By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 04:29 pm:

Folks:
It is with sadness to report that J.J. Jackson, one of MTV'S first video-jocks, died yesterday of a heart attack while travelling home from dinner.

He jocked at WBCN-FM & KLOS-FM prior to his stint at MTV during the 1980s. After his tenure with the video channel he worked at KDAY, KMPC and returned briefly to KLOS. His last job was at KTWV - "The Wave".

J.J. was the channel's first African-American VJ at a time when MTV wasn't too receptive to playing videos by R&B artists (that changed after CBS Records' president Walter Yetnikoff strong-armed the channel into airing Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" video).

Rest well, J.J.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By DavidS91 (198.81.26.103) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 04:45 pm:

That's sad. I worked with him once (he was hired to be a voice-over announcer for a commercial I was working on) and he seemed like a really nice guy.

I'm very sorry to hear this...

By Tony Russi (216.78.189.78) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 04:53 pm:

RIP J.J. Jackson....he was great on MTV and a video pioneer.The original video jocks on MTV were the best.Condolences to his family.

By bigdaddyg2k4 (63.102.169.31) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 05:08 pm:

It is indeed a total shock, surprise and sadness that one of MTV's original VJs and first black on the music channel has passed away so suddenly. Maybe God has a better job for him in that great big radio station/music channel in the sky. My deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

By E (68.236.53.71) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 05:11 pm:

Oh no!!

RIP JJ!!

By Destruction (199.173.224.20) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 05:42 pm:

You may as well say first, and for a long time, only black on MTV. Fond memories. My sympathies to those close to him.

By Dinelle (66.157.79.253) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 06:15 pm:

That's so sad. I loved his monster hit "It's All Right".

By sly fan (67.115.75.122) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 06:50 pm:

Dinelle that's another JJ Jackson (who recorded "Its All Right".

RIP to a veteran...

PS: I'll never forget his voice as the DJ in "Car Wash.

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 07:26 pm:

Was he one in the same J.J. Jackson that recorded "Its Alright"? That was one of everybodys favorite jam back in the day. Loved it then and still do!!

Rest in peace J.J. and keep making that sweet soul music in heaven.
Respectfully,
S.S.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 07:34 pm:

Jeanie/Soul Sister:
There were two J.J. Jacksons - the one you are referring to who recorded "But It's Alright" and the other I posted who was MTV's first Black VJ.

Sadly, both men are deceased.

You're so right about the former - "But It's Alright" will always remain a soul classic. He also recorded a funky-as-hell version of the country classic "Four Walls".

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Robb_K (66.81.194.63) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 09:45 pm:

Wasn't '60s soul singer J.J. Jackson from L.A. who sang with The Jackals, a THIRD J.J. Jackson? The one who sang "But It's Allright" was an East Coaster. I guess both of them would have been too old to be a DJ on MTV, as they probably figure that a senior citizen would "scare" the youthful viewers.

By ~medusa~ (68.248.73.73) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 11:42 pm:

I don't know this person, but when Death happens, it's always painful...so I hope his family hang in there, and I hope their God grant them peace and strength to endure...

By Mark Speck (199.183.75.200) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 03:37 pm:

He was one of the gang when MTV was great--I can't stand to watch it now, haven't watched it in years.

RIP, J.J.

Kev--"Four Walls" by the other J.J. Jackson is NOT a remake of the Jim Reeves country classic. Both are great songs, but not related. J.J.'s version has a subtitle (something along the lines of "...and one window"--I'd have to pull the record out of the basement to get the exact wording).

Best,

Mark

By francis t (195.92.168.171) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 01:07 pm:

When did "Its ALRIGHT" JJ JACKSON pass on.I think I asked Sidney Barnes about him a while back,and he just said he had lost touch.He had some great sounds,my favourite being Sho,nuff...,.I think he lived in the UK for a while in the 60,s
Too many of our heroes passing on,sadly
REGARDS FRANCIS T

By LadyMystique (216.222.240.137) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 10:15 pm:

Wow that's messed up...RIP, man.