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| Jay King to Tribute Dick Griffey With Special Radio Show Industry veteran, radio personality and music producer Jay King had the distinct honor of holding court with music mogul Dick Griffey days before he passed away on September 24, 2010. Not realizing his role model was living his last days, King had initially planned to pay homage to Griffey on his BlogTalkRadio show, "The Way I See It" with a show entitled "Honoring Mr. Griffey as a Living Legend." That show will air this Sunday, October 3 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm pst on www.blogtalkradio.com/jay-king and the title of the show will remain the same. Explains King, "We believe Mr. Griffey is still alive through his music and many contributions to the community." Being in the titan's company during his last days has further inspired King to plan a full series entitled "Honoring the Pioneers of Music." "When I sat with Dick Griffey, I had no idea that he would not be here as I planned his show. I am overwhelmed by the loss. But now more that ever, it is clear to me that I have a duty to honor the soldiers and warriors in the music business, those gone and those still among us." "So many have paved the way for us and their accomplishments are often overlooked, like radio pioneer, Jack "The Rapper" Gibson; Sidney Miller, founder of BRE Magazine, the first Black music industry trade; the Urban Network's Miller London who was the first Black record salesman in the music business; Lee Bailey whose "Radioscope" was the first Black syndicated music magazine radio show catering to the urban community and Al Bell of Bellmark Records who helped to create and develop the southern soul sound of Stax Records and a host of others, " continues King. Jay King, his co-host Robert Redwine and their producer, Mari Torres are dedicated to devoting the next several shows to honoring these individuals and others whose legacy has impacted the musical landscape of our times. In 1977 Dick Griffey created SOLAR Records and began his assent to the number one position on the urban music scene, crossing into the mainstream pop music market with such acts as The Whispers, Shalamar, Midnight Star, Klymaxx and Lakeside to name a few. Griffey was also instrumental in the 1984 Presidential Bid of Jessie Jackson, took Stevie Wonder on his first tour to Japan and coined the phrase 'African American.' Dick Griffey, ever the visionary, was also was instrumental in the forming of Death Row Records, helping Suge Knight to realize the dream of owning and controlling his own label and his masters. "Mr. Griffey was the reason I believed I could own a label, " recalls King. "I am humbled to have been gifted the opportunity to sit with him in his last days and I am lucky, fortunate and blessed that I was able to tell him how much I loved, appreciated and respected his struggle for me and all of us who continue to thrive in the business called music." Guests for Sunday's tribute show include Howard Hewett (Shalamar), Reggie and Vincent Calloway (Midnight Star), Bernadette Cooper and Lorena Stewart (Klymaxx), and Walter Scott (The Whispers) along with Dick Griffey's daughter, Carolyn Griffey. "It is important for all musicians, producers, writers, managers, business people in the music business and the general public to acknowledge the heroes among us. We can no longer march through our lives without the pride, fight and dedication of those who came before us, " concludes King. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Jazz News :: home page |