I write today with a heavy heart. My close friend and friend to many at HOT 103 JAMZ! Larry J., lost his battle with cancer over the weekend. There are many of you who will read this that didn't know Larry J, so let me paint a picture for you. Long before these fly by night promoters in Kansas City who call themselves concert and party promoters came along, Larry J, Captain Vonzell, Sgt. Oooh Wee, Marcus Smith and Kevin "KB" Brown of KB's Lounge, had the city on lock.  When it comes to promoting partys and events at hotels, clubs, and even your mama's basement, Larry J and the fellas made the blueprint. You had to be at anything they promoted.

Then there was "The Universal Lounge" on the corner of Amour and Troost. A Kansas City club way ahead of it's time. Not only did Lary J. and brother Vample (as many call him) have "The Universal Lounge" jumping at that corner, but go south a few blocks and they had "The Inferno Lounge".  There you could see all the hottest national acts there. From blues great Z.Z. Hill, to jazz great Najee, to the R&B showstopper Roger Troutman and Zapp,. What a lot of people didn't know, most of the MAJOR concerts that came through Kansas City at The Municipal Auditorium and Kemper Arena back in the 90's, Larry J and Vample promoted those shows.

Now let's move to the corner of 18th & Vine in the same space as Harper's On The Vine. Who can forget EBLON"S......WOW!!!!  Is all I have to say. When it comes to promotions they were innovators and at the top of their game. Eblon's is where "CLUB JAMZ LIVE" that you hear on HOT 103 JAMZ! originated from. So for those of you that are to young to remember some of these things I'm talking about, ask your older brother or sister, or your mom and dad,  they can tell you who Larry J was.

As I close and head to the bar at the Epicurean to order my firend his favorite drimk of Grand Marnier, I'll take a sip and say R.I.P.......LARRY J.