J.J. Jackson, One Of MTV's First VJs, Dies At Age 62

VH1.com ^ | 3.18.2004 | Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Curtis Waller and Jennifer Vineyard

[NYC GOP Chick]

		03.18.2004 4:40 PM EST
		J.J. Jackson, One Of MTV's First VJs, Dies At Age 62   Jackson suffered apparent heart attack. by Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Curtis Waller and Jennifer Vineyard
			J.J. Jackson says hello on MTV for the first time on August 1, 1981 (Photo: MTV)
J.J. Jackson, remembered as one of the first faces of MTV, died Wednesday night in Los Angeles of an apparent heart attack, according to friends and former business associates. He was 62. Jackson helped define the term "VJ" as one of the first on-air personalities on MTV when the channel launched in 1981. During his five-year tenure with the network, Jackson interviewed some of the top names of the day and was part of some key music milestones. Jackson covered the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert in London and helped to "unmask" Kiss during a 1982 interview. He also hosted the debut episode of MTV's long-running "120 Minutes" in 1986, and brought music titans like Robert Plant and Pete Townshend to the then-fledgling channel. MTV released a statement Thursday evening (March 18), mourning the loss of one of its beloved alumni and reflecting on his immense contribution to the station. "J.J. Jackson's deep passion for music, his ease and good humor on air, and his welcoming style really set the tone for the early days of MTV. He was a big part of the channel's success and we are sure he is in the music section of heaven, with lots of his friends and heroes. We are fortunate to have had him as a part of the MTV family.  He will be greatly missed." Besides his endeavors in television, Jackson also logged a thick résumé in radio. Prior to his MTV days, Jackson was a rock-radio staple, first at WBCN-FM in Boston, and later at a few stations in Los Angeles. After his VJ days, Jackson returned to radio in the Los Angeles area. On Thursday (March 18), Paul Goldstein, program director of L.A.'s KTWV-FM, said "J.J.'s tenure with the station ended just six months ago. He was a wonderful man and will be very missed." More information concerning J.J. Jackson will be available in the coming hours.

[Pokey78]

62?! Dang! I didn't know he was that old.

[blackdog]

The only reason I watched MTV was to spy in on that little minx Martha Quinn. During that time it was pretty bad. Come to think of it, it's even worse now.

[Prime Choice]

Bummer! I didn't care for most of the other VJs on the early MTV (the only time I watched Nina Blackwood was when Frank Zappa was making fun of her), but I liked when Jackson was on. He just seemed...well, genuine in his enjoyment of music.

[South40]

I remember Jackson as one of the voices on KLOS radio in Los Angeles in the '70s long before he made his way to MTV. He had a great voice for radio.

R.I.P.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Ewww!

[GreenHornet]

Is this the same J.J.Jackson who had a hit with "It's All Right" back in the 60s? (Later covered by Huey Lewis). No disrespect intended, but I thought he passed away years ago.

[blackdog]

Kurt Loder wasn't too bad.

[johnfrink]

I would watch "Remote Control" to see Kari Wuhrer. Yow.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Damn, 62 is awfully young in my opinion. JJ Jackson, one of the greatest. I remember one time early on, JJ said that he had a face for TV (poking fun at his radio days pre-MTV). He was a multi-faceted individual from what I recall. Knew when to be serious, and knew when to crack a joke on the air. He'll be missed. R.I.P

[BikePacker]

Martha must be getting long in the tooth as well.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Is this the same J.J.Jackson who had a hit with "It's All Right" back in the 60s?

A great song - was it the same guy?

[Ready4Freddy]

Back in the days when it seemed that there were only 10-12 music videos available to play on MTV:

Men at Work - A Land Down Under

Toni Basil - Hey Mickey

and about 10 Duran Duran vids :)

[mgstarr]

Here's some info on all the original MTV VJ's done for the 20th anniversary:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA010731MTV_deejays.html

[gg188]

Before Billie Jean. Before Thriller. Before rap.

[blackdog]

I know this is strange, but Lynne Russell and any woman on the Weather Channel are hot. That CNN's Lynne Russell was breathtaking. Who cared about the news on CNN anyway?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Last time I saw Martha, she was shilling Time Life 80's CD's on late night infomercials some time ago. As I recall Nina Blackwood may or may not still be in Denver doing radio.

[blackdog]

That Rick Okasik, Cars video where he was a fly was overplayed so much I stopped listening to the cars and never again did.

[CounterCounterCulture]

RIP J.J.

(62? Wowzers!)

[BigSkyFreeper]

I remember NBC for a long time was doing Duran Duran all the time on Friday Nite Videos. LOL