J. J. Jeffrey
Encyclopedia
J.J. Jeffrey is an American
radio
executive and a former prominent Top 40 disc jockey
whose work was heard on some of the United States' most influential rock-and-roll stations during the 1960s and 1970s.
Jeffrey's broadcasting career began in Maine
with the help of such broadcasters as Frank Fixaris
in the 1950s. By the mid-1960s he was a personality (under the name "Melvin X. Melvin") on Boston's seminal Top 40 rocker, WMEX
. After a stint in Pensacola, Florida
, he returned to Boston in March 1967 as the afternoon-drive personality for WRKO
, which — as NOW Radio and, later, The Big 68 — dominated New England
's teen market in the late 1960s.
Jeffrey hosted WRKO's weekly "Now 30" (later called "Big 30") countdowns on Thursdays and was famous for his high-energy style and catch-phrases such as, "This is J.J. Jeffrey, whippin' my great, Greek-god-like body into a frenzy for ya." He left Boston on October 31, 1969, and became the afternoon drive DJ for the leading Top 40 stations in two larger markets — WFIL
, Philadelphia
, then WLS
, Chicago.
In 1975, Jeffrey and his business partner, Bob Fuller, also a former Maine disk jockey, purchased their first radio station, WBLM
, an FM album rock outlet based in Lewiston, Maine
. They purchased other stations, including northern New England's highly popular Country and Western FM station, WOKQ
. Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting was sold to Citadel Broadcasting
for a reported $63.5 million in 1999.
After the sale of Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting, Jeffrey continued in broadcasting as the owner of Atlantic Coast Radio
, which owns and operates three radio stations in the Portland
market:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
executive and a former prominent Top 40 disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
whose work was heard on some of the United States' most influential rock-and-roll stations during the 1960s and 1970s.
Jeffrey's broadcasting career began in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
with the help of such broadcasters as Frank Fixaris
Frank Fixaris
Frank Fixaris was an American sportscaster, anchor, and reporter, spending the majority of his career at WGME-TV in Portland, Maine. He also co-hosted a morning radio show on WJAB after his television run.Fixaris attended college in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Emerson College in 1956...
in the 1950s. By the mid-1960s he was a personality (under the name "Melvin X. Melvin") on Boston's seminal Top 40 rocker, WMEX
WWZN
WWZN is an AM radio station licensed to serve the Boston media market. Its programming is a time-brokered mix between progressive talk radio during the daytime , sports talk and religious programming in the overnight hours...
. After a stint in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, he returned to Boston in March 1967 as the afternoon-drive personality for WRKO
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
, which — as NOW Radio and, later, The Big 68 — dominated New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
's teen market in the late 1960s.
Jeffrey hosted WRKO's weekly "Now 30" (later called "Big 30") countdowns on Thursdays and was famous for his high-energy style and catch-phrases such as, "This is J.J. Jeffrey, whippin' my great, Greek-god-like body into a frenzy for ya." He left Boston on October 31, 1969, and became the afternoon drive DJ for the leading Top 40 stations in two larger markets — WFIL
WFIL
WFIL is a radio station and a former television station serving the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its transmitter is located in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania....
, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, then WLS
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
, Chicago.
In 1975, Jeffrey and his business partner, Bob Fuller, also a former Maine disk jockey, purchased their first radio station, WBLM
WBLM
WBLM 102.9 FM is a classic rock radio station servicing the southern Maine and southeastern New Hampshire listening areas from Portland, Maine. The station has a studio in One City Center, along with WJBQ and WHOM...
, an FM album rock outlet based in Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
. They purchased other stations, including northern New England's highly popular Country and Western FM station, WOKQ
WOKQ
-External links:*...
. Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting was sold to Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
for a reported $63.5 million in 1999.
After the sale of Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting, Jeffrey continued in broadcasting as the owner of Atlantic Coast Radio
Atlantic Coast Radio
Atlantic Coast Radio, LLC is a radio company located in the state of Maine, owned by longtime broadcaster J. J. Jeffrey. Prior to the current radio group, Jeffrey was a partner in Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting with Bob Fuller. Fuller-Jeffery's portfolio included WBLM and WOKQ but the company was...
, which owns and operates three radio stations in the Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
market:
- WLOBWLOBWLOB is a news/talk radio station in the Portland, Maine area. The current owner is Atlantic Coast Radio. In the 1960's McGavern/Guild Media NYC owned WLOB AM 1310/FM 98 as Atlantic States Industries Div...
1310 AM News/TalkTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live... - WJJB 96.3 FM, 1440 (WRED) AM SportsSports radioSports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
station known as The Big Jab carrying Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
baseball, Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
basketball and Portland PiratesPortland PiratesThe Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
. - WPEI 95.9 FM WGEI 95.5 FM, WEEIWEEIWEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
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