T.J. the DJ - Tribute Or Ripping Off Philly Veteran Jocks

[John1]

I enjoy all those T.J. Lubinsky PBS My Music specials reuniting doowop groups, 60's bands, etc. and I've listened to him on WJRZ, his brief run on Oldies 950 WPEN, and now playing DooWop on Sirius 5. His Sirius show gets a lot of Philadelphia and New Jersey callers - he is a native of the Bradley Beach area of the Jersey shore, and is now based in Pittsburgh. The one thing that bothers me is his frequent use of slogans and music well-associated here with Philadelphia jocks. On the Sirius show, he uses the exact same music beds between songs as Jerry Blavat has used 'forever', plus his familiar "music programmed from the heart, not from a research chart" slogan. Recently he added a singing jingle "The other side is just as great, turn it over T.J." which is a ripoff of the Harvey Holiday jingle going back to 1989 sung by Stan Archie "The other side is just as great, let's hear it on Oldies 98" (the last surviving jingle using Oldies 98 that still gets played). And this week T.J. said "I'm feelin' good like a rockin' Sirius jock should" (Holiday's longtime slogan minus the 'Sirius'.) What's next - "If you miss a little you miss a lot", "some people listen to remember, some people listen to forget", or even the old Holiday signoff "if it wasn't for Venetian blinds it would be curtains for all of us!".

So, would T.J. Lubinsky say this is a 'tribute' to these jocks - or is it just a ripoff that most of the Sirius audience outside this market wouldn't recognize? Anyone know any more about him?

Another note - his Wikipedia listing shows him born in either 1947 - or 1972! I'd guess 1972 to be correct - maybe somebody playing a joke to put him back in the 50's era.

 

[amfmsw]

GREAT POINT!

I'm also tired of hearing Philly/NY jocks panter being claimed as original. South Jersey has jocks rippin' off Joe Niagara, Lit, Geator, hell, all of 'em. One guy in Vineland keeps using Niagara's famous "Here's another just like the other". It works great in a double play with two similar songs by the same artist that was modified and turned sideways to get a second hit. Tommy James' "Sweet Cherry Wine" and "Ball of Fire" come to mind. "Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie" and "Keep The Ball Rolling" Jay & The Techniques, as well as Kinks "You Really Got Me" and "All Day And All Of The Night". Using that phrase between those songs links them, and was Joe's subtle jab at their labels' pressure to get a follow-up record ready. I heard a guy use that Niagara line betweel a Leslie Gore and Stone's song! How rediculous! And it would have been nice to credit the phrase with a tag: "As the Rockin' Bird use to say..., Or "Hy Lit had it right when he said...Big Dan Ingram, Dick Biondi, Joey Reynolds.

The next on my pieve list is jocks guilding their on-air resume with claims of working at Heritage Stations. "That was a big one for us back at Wibbage in 19..., inferring the host was that good that he actually worked on-air in Philly's WFIL or WIBG. that's doubful when they can barely run a board and get a good mix. Those stations would never hire a person who hadn't paid his/her dues and learned those basic Radio 101 skills. And there's at least three claiming to be "Philly's Favorite DJ". Tough claim when working in Market 143. I believe they would be better personalities if they would just be themselves, find their own groove. They really sound like they are likeable persons, someone the listener can relate to. That's what radio needs now more than ever.

As far as false claims, be it known, the AC market has a lot of retired/former Philly jocks and personel on-air who know better because we were there.

 

[radioguynj]

Amfmsw...

I think you mean "peeve", not "pieve"- unless you're speaking French (grey poupon, anyone?) ;D

 

[amfmsw]

naw...I only use Polish mustard, like Koiscusco or Pilsudski. I even use it in my wing sauce. Yellow is for hot dogs.

Now the question is...did I spell them right?

 

[Those RRRRs]

It's obvious to anyone who has ever heard TJ the DJ that he is a fraud. Even wikipedia lists him as a con man's con man!

I can't listen to his Sirius show because of his cheap downloads. Almost every song he plays has that annoying background noise that comes from downloading songs that were uploaded at 128 kbps or less. For crying out loud, buy a "Best of Doo Wop" CD for $10.99

His whole act from his cheap downloads to his "fundraising" is very suspicious. I can tell from the sound of his voice the guy's a phony.

 

[bigtom101]

Seeing as how I work with TJ at WJRZ on Sunday nights, and have known the man for 3 years, maybe I can shed some light on this.

I know TJ admires and respects allot of Philly & NYC jocks - on JRZ he has many, many drops from Cousin Brucie, Jerry Blavat (including a whole talkover to Martha & The Vandellas "Quicksand"), and a few from Pittsburgs Porky Chedwick. As far as "feeling good like a rockin jock should" and other jock rhyming patter, I'm sure every Top 40 jock from the 60's has uttered phrases like that. For music beds and "music from the heart", I dont think he's trying to rip off anyone - just doing what he can to make the show more than your usual request/call in show and to try to connect with the listeners as best he can.

To Those RRRRs: the sound quality issue is because of the various compression codec's used - from the ISDN line and Sirius's own compression/processing scheme. TJ has a disc for every song in his library and automation system - I should know, because I put many of the songs in!

As far as the claims that he is a fraud and a phony, nothing could be further from the truth. He has a passion for the music and the artists that is second to none, and has never done me any wrong on or off the air. I've been to his shows, I own many of the box sets he's put togeather, and know that there is nothing but truth and honesty in his voice. Think what you like, but the TJ that I know is the real deal and a great guy.