J.J. Jeffrey, a legendary broadcaster born in Maine and who worked at major market radio stations, has passed away at the age of 84 after a brief illness.
Born Joseph Noyes Jeffrey, Jr. in 1940 in Portland, Maine, J.J. Jeffrey and his business partner Bob Fuller started WBLM radio in a trailer in Litchfield, Maine. That tiny little radio station grew to become a classic rock powerhouse in New England.
Previously, J.J. had worked in Boston, Pensacola, Philadelphia, and Chicago before coming back to his home in Maine and starting WBLM, forming the company Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting with business partner Bob Fuller.
J.J. later branched out to own Atlantic Coast Radio after Fuller-Jeffrey sold WBLM, WCYY, WHOM, WJBQ in Maine and WOKQ and WSHK in New Hampshire.
Jeffrey’s career indeed began in the 1960s, and he made a significant impact at major Top 40 stations like WMEX in Boston, WFIL in Philadelphia, and WLS in Chicago. His engaging and humorous style, especially as “Melvin X. Melvin” at WMEX, earned him a dedicated following12.
In 1975, Jeffrey made the surprising decision to leave WLS in Chicago, despite being under contract, to return to Maine and focus on station ownership. This move led to the formation of Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting with Bob Fuller, and they launched WBLM in Portland, Maine. Their broadcasting group expanded significantly, making a lasting impact on the radio industry in New England12.
In 1997 Jeffrey and Fuller were inducted into the Maine Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
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