Get to Know Frank Ski

Radio & Television Personality | Motivational Speaker | Disc Jockey | Philanthropist | Journalist

Dubbed the “Rainmaker of Urban Radio” for his impressive ratings and ability to connect with an audience, Frank Ski is a force to be reckoned with. Through pivotal changes in his life and career, he has proven his resiliency and relevancy time and time again. From his bold entry into radio broadcasting over 30 years ago to the groundbreaking moves in music, film, journalism, production, and philanthropy, Frank is a household name here for the long haul

The Early Years

Frank Ski is no stranger to being in the right place at the right time. Born in Harlem and raised in Miami, Ski relocated to Washington, DC to attend the University of the District of Columbia’s pre-law school program. Always infatuated with music, Frank, who worked as a paralegal by day and a burgeoning DJ by night, made an impression on one of the lawyers at the firm. Encouraged to follow his passion, Frank landed his first job as a part-time disc jockey at his college’s radio station where his love and appreciation for hip-hop music deepened. 

Appropriately titled, Breakers Delight, the show was the first in DC and the third in the US to play all rap music. With Ski at the helm, it became the most listened-to radio show in the region. This major, yet unplanned career move, started Franki Ski’s rewarding immersion into radio broadcasting.

Broadcasting Career

In 1985, V-103 took notice of Frank’s talent and offered him a position as an evening shift disc jockey. He held that role 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 and syndicated shows. Over 1.2 million listeners tuned in weekly 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 covered 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. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, to name a few. 

Ski also positioned himself as a distinguished journalist having 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. 

Notable Awards & Recognition

  • The Music Living Legends Foundation 2021 Inductee

  • Georgia Association of Broadcast’s 2022 Radio Personality of the Year

  • National Radio Personality of the Year 2022 Finalist

  • Black Radio Hall of Fame 2023 Inductee

Music and Film Contributions

Eventually, Frank’s musical talents garnered even more success as he played at sold-out venues both locally and around the world. Frank Ski's name in the music industry is perhaps less central but equally notable. In 1992, Ski released the Billboard Magazine-nominated, Independent Record of The Year, "Doo Doo Brown." Over the years, he produced many rap, dance and gospel hits for himself and 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 continued growing his musical resume with other hits, including "Wobble" and the 1992 track, "Whores in This House," a massive club banger sampled in 2018 by Lil Wayne and Gucci. In 2020, the same Ski-produced track was sampled in Cardi B’s sex-positive single, “WAP,” featuring Megan the Stallion. It went on to win several awards, including the BET Hip Hop Award’s Song of the Year and the American Music Award’s Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song. Ski also brought his musical talent to the big screen contributing to soundtracks for The Player's Club (1996), Ax ‘Em (2002), HBO's The Corner (2000), and The Wire (2002). 

Ski made 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 reaching his audience through radio and personal appearances, he has connected with 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.

Contributions to Music

Contributions to Film

Personal Life

While philanthropy is his life's passion, he is most proud of his family. Frank’s five children (sons; Jarrett, Franklin, Blake, Harrison, and daughter; Emerson Rose Marley) keep him grounded, as does his supportive wife, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Dr. Patrice Basanta-Henry. Always one to promote giving back to his community, he emphasizes philanthropic work with his family and teaches them about the responsibility he feels he has to the community. 

Frank enjoys several indulgences when he isn’t on the airwaves, spending time with family and friends, or immersed in charitable work. His interests include SCUBA diving, deep-sea fishing, and international travel. Topping off his list is a deep appreciation for fine wine, rum, bourbon, and Cuban cigars. 

Frank Ski’s influence continues to grow — not just in the communities where his voice is heard, but also around the world.  

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 donating money to children's programs but working to develop children as intellectual, creative, confident young people. His history of sowing seeds is long and impressive. He finds responsibility in his celebrity to take action 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 a 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, a non-profit agency assisting 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. 

In 2000, Ski founded the Frank Ski Kids Foundation to help low-income youth applicants and youth-serving agencies expand educational, athletic, and cultural learning opportunities. Since its inception, the foundation has provided once-in-a-lifetime experiences for children, including all-expenses-paid excursions to Rome and Florence, Italy, The Amazon, and Ecuador to explore The Galapagos Islands and the Charles Darwin Research Station. The foundation also sponsors annual events such as the Youth Bowl and Kids Week. 

Hundreds of Atlanta's youth benefit from the positive opportunities the foundation offers each year. As a result, The Frank Ski Kids Foundation has received numerous awards and honors over the years, including Black Enterprise Magazine's National Community Champion Award. The foundation has also received acknowledgment from the NAACP, King Center, and the Atlanta Business League, among other organizations.