Crystal: Tribute to comic Jus Jay
HOT 103 JAMZ, LOCAL ENTERTAINERS, COMICS JOIN IN TO PAY TRIBUTE TO JUS JAY, by Crystal Booker
KANSAS CITY – Comedian Jus Jay was a brilliant star whose light was extinguished too soon. He was Kansas City’s own and wherever he went he represented KC very well. Friday July 16th at Body Works Phase II all of his family and friends gathered together to remember this Comedy legend. Jus Jay passed away recently of complications with his kidneys, so Samuel U Rogers was on hand to give health screenings.
The many people that came out for this event proved that although Jus J is gone he will never be forgotten. Comics came from all over to honor this Comedy Legend. The event was hosted By Hot 103 Jamz DJ Sean Tyler along with Comedians Tidy Dillard and Bobby J. All of whom were personal friends of Jus Jay. Jus Jay was only 26 years old when he passed, but he touched a lot of people in the short time he was here. The crowd was hype and the energy of all the performers was phenomenal. The spirit of Jus Jay was definitely in the air and could be felt everywhere.
The laughs were cranked up to high gear thanks to Comics like Jaylee “Do She Man” Thomas from St. Louis, Roc the Entertainer also from St. Louis and Cerone Russell from KC, MCGriff and Sean Hill just to name a few. Everybody was hilarious! Everyone had a good time. Not only were there comics but also musicians such as Chris Nickens or C-Note, who plays saxophone like no other and rapper the king.
The whole evening was a fitting farewell tribute to Jus Jay and it was a 5 out of 5 star night. I had a blast! I had a chance to speak with a few of the evenings performers and they were eager to share their feelings about Jus Jay and what he meant to them. I even spoke to Jus Jay’s Mom Stephanie Owens as well as his Widow Kristyn Jus K Jackson. The strength of these women will inspire you. So without further ado the Q&A’s start below. Enjoy!
Mass Appeal PR manager Crystal Booker spoke with Just Jay’s mother, Stephanie Owens
Q&A with Jus Jay’s Mom Stephanie Owens
CB: Ms. Owens what has this night meant to you?
SO: This night has meant a whole lot to me. It shows me just how much of a phenomenal impact that my son has had in this world. He has left a mark that no one can erase and I’m so very proud to be Jus Jay’s Mom. It just makes my heart feel so good to know that there are so many people that have so much genuine love for my son. It makes me feel good to know that I as a single Mom raised my son to be such a wonderful person. And I just appreciate it and I just thank God for all of the people that came out to celebrate his life. I thank you for being here!
CB: Oh thank you! It was my pleasure.
SO: I love the fact that my son’s life will still live on even though he’s not physically here but his sprit will live forever. In his children you know he loved his children. Oh they were like two peas in a pod. He did the “Yo Gabba Gabba”, he did the “Cosby”, he did “The Princess and the Frog”. You know he spent quality time with his children because that’s how much he loved them. He loved me. He loved his wife. He loved life and life loved him. And God does not make any mistakes. Of course physically I’m going to miss him, emotionally, psychologically because I have a cousin here from out of town and I was like ok let me pick up the phone and call Jay. And I said “Lord I’m about to pick the phone up and call my son and he’s gone,” but God said “I love him more.” So he was just on loan to me. I will always love him and I will always miss him. And I love everyone that loves him.
Q&A with Kristyn “Jus K” Jackson
CB: What has tonight meant to you?
JK: Oh man tonight was just I can’t even describe in words what tonight has meant to me. Like I said before, in the nine years that Jay has done comedy I don’t think he realized the impact he had on this city. I don’t really think he knew his worth. He didn’t think he was this good of a comic. You know yeah he thought he was good, but I don’t think he really knew the impact that he had on this city and even outside the city.
So when I look at what was here today and what the turnout was at his home going service and love he is getting on his Facebook page. It is so amazing to me cause now we are actually seeing the seeds that have been sowed. We’re seeing it grow now and this is the first time I have actually seen all of this. It’s amazing to me so I know Jay is looking down and looking at all this love he is getting.
And I know he’s floored, he’s astonished by it because like I said he didn’t believe he had all of this. So you know when I see all of this it makes me proud. It makes me very proud of what he’s done just in the short time we had him here. I’m so happy for that.
CB: So what is next for you in your life in picking up the pieces and moving on without him?
JK: Well you know I’m just going to keep on keeping on. You know like he would want me to do. One thing about my husband is that he hated to see me cry. He hated to see me sad and down on myself. So, you know for him especially for him I’m going to keep moving on. You know like I have been. I get ready to start a new job on Monday.
CB: Congratulations!
JK: Thank you. And I know he was excited about that and I’m getting ready to start school in the fall. I’m just going to be there for our daughter, you know we have a 2 year old daughter. You know I’m going to keep moving on for her and we going to continue on our life together you know as God wants it to be. And just take it one day at a time you know what I’m saying? Just take it day by day, minute by minute, and moment by moment. You know I know that God really has helped me. He’s really kept me. He’s kept me strong through all of this.
It’s obviously God because I couldn’t have done it by myself. With Him there with me, helping me and being there with me every step of the way. I know I’ll be ok. Regardless of whatever happens I know I’ll be ok and Jay’s always with me. He’s always with me and so I take that with me every day. And that’s what’s I’m going to keep doing you know until I leave until I join him up in them pearly gates. That’s how we’re going to do it.
CB: So because of this tragedy are you going to also be an advocate for the disease to make people aware and travel around doing speaking engagements?
JK: Yeah I absolutely would want to do that. A matter of fact that’s one of the things that me and Jay talked about off and on you know when he was alive. Once he got his transplant and you know even from that point on in the last couple of months we always talked about what it is that we can do to help other people be aware of kidney failure and kidney disease. You know that was something that we were pretty much ignorant about in the beginning. Until it got to that point you know where he got sick.
So you know that is always something we definitely wanted to do was to try to raise awareness. One thing he always said is when he got big and made it big in show business he wanted to be the poster boy for kidney failure and The Kidney Foundation. So, you know whatever it is that I can do on my end to help in that aspect I definitely want to do it. Because you know it is a growing disease and it’s a growing illness and you know a lot of it is due to people don’t know about it. So, whatever I can do on my end to help of course I’m going to do it.
CB: If someone wanted to book you for an engagement to come and speak to their group or give a donation to the foundation how would they reach you?
JK: First off for the old school people that don’t know about the internet that well you can reach me on my cell phone. I am Kristyn Jackson and my cell phone number is (816) 518-8557. You can also reach me on my email and that is krekre63135@yahoo.com and you can also reach me on my Facebook page. Basically If you go on Facebook and type in Kristyn Jackson you’ll find me and you can reach me that way. I’m the cute chunky big girl with the picture on the front. If it’s not me it’ll probably be Jay on that default picture. So you’re going to know it’s me from one of the two pictures. That’s one of the three main ways that you can get a hold of me.
CB: Do you have any upcoming events that you’d like to share or any parting words?
JK: Well there is an event that’s coming up on July 30. I’m sure a lot of people know about it already. It’s the “Friday Night Comedy Jam.” It has Lavelle Crawford, Joe Claire and Dominique. That was the show that Jay was originally scheduled to perform on and since he’s no longer here with us they are basically making that show in honor of him. So if people can come out to that I would greatly appreciate it. I know the guy that’s putting the show together. He’s really cool you know and down to earth. I got a chance to meet him. Jay spoke very highly of him when he was still here. I want everybody to support that show as well.
As far as parting words go I just want to say from the bottom of my heart. I want to thank everybody that impacted his life. Everybody that was a part of his life that you know was involved with him that was there at his shows that laughed. You know all of his fans and his close friends. I thank everybody that was there because if wasn’t for you guys Jus Jay would not be the person that he is today and that he is going to be from this point on. So it’s for that I thank God for all of you and I thank everybody.
CB: I want to thank you for taking time to speak with me.
Q&A with Host Bobby J
CB: Hey Bobby how are you doing tonight?
BJ: I’m doing good how are you?
CB: I’m doing good. What has tonight meant to you?
BJ: It means a lot to me. A lot of Jay’s friends come from out of town and everybody came together to support and show their love for Jay. It means a lot to me. It means a lot to his family. It means a lot for our community for people to seek awareness and find out some things that they didn’t know or that we don’t care to know. You know black folks like to self diagnose ourselves. So you know it’s just real cool that everybody came out to show the love and send him off in a fashion that he would like.
CB: Now knowing Jus Jay as well as you did do you think that he would approve of tonight?
BJ: Jay I know Jay and he would say “It took me to be dead for all yall to come out to my show.” But you know I really do I think he does and he would be happy to see all of these people here for him and supporting him like they are. Without a care everybody is out here and that’s what Jay the love he showed everybody and now they’re giving it back. It’s real cool.
CB: That’s awesome! Were you and Jay very close? How many years did you know him?
BJ: I’ve known Jay about 7 years. We were close like brothers. I was the last person to talk to Jay when he passed away. And that just plays over and over in my head every day, every night. We were close like not just like we seen each other out went to school together. People that went to school with him they weren’t as close as me and Jay. We shared the deepest things between us. We had our first kid together and everything like that. It was just a lot of experiences that we shared. It was more than comedy. It was just we were like real brothers.
CB: That’s really wonderful. Do you have any upcoming events you’d like to tell us about?
BJ: Yes July 30th I’ll be hosting the Lavelle Crawford, Dominque and Joe Claire comedy show. I’ll be in Jay’s place so in honor of Jay that I’ll be replacing him. I’ve got a lot of things coming up. I just wrapped up a movie in Mississippi called “A Comics Hustle” that will be out in December, so a lot of things working out.
CB: Well that’s awesome we will definitely be on the lookout.
Hot 103 Jamz’s Sean Tyler (pictured above)
& entertainers paid their respect to Just Jay
Q&A with Sean Tyler
CB: Hey Sean how are you doing tonight?
ST: Doing great. How are you Crystal?
CB: I understand that you will be hosting tonight?
ST: I guess sort of, cause there’s like 27 comedians on here so it’s kinda hard to host with hosts. But we’ll figure it out.
CB: Well you know you’re the host with the most Sean. Did you know Jay personally?
ST: I did Jay was a real good friend of mine. As a matter of fact I was on the phone with Jay hours before he passed away that afternoon.
CB: That must have been very hard to take. Our prayers are definitely with his family as well as you as his friend. What does this evening mean to you?
ST: It means a lot especially with the National Kidney Foundation tie in. Because Jay died of kidney failure and there are a lot of other diseases that we as African Americans suffer from. Kidney disease is usually a result of that including diabetes. It’s not a disease that has a lot of warning signs. So I definitely want people to get some information from the National Kidney Foundation while they’re and find out how, because it’s preventable. Just like most of the things that take out African Americans are they are very preventable. We need the knowledge. Knowledge is king so I’m glad this event is definitely going to do that much.
CB: Well I want to thank you Sean for taking time to speak with us.
Q&A with Sax Man C-Note
CB: What does this night mean to you?
CN: It means a lot because Jus Jay was a great man not a good man but I would say he was a great man. He was a family man and he’s a good friend of mine. And I will do anything to honor his remembrance.
CB: Did you know him very long?
CN: Maybe 3 or 4 years.
CB: How long have you been doing music?
CN: For about 17 years.
CB: Do you have any upcoming events that are starting that would like everyone to know about?
CN: Just that I will have a solo original project coming out with my own music. I’ve been playing cover tunes and doing like mix CD’s and stuff for a while, but I’ll be having a CD coming out soon produced by Mr. Brian Kennedy.
CB: Is there a website or anything where someone can check out your tracks?
CN: I have a few tracks on My Space at Soul Sax Sensation. You can shoot me an email and my email address is saxmancnote@gmail.com or saxmancnote@yahoo.com.
CB: One final question. How important do you think it is for African Americans to make sure that they remain healthy by getting our health screened and checked every year?
CN: It’s very important. I also believe we need to teach our kids so they can teach their kids. Because at the end of the day health is all we got really.
Q&A with Film Maker Chuck Brown
CB: What does this night mean to you?
BROWN: It means a lot because I just met Jay 2 weeks prior to his death. It felt like I had known him for years he was a real cool guy. It means a lot for all the people to come out and be a part of this comedy show for him.
CB: How many years have you been a film maker?
BROWN: About 6 years.
CB: Do you have any upcoming events you’d like everyone to know about?
BROWN: I have a short film that will be premiering in St. Louis on August the 1st. I have a few upcoming music video projects coming up in a couple of months.
CB: If someone wanted to reach you what would they have to do? Is there a website where they can contact you?
BROWN: They can reach me through email at chuckbfilms@ymail.com and you can some of my work at youtube.com/chuckbcbp.
Q&A with Comedian Jaylee “Do She Man” Thomas
CB: How are you doing tonight?
JT: I’m great! Having fun down I’m down here in Kansas City for the benefit show for my little brother Jus Jay. Fixin to show Kansas City what the “Do She Man” is all about.
CB: What does tonight mean to you?
JT: It means a lot because Jus Jay was more than just a comedian. He was like a little brother to me. We had a special bond probably more of a bond than I have with any other comedian here in Kansas City where my kids know him. Actually I’m here daughter’s God Father. I’m Chastity’s God Father so this means a lot to me cause he meant a lot to me. So I’m just down here hanging out and going to perform for a minute and show love to my klittle brother Jus Jay.
CB: If everybody wanted to know what’s going on with you and your career how would one get a hold of you? Do you have a website?
JT: I’m working on getting the website built. I got Facebook Jaylee Thomas of course My Space. Also if you’re up in St. Louis I do a comedy show every Wednesday night at the Junkyard Bar and Grill. I’m in and out of town. I’ll probably be in your city you just gotta to look out for me. I got the hottest catch phrase in America and in the world and that’s “Do She”.
CB: Awesome! So do you have any upcoming events you want to share with everyone?
JT: Yes August 6th-7th I’m doing a show. I’m headlining at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club in Washington DC. So DC look out for me. Also I’m working on a comedy cruise it’s called Cruising with the Do She Man Comedy Cruise on the Mississippi River Boat there in St. Louis. You know I’ve got a lot of projects coming up. I’m also trying to find my own comedy club something new and hot in St. Louis. So just be on the lookout for me.
CB: How important do you think it is for people to not neglect their health?
JT: Please whoever you are never neglect your health. God can only do so much. A man can only do so much. If their doctor tells you to go do something take care of it ASAP. I know you might not want to have surgery but sometime it can be the best where you might be in pain for 3 weeks but you might have a life time you know more than what you’re living right now. I think that we all need to get physicals and take things like that very seriously. I didn’t even know he was that sick.
When he came to St. Louis a month before he passed I seen him but I’m used to seeing him but I just didn’t know. And then to get a text like that from out the blue really shocked me. But let me tell you something it was a reality check. It really was for me and everybody else who knew him. Especially men or whoever got health problems don’t be ashamed to ever go to a doctor and say man I need to be talked to about this and that before they tell you ya got something you can’t even get rid of.
CB: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Do you have any parting words?
JT: Yeah you know what I’m saying Kansas City yall know me Jaylee “Do She”! Yall gotta look out for me I wanna come back to Kansas City. I wanna do the Improv and any work yall got down here. Yall got Bobby J. down here. Yall got Tidy and the Kings of Kansas city Comedians down here. So, I want yall to keep supporting then so I can come back. How about that?
CB: Awesome!
Mass Appeal PR manager Crystal Booker shares a few laughs with Mr. McGriff
Q&A with Comedian Mr. McGriff
CB: Did you know Jus Jay personally?
MM: Oh yeah definitely. That’s why I’m here cause Jus Jay was my boy. I remember Jus Jay when he first started doing comedy when I used to come to Kansas City years and years ago. So I come to show my support and my love.
CB: What does tonight mean to you?
MM: Tonight means giving without getting paid, doing something that comes from the heart. Trust me that’s what tonight means to me cause this was my boy and I’m one of the best known comics on this show that would even actually come and do something like this. A lot of comics feel they are probably too big or too popular. But sometimes it’s not about how big or popular you is. It’s about doing something that’s good.
CB: If everyone wanted to know what was going on with you do you have a website or a way people can contact you?
MM: I do have a website innovativeinkentertainment.com and you can reach me on Facebook at facebook.com/funnymanmcgriff
CB: Do you have any upcoming events you’d like to share?
MM: I’m just on the road steady just traveling all over the country. I just got back from Japan entertaining the Troops. Hopefully I’ll be coming to Kansas City doing something.
CB: That’s very admirable. Tragically we lost Jus Jay too soon. How important would you say it is to not neglect your health?
MM: It’s real important especially for the African American community with our back grounds and stuff like that. We are known to believe and you know don’t educate ourselves properly. If you don’t educate yourself on how to keep yourself healthy and stuff then you are putting yourself at very dangerous risk. I actually lost about 50 pounds just for health reasons. Imma tell you miss woo I feel great. No joke at all yall.
CB: Do you have any parting words?
MM: I would like to say R.I.P. to Jus Jay one of Kansas City’s greatest comics for real. He was definitely coming up you know doing his thing. That was my kat. Everybody keep supporting everybody else in KC my boy Bobby J, Tidy you know yall keep lookin out for theae kats doin they thing as well. Jus Jay will be missed but never forgotten.
Q&A with Comedian Cerrome Russell
CB: How long have you been doing comedy?
CR: This will be about 9 years this year.
CB: Did you know Jus Jay personally?
CR: Yeah I did. I just moved to Kansas City from Atlanta about 2 and a half years ago and I met Jay when I first got here. I was looking for places around town to do comedy and Jus Jay was hosting a comedy show called Laugh Out Loud Wednesdays at the Improv in town. He actually gave me my first shot on the Kansas City, Missouri side to do comedy. So I knew him pretty well. We kept in touch talking and joking and laughing and calling each other on the phone so, he was a good friend of mine.
CB: What does this night mean to you?
CR: It means a lot. I miss my friend and just knowing his wife and his daughter. You want to do something to help and the best way to do it is to do what my job is and what I love doing and what Jay loved dong and just give back. Give some laughs back and hopefully help them out with anything they need whether it be financial. Whether it be time. Whether it be prayer. Whether it be a kind word or anything.
CB: If one wanted to contact you how would they go about doing that?
CR: You can hit me up on Twitter or You tube. On Twitter it’s Cerrome Russell comic is the name of the channel. And on Twitter it’s the same thing just follow @cerromerussell.
Mass Appeal PR manager Crystal Booker caught up with Kansas City’s ‘Roc the Entertainer’
Q&A with Roc the Entertainer
CB: What has tonight meant to you?
RE: Well a good of ours died and I had to come and show my love even though it was for free. I had to come because that was my people. He came down to my house down in St. Louis. I have a house every Thursday yall. If you’re ever in St. Louis come to Game Zone. Yall come on in and bring a friend whenever you’re in St. Louis just look me up.
CB: Is there a website that people can visit if they want to know what is going on with you?
RE: They can go to my Facebook page under Dwight Lomax or Roc the Candy Licker. Just give me a call (314) 393-1258.
Q&A With Comedian Q Hill
CB: What does tonight mean for you?
Q: Tonight means coming out paying respects to a good friend of mine. I got a chance to meet him last year actually at this club called The Ware House. He came down to St. Louis a few times at the House of Comedy and we got a chance to hang out. The guy had good energy. He was a good brother so I wanted to come out and show my respect.
CB: How long have you been doing comedy?
Q: I’ve been doing comedy for 7 years.
CB: That’s a long time. If one wanted to contact you how would they go about doing that?
Q: You can contact me on Facebook or my cell phone.
CB: Do you have any upcoming events you want to share?
Q: Yeah I will be in St. Louis on the 5th at the Ambassador and Oklahoma the month after that so, come and check me out.
Q&A With Comedian Sean Hill
CB: What does tonight mean to you?
SH: It means a lot because it’s helping out a worthy cause, and it’s also helping out the family, and an opportunity to show out in front of my peers.
CB: Are you from Kansas City?
SH: Yes maam born and raised. I recently got into the game of comedy 2 years ago and I’ve just been flappin my little wings.
CB: Did you know Jus Jay personally?
SH: Yes we went on a road trip to St. Louis together with Bobby J. They were like mentoring me since I’m new to the game he would watch my set then tell me that would be perfect if you add this or do that differently. He was very involved with a lot of the jokes that I told tonight because those were his favorites.
CB: If people wanted to know what’s going on with you is there a way to contact you or a website they can visit?
SH: Yes www.seanhillentertainment.com or Comedian Sean Hill on Facebook.
CB: Do you have any upcoming events you’d like to share?
SH: I’m working on a film and I start shooting another one on August 1st. I’m just trying to keep it moving and September 26th we’re going to be at the ACE building at South East Middle School doing a Gospel Extravaganza so come on out and enjoy yourself.
Crystal Booker, a distinguished member of the Kansas City Film Critic’s Circle, is the movie critic of Kansas City’s Magic 107.3 FM. She is also a contributing writer to I Love Black Movies.com. To view her movie reviews, click here. For the latest reports, check out “Crystal on the Scene.” She welcomes both your questions and comments at crystalb@crystalsbonusandreviews.com
July 28th, 2010 at 12:07 am
big jus jay wuz good peeps– r.i.p.
July 28th, 2010 at 8:49 am
it was really sad what happened to jus j … i wish his family nothing but the best. good article crystal!
July 28th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
nice tri-bute given luv to jus jay
July 28th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I was at Body Works for the event. Everybody did a good job putting the show together. They did Jus J proud.
July 28th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
crystal you are always on the scene… you go girl!!!