passion. He is well-known in Atlanta, Baltimore, and Washington DC as a visionary who looks beyond merely handing over money to children’s programs, but works to develop children as intellectual, creative, confident young people. His history of helping people in need is long and impressive. He finds responsibility in his celebrity to reach out, and in his words, “foster a global sense of involvement.”

Ski has not only been able to entertain and inform listeners on his weekly radio show, but he has also opened up many doors for his audience. Ski has served as host and spokesperson for many charitable and educational initiatives, including the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. After the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, he spearheaded an effort to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for displaced families. In 2005 alone, Frank Ski raised nearly a half-million dollars for Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry and Homeless and Metro Atlanta Respite & Development Services. This non-profit agency assists children with special needs. He has also been involved with Rainbow Push Coalition, Hands on Atlanta, Leadership Atlanta, The T.J. Martell Foundation, and The Latin American Association.

Ski founded the Frank Ski Kids Foundation to provide financial assistance to low-income youth applicants and youth-serving agencies to expand educational, athletic, and cultural learning opportunities. Since its inception, The Frank Ski Kids Foundation has provided once-in-a-lifetime experiences for children, including all expenses paid excursions to Rome and Florence Italy, The Amazon and to Ecuador to explore The Galapagos Islands and the Charles Darwin Research Station, as well as annual events such as the Youth Bowl and Kids Week. Hundreds of Atlanta’s youth benefit from the positive opportunities the foundation provides each year. As a result, The Frank Ski Kids Foundation has received numerous awards and honors, including Black Enterprise Magazine’s National Community Champion Award.

While philanthropy is his life’s passion, Frank takes time to enjoy some healthy indulgences as well. His interests include SCUBA diving, deep-sea fishing, international travel, and wine collecting. Always one to promote giving back to his community, Frank emphasizes philanthropic work with his family and teaches them about the responsibility he feels he has to the community. Leaving each place a little better than he found it, Frank Ski’s influence continues to grow not just in the communities where his voice is heard but also around the world.