J.J. Jackson, original MTV VJ, dies: "John 'J.J.' Jackson, a longtime radio station disc jockey who in the 1980s helped usher in the music video era as one of the first MTV on-air personalities, has died. He was 62. Jackson died of an apparent heart attack Wednesday while driving home from dinner in Los Angeles, friends and radio industry colleagues said Thursday. 'I talked to him like two days ago. J.J. was in a great place,' said Mark Goodman, a longtime friend who also worked with Jackson as a 'VJ' when MTV launched in 1981. 'It's incredible, so incredibly sad it happened like this.' In a statement, MTV said Jackson's love of music and good humor helped set the tone for the cable music network in its formative years. 'He was a big part of the channel's success and we are sure he is in the music section of heaven, with lots of his friends and heroes,' the statement said. 'He will be greatly missed.'"

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