John J. "J.J." Jackson Jr. (April 8, 1941 â€" March 17, 2004) was an
American radio and television personality. He was one of MTV's five
original VJs (along with Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter,
and Martha Quinn). In his appearances on MTV, Jackson often went by
and introduced himself as "Triple J".Jackson first gained prominence
while working at WBCN in Boston in the late 1960s, then at KLOS in Los
Angeles for ten years. Jackson was one of the first DJs to introduce
Americans to The Who and Led Zeppelin. In 1976, he was featured in a
voice-only performance as a DJ of the fictional KGYS radio in the
movie Car Wash. He was a music reporter for KABC-TV when he was tapped
as one of MTV's original "fab five." As a VJ, Jackson hosted the
long-awaited and much anticipated "unmasking" of KISS. He was one of
the few African Americans to DJ an "album rock" radio station.After
five years at MTV, Jackson returned to Los Angeles radio, first at
KROQ-FM in 1987, then as program director of modern rock/alternative
station KEDG ("The Edge") until May 1989. He later returned to KLOS,
and hosted the afternoon shift at smooth jazz station KTWV ("The
Wave") for one year. He also hosted Westwood One Radio Network's
nationally syndicated radio show The Beatle Years from 1995 until his
death.On March 17, 2004, Jackson suffered a heart attack and died at
the age of 62 while driving home after dining with a friend in Los
Angeles. He was survived by a daughter and three grandchildren.
American radio and television personality. He was one of MTV's five
original VJs (along with Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter,
and Martha Quinn). In his appearances on MTV, Jackson often went by
and introduced himself as "Triple J".Jackson first gained prominence
while working at WBCN in Boston in the late 1960s, then at KLOS in Los
Angeles for ten years. Jackson was one of the first DJs to introduce
Americans to The Who and Led Zeppelin. In 1976, he was featured in a
voice-only performance as a DJ of the fictional KGYS radio in the
movie Car Wash. He was a music reporter for KABC-TV when he was tapped
as one of MTV's original "fab five." As a VJ, Jackson hosted the
long-awaited and much anticipated "unmasking" of KISS. He was one of
the few African Americans to DJ an "album rock" radio station.After
five years at MTV, Jackson returned to Los Angeles radio, first at
KROQ-FM in 1987, then as program director of modern rock/alternative
station KEDG ("The Edge") until May 1989. He later returned to KLOS,
and hosted the afternoon shift at smooth jazz station KTWV ("The
Wave") for one year. He also hosted Westwood One Radio Network's
nationally syndicated radio show The Beatle Years from 1995 until his
death.On March 17, 2004, Jackson suffered a heart attack and died at
the age of 62 while driving home after dining with a friend in Los
Angeles. He was survived by a daughter and three grandchildren.
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