DJ marks 30 years on Boston radio

By Clea Simon, Globe Correspondent, 10/23/2003

When J. J. Wright came to Boston as a DJ, he played Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and Stevie Wonder. The year was 1973, and the Louisville, Ky., native had left his hometown to join WRKO-AM, which was then a Top 40 station.

After 30 years, most of them spent at "Kiss" WXKS-FM (107.9) and WROR-FM (105.7), Wright settled into the afternoon drive slot last year at WODS-FM (103.3). The music he's playing from 2 to 6 p.m. each day is once again Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and Motown. (Though, he says, not enough Stevie Wonder.)

"Basically, the music I'm playing now is the music I was playing back then when it was new," says Wright, who marked three decades on Boston radio last week. "Oldies" WODS focuses on tunes from roughly 1964 to 1979, and the music still sounds good to him. "All these songs have staying power. The music of the Temptations -- you still hear their songs now. You think Britney Spears will be playing 30 years from now?"

Some tunes, he notes, are even more popular in the 21st century than when they were in the Top 40. "Dirty Water" by the Standells has benefited from a gung-ho Red Sox season (despite its finale), and promises to stay strong throughout the Patriots and Bruins seasons. Barry White's music also has enjoyed a renaissance, no doubt because of its regular presence on TV's "Ally McBeal."

But if the music has lasted, the nature of radio itself has changed. "We live by research now," Wright says. "If research dictates that this set of songs tests well, then those are the songs we play. Back then, we went on record sales, and on occasion the DJ could play his favorite. Right now, we really don't have that freedom."

Wright himself has rolled with the profession's changes. "I've been lucky in that respect," he says, describing himself as a DJ for life ("I talk in 30-second blurbs.")

He adds, though, that he would be hesitant to advise newcomers to choose a career in radio. "It's changed too much. There's really no one left who is willing to teach these young guys, and some of these young guys are not willing to learn. You can make as much money working at McDonald's when you're starting out. But if you're willing to pay your dues and hone your craft and take direction, you can make a living out of this business."

Wright credits his longevity to his willingness to follow his own advice. "Keep your mouth shut and behave yourself. Just go with the flow: Take direction and roll with the changes, 'cause the changes keep coming," he says.

And he wouldn't consider a different career. "As long as I can talk, I'll be doing it," he says. "With today's technology, we have the ability now to do it from our homes, so I'm banking on that happening."

What will he be playing in that distant future? "I always go with the flow of the music," says the DJ. "Since this music is so timeless, I'll probably be playing these songs forever."

Spinning the dial

Sunday afternoon at 2, WGBH-FM (89.7) presents a live broadcast of the Handel & Haydn Society's Symphony Hall concert. Titled "A Roman Holiday," the program features soprano Dominique Labelle as Grant Llewellyn conducts three settings of Psalms by the young Handel, all written during his three years in Rome. . . . Trade magazine Radio Ink has named the top 15 radio programmers in national major markets, and Boston has three of them: Don Kelley of WMJX-FM (106.7) at No. 12, "Cadillac" Jack McCartney of WXKS at No. 11, and Greg Strassell of WBMX-FM (98.5) at No. 7.

Globe on NECN

Here's what's happening on "Around the Globe" today on NECN:

12:30 p.m.: "Globe at Home" -- Book editor James Concannon and children's book author C. M. Rubin talk about "Eleanor, Ellatony, Ellencake, and Me."

4 p.m.: "Around the Globe"

6:30 p.m.: "New England Business Day"

8 p.m.: "NewsNight" Schedule is subject to change.

On Boston.com

Noon: Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert talks about the tube.

2 p.m.: Handyman Peter Hotton offers home repair tips and tricks.

Talk of the dial

9 a.m. WDIS-AM (1170) -- "Mornings With Evie." Guests: Jeanine Pirro, Westchester County district attorney and author, "To Punish and Protect: One DA's Fight Against a System That Coddles Criminals"; Neal Pollack, author, "Never Mind the Pollacks."

5 p.m. WBNW-AM (1120) -- "PM Magazine." Guests: Maggie Mahar, author, "Bull! What Every Investor Needs to Know About Financial Cycles"; Ron Nash, Karl Jennings, Nash & Co., discuss middle market mergers and acquisitions; Suzanne Zoglio, author, "Recharge in Minutes."