Alan Hunter

Alan Hunter is an American television and radio personality, actor, and producer recognized as one of the five original video jockeys who launched MTV when the music channel began broadcasting. By a technical circumstance, Hunter was the first VJ to appear on screen, introducing viewers to MTV Music Television. Prior to this role, Hunter worked in various jobs, including bartender, waiter, phone answering service attendant, and performed in Off-off-Broadway productions. He also appeared in the music video for David Bowie's "Fashion." Hunter joined MTV after meeting executive Bob Pittman, just weeks before the network's debut.

During his six years at MTV, Hunter conducted interviews with artists such as Madonna, Duran Duran, U2, Ozzy Osbourne, Andy Warhol, Joey Ramone, Cyndi Lauper, Bon Jovi, and Tom Hanks. He hosted Spring Break events, covered Live Aid, visited the Playboy Mansion, and participated in the WWF-MTV collaboration, hosting "The War to Settle the Score" live special. His final assignment for MTV involved traveling to Russia with Billy Joel to cover concerts in Leningrad and Moscow.

Following his time at MTV, Hunter focused on film production. He founded Hunter Films, which received an Academy Award nomination for the short film "Johnny Flynton." The company also executive-produced the feature film "Dreamland," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and the documentary "Best Worst Movie," which premiered at the SXSW film festival. Hunter co-founded Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival, named by Time magazine as one of the top ten "Film Festivals for the Rest of Us," and serves as its board president. He has been recognized as "Communicator of the Year" by the Birmingham chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators and received the Alabama Music Hall of Fame's media award.

Hunter continues to contribute to pop culture through satellite radio and publishing. He is a host on SiriusXM Radio's The 80s on 8 and Classic Rewind channels. He has also hosted the Starz Channel original series "Looking For Stars" and Encore's annual "Big 80's Movie Weekend." Hunter co-authored the book "VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV's First Wave" with Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, and Martha Quinn. As a chronicler of the evolution of music television and pop culture, Hunter provides insight and perspective across multiple media platforms.