But It's Alright: The Late MTV VJ J.J. Jackson Was NOT J.J. Jackson The Singer

Left: The Late MTV VJ J.J. Jackson
Right: J.J. Jackson The Singer

Mick Jagger got them confused too. By all accounts JJ The VJ was a nice guy. Some background about him from About.com:

J.J. Jackson had a successful career as a DJ long before his days with MTV. From 1968 - 1970, he was one of the seminal on-air personally for the legendary Boston radio, WBCN. During that time he emceed for rock legends, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and The Who (who personally requested Jackson.) He moved on to work with Los Angeles radio station KLOS in 1971 and stayed there until 1979, when he became the original "Rock Reporter" for the LA television station KABC television, Channel 7 Eyewitness News. It was here he did "first ever" television news profiles on artists like Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, and Aerosmith. Moving once more before his MTV career to work with Los Angeles radio station "KWEST" - KWST, he became one of the first DJs to interview and support U2, Pat Benatar, The Pretenders. When J.J. stepped into the camera's view in 1981 to join MTV, there was no mistaking he commanded respect for his experience, amazing knowledge and his support for fledgling bands.

The best synopsis of JJ The Singer is the one I found on dustbury.com:

Two notes, then four and then two notes, then four and then — but then you know this one already, with an opening riff "strong enough," said rock writer Don Waller, "to levitate a bloc of communists." Exactly how and when Jerome Louis Jackson became "J. J." is unclear, but he started recording around 1961, and wound up at the New York independent label Calla in the middle Sixties. "But It's Alright", which Jackson cowrote with Pierre Tubbs, rocks amazingly hard without ever losing its soul credentials; the horn section plays off that murderous guitar riff with style, and how Jackson got so much gravel in his voice at the tender age of twenty-five is a mystery to us all. What's more, "But It's Alright" was a British recording, which makes its soulfulness even more remarkable; guitarist Terry Smith and tenor saxman Dick Morrissey eventually formed a jazz-rock group called If. J. J. charted with two more singles for Calla over the next year: "I Dig Girls", which made it onto his one and only LP (Calla 1101, 1967), and "Four Walls", which didn't. "Come See Me (I'm Your Man)", another album track, apparently dates from an earlier time; the Pretty Things had cut a version for the A-side of their sixth British single. Warner Bros. eventually bought control of the Jackson catalogue, and reissued "But It's Alright" in the spring of '69 (WB 7276), which climbed to #45 the second time around. By this time, Jackson had relocated to England, where he still performs today, and no, he did not take a few years off to come play VJ for the nascent MTV; that was some other J. J. (not even J. L.) Jackson.

And yes, you can get his CD on Amazon:

JJ Jackson: But It's Alright

Comments

[Woody]

I'm pretty sure that there was more than one J.J. Jackson radio DJ. As I understood, every DJ who was filling in went by J.J. Jackson, and I heard them with different voices and apparent different ages over decades. This started long before syndication. Maybe someone else has heard other J.J. Jackson's.

[Dave]

Came across your blog while trying to find J.J. (the singer). J. J. returned to the USA sometime in the 1980s, settling in LA. He was trying to stir something up at Warner Brothers Records. At the time , he was all over American TV in a Bell Telephone commercial, in which he played a sax player connecting long distance with an old bandmate.

I was a featured singer-guitarist in his show during 1987-89. J.J. could really knock 'em dead. I've still got a live recording of us performing "But It's Alright" - and running through his favorite part of the show, a fifteen minute medley of every '50s doo wop song we could drum up.

Every now and then, J.J.would spot a former soul or rock & roll star in the audience, and he'd inevitably lure them up onstage to sing their big hit. He's a really friendly, nice guy. If anybody finds him, give him my e-mail address!

[larry]

Hi Dave. in 66 my band backed JJ up in Pittsburgh, pa. I was a sax player. He offered me and my band to go to uk and be The biggest little.....band etc. i wanted to, the rest of the band said. no. i would love to hear that tape you have. Larry Patterson

[Reverend Flash]

Perhaps Wikipedia is wrong, but according to their website, not only do these two guys have the same name, they were born on the exact same day: April 8, 1941.

[Sue Henigan (nee Howell)]

I personally knew The Real J.J. Jackson in the 60's in England. A very talented singer, musician and song writer, a huge 300 lb, Teddy Bear. I now live in Las Vegas, and went to see a show a few years back that supposedly was J.J. Jackson. There is an imposter out there in Vegas trying to take off J.J. but his talent is nothing like the real J.J. If you are out there still J.J. E-mail me this is your Sweetheart Sue

[David Kerr-Clemenson]

Hi JJ Jackson toured here in the late sixties playing all over england. I was in a band backing Oscar Toney Junior and we played at the same places.
The first backing band that JJ had in England was Tex Marsh on drums with a south african guitar and bass player called Rick and Martin.I remember seeing him at Sybilla`s in London with PJ Proby in the audience who came up to sing.JJ then went into I`m black and i`m Proud of which PJ was not to happy with.He was brought over here by Henry Sellers and Danny O`Donavan agency.
If i can help with anything about that time please contact

[Merita Beatty]

I knew J.J. in the sixties in NYC. He was a very brilliant arranger and piano player. I would love to re-connect with him.

If anyone out there is in contact with him tell him Beatty says hello and give him my e-mail address.

Merita Beatty
03/20/2008 at 04:31 PM

[roger jackson]

please anyone know jj's whereabouts, i'm a close family friend for years, lost contact with him about 10 years ago, sure wish i could find him, please anyone give him my email address, just tell him it's roger & rose his family
thank you

[roger jackson]

i am talking about the real jj jackson, warner bros recording star "it's alright girl", it really means a alot to me, he alwats hung out with smokey robinson, and lionel ritchey, in the 90's
also maurice williams, former drifters singer
thanks everyone

[Katherine]

I am seeking the whereabouts of J.J. Jackson (the singer/songwriter)for years. Wikipedia has a write up on J.J. and you will see a picture of the imposter. He is not the real J.J.Jackson. You will also see him on youtube. Anyone who would know the real J.J. Jackson would be Cecil Holmes producer. He worked with J.J. Jackson back around 1963. I am a former member of a vocal group call "The Socialites" because J.J wanted me to have a recording contract
as a solo artist so how can I forget wonderful J.J. Jackson. I believe that J.J. passed a few years ago. If he was still alive believe me I would know about it. Wikipedia wrote that he is still alive now living in Jacksonville, Florida. We need to correct the birthday as well. I will investigate and keep his fans and friends posted on Tom's website. Let's keep it real in honor of J.J.Jackson who wrote "But It's Alright". You will be hearing from me shortly. Peach and love to all. K

[Katherine]

Oh by the way J.J. Jackson wrote me to songs produced by Kama Sutra Productions!. I have still have the recordings. The real J.J. Jackson would know the title of the two songs and I am pretty sure he would still remember me. Ha Ha!

[Pete]

I am curious, I just got home from a show at a local coffee shop. J.J.Jackson was the performer. He performed many songs saying he wrote or co-wrote them. Nice show and the music was on tape, he sang live.Things like "I'm Your Puppet" which he said he wrote for James and Bobby Purify. He is an African American in his mid 60's. Who was this man????

[Air Jordans shoes]

Days are our own, an appropriate as well as for you to select their own life. To see perfect it, bless you!

[Dave M]

Well what can I say? You guys don't know me so you don't know where I live. I can tell you that this man has come to our area from Las Vegas on occasion and everybody around here just assumed he was J.J. Jackson. Frankly something just didn't feel right to me so I started exploring. And oh the claims he was making during his appearance were so wild as to not deserve publicity. My sense, though is that he is wearing out his welcome with some local musicians. But who is he really? Certainly not the imposing individual described by some who met and worked with him in the past.

[Luís Felipe]

J.J. is playing here in Brazil today at a hotel within 3 hours.

[搜索引擎营销]

thanks for sharing!

[cheap chanel]

"Hope is itself a species of happiness which this world affords."

-----Samuel Johnson. British writer.

[Air Jordan 13]

He has made his weapons his gods.
When his weapons win he is defeated himself. O(∩_∩)O~

[Marisela]

There is a JJ Jackson who claims to be THE JJ Jackson, writer of "But It's Alright" and "I'm Your Puppet". He plays very regularly at The Gateway Lodge in Three Rivers, CA and Crawdaddy's in Visalia, CA. Google these businesses and you'll see. He visits Las Vegas regularly and shows up at other artists performances then gets up onstage to sing his "hits". Is this guy for real or an imposter? He sure has some stories.

[Marisela]

Is this the real JJ Jackson? Here are photos of "JJ Jackson" as mentioned in my last post:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33525513@N05/3234754728/

http://www.cornellgunterscoastersinc.com/Links.htm

[Aprile]

Marisela, I could not connect to the flickr, but I did to cornell site. The picuture of the legendary JJ Jackson is the real JJ Jackson. I know this because he sent me this picture of himself many years ago. It was taken in 1989.

[James]

I know every second of " But It's Alright " one of the greatest records ever made. Look at the faces of the 1966 J.J. Jackson and the one today. Not the same guy. J.J.-1966 had like a cute face, big eyes. This one doesn't have neither. Also the voice is different. Even if a voice has aged 25 years I can still tell the original. Wikipedia has the whole thing wrong

[AlexandriaBarber31]

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[OC]

I ran into a guy claiming to be J.J. Jackson at The Gateway in Three Rivers, Ca too. He was a very likeable guy. But I doubt this is the same person that wrote and recorded in the 60's as something didn't add up. Many of the things he said conflicted with facts about J. J. Jackson I found on the internet.