J. J. Wright
Encyclopedia
J.J. Wright is an American
disc jockey
, originally from Louisville, Kentucky
, who has been broadcasting in Boston, Massachusetts since 1973. Starting on WRKO
(680-AM), he went to briefly to WBOS
(92.9, then KISS 108
when the station first went on the air in 1979, there he stayed for nearly 20 years. After leaving KISS 108 in 1998, he went to WROR (105.7) doing afternoons then shifting to nights on February 2000. He is currently broadcasting the afternoon drive shift (2 PM- 7 PM) on 103.3 WODS in Boston. He also does imaging for other CBS stations in the Boston market.
, and his trademark molasses delivery became a standard for early hip-hop sampling in the New York Metro area, as well. His voice may be heard in samples by many seminal New York hip-hop artists and DJs, including Frankie Bones, Shep Pettibone
, LL Cool J
, et al. Wright's slow, cool murmur, contrasting his contemporary commercial voice-over work, is said to have been the inspiration for Cleavon Little
's portrayal of the fictional DJ "Super Soul" in the 1971 car-chase classic, "Vanishing Point
", a nod based, in part, on his partner from his early Louisville days, Philip Hart. In 1979, British Songwriter/DJ Malcolm Mclaren
sampled (with permission) Wright's "Pity" line, in the billboard hit "Buffalo Gals
". Many contemporary NYC hip-hop radio personalities credit Wright with inspiring their own careers, and Darryl McDaniels
(DMC, of "Run DMC") crowned Wright "the most looped (sampled) DJ in Hip-Hop history". Postmodern techno-pop DJ "Moby
" (Richard Hall) credits wright as an early influence to his own DJ career, as Hall listened to Wright while growing up in suburban Darien, Connecticut
. Hall samples Wright frequently in his contemporary work.
Plans to produce a biopic of Wright's gritty career were put on hold in 2008, Samuel Jackson
and Jeffrey Wright were both being considered for lead casting.
Wright was the promotional voice of WNDS TV-50 in Derry, New Hampshire
, and hosted a nightly game show called TV-50 Bingo.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, originally from Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, who has been broadcasting in Boston, Massachusetts since 1973. Starting on 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:...
(680-AM), he went to briefly to WBOS
WBOS
WBOS is a commercial radio station located in Brookline, Massachusetts, broadcasting to the Greater Boston area on 92.9 FM. The station airs a mainstream rock format branded as "Radio 92.9"...
(92.9, then KISS 108
WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
when the station first went on the air in 1979, there he stayed for nearly 20 years. After leaving KISS 108 in 1998, he went to WROR (105.7) doing afternoons then shifting to nights on February 2000. He is currently broadcasting the afternoon drive shift (2 PM- 7 PM) on 103.3 WODS in Boston. He also does imaging for other CBS stations in the Boston market.
Career
Wright has been known, for years, as an avatar of soulful fortitude in much of New EnglandNew 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...
, and his trademark molasses delivery became a standard for early hip-hop sampling in the New York Metro area, as well. His voice may be heard in samples by many seminal New York hip-hop artists and DJs, including Frankie Bones, Shep Pettibone
Shep Pettibone
Robert E. Pettibone, Jr. is a record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, one of the most prolific of the 1980s. His earliest work known to the public was for one of New York City's top disco/dance radio stations, WRKS 98.7 "Kiss" FM, and later as remixer/producer for the disco label Salsoul...
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
, et al. Wright's slow, cool murmur, contrasting his contemporary commercial voice-over work, is said to have been the inspiration for Cleavon Little
Cleavon Little
Cleavon Jake Little was an American film and theatre actor.Little was widely known for his lead role as Sheriff Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles. He also was the irreverent Dr...
's portrayal of the fictional DJ "Super Soul" in the 1971 car-chase classic, "Vanishing Point
Vanishing Point
Vanishing Point is a 1971 American action-road movie directed by Richard C. Sarafian; starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, and Dean Jagger....
", a nod based, in part, on his partner from his early Louisville days, Philip Hart. In 1979, British Songwriter/DJ Malcolm Mclaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
sampled (with permission) Wright's "Pity" line, in the billboard hit "Buffalo Gals
Buffalo Gals
"Buffalo Gals" is a traditional American song, written and published as "Lubly Fan" in 1844 by the blackface minstrel John Hodges, who performed as "Cool White." The song was widely popular throughout the United States...
". Many contemporary NYC hip-hop radio personalities credit Wright with inspiring their own careers, and Darryl McDaniels
Darryl McDaniels
-Video game appearances:*The Warriors - Scopes*Guitar Hero: Aerosmith - Himself- External links :* * * * * http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/12/entertainment/la-et-people-speak12-2009dec12...
(DMC, of "Run DMC") crowned Wright "the most looped (sampled) DJ in Hip-Hop history". Postmodern techno-pop DJ "Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
" (Richard Hall) credits wright as an early influence to his own DJ career, as Hall listened to Wright while growing up in suburban Darien, Connecticut
Darien, Connecticut
Darien is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. A relatively small community on Connecticut's "Gold Coast", the population was 20,732 at the 2010 census. Darien was listed at #9 at CNN Money's list of "top-earning towns" in the United States as of 2011...
. Hall samples Wright frequently in his contemporary work.
Plans to produce a biopic of Wright's gritty career were put on hold in 2008, Samuel Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
and Jeffrey Wright were both being considered for lead casting.
Wright was the promotional voice of WNDS TV-50 in Derry, New Hampshire
Derry, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 33,109 people, 12,537 households, and 8,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 924.8 people per square mile . There were 13,277 housing units at an average density of 143.2/km²...
, and hosted a nightly game show called TV-50 Bingo.