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I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

I am Jason H. Thornton, aka Jazzy Jas, Art Director and partner of "There's that Beat!" magazine with Dave Moore. I have been an obsessive record collector since age 6-July 1978 and a DJ from December 1984 to April 2005, with occasional Northern Soul nights and DJ spots every now and then. I'm a native of Wheeling, WV and hold a BFA in Graphic Design from WVU. I lived in Baltimore and worked as a graphic designer from July 1996 until April 2005. Since then, I've been living in South Florida.I am now at the stage in my life where I've taken all of this vinyl hoarding, useless music knowledge and my graphic design training and put it all to use. Although I do some freelance graphic design, I've been dealing in records and producing a quarterly magazine about rare/Northern Soul music called "There's That Beat!" I feel that it's truly a culmination of my interests and talents. I've come to detest the corporate World tremendously, so I want more control of my life. I don't care about really nice cars and useless bullshit that most Americans care about. I would rather make 10K less per year and have more flexibility and feed my soul. I want to be happy as I'm trying to make a living instead of being someone's little bitch and having my talents exploited at some uptite job. Channeling my frustrations and all the little things in my head into a nice soul magazine is far more rewarding.I've got a super-hot wife who is also on MySpace nicknamed "Moriko". She is truly a gift in my world and a seriously down-to-Earth person. She's a young chick but an old soul who understands a lot about people and the world around her. I'm very proud of her on so many levels. She's taught me just as much about life as I've taught her. I love this girl more than anything and I'm going to tell the whole World right here. I've been so one-sided for a long time and I feel that I've come a long way from just being some freak with 25,000 records in his garage (and his room, and his closet). I've learned to branch out and enjoy nature, become more active and get back in touch with animals. I was too urban, too self-centered and not balanced enough. I've improved quite a bit.I've got little interest in sports (occasionally a little bit of soccer-REAL football!) and rarely turn on a TV. On my own, I enjoy going out and digging for records for my collection, while turning a buck or two in profits every so often. I can get up at 6AM and dig for records until the evening when my fingers bleed-so long that I'll forget to eat. I'm a music fanatic to say the least and devote a lot of energy to learning as much as I can about records. When I'm with my wife, I enjoy going outside and taking walks through the woods, kayaking, and just generally bumming around with her and Moxy and Lucy, our Boston Terriers. These dogs are our little children. No plans to spawn.

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

I've got no ego whatsoever, and I'd like to meet other people who are into music and collecting records, mainly. I'd like to be able to network with like-minded people who want a little more out of life than the crap that's fed to them on the TV and on the radio. I also don't mind being the teacher every now and then when it comes to musical knowledge. I've got a lot of it in my head just taking up space that I'm willing to pass on.SOUL SINGERS/MUSIC PRODUCERS/SONGWRITERS AND THE UNSUNG HEROES OF MUSIC I've had the distinct privilege of talking at length and become friends with the legendary Mike Terry, the man who played baritone sax on damn near every Motown record from 1959 to 1965. When I talk to people like him who can tell me intimate details of riding in a tour bus with Mary Wells or loaning money to the Supremes when they were still giggling schoolgirls, I only want more. It drives me to keep going and seek out others like him, who have a story to tell. I want to document chapters in music that are as-of-yet, unwritten. There are loads of people out there that I'd love to talk to. One of my goals is to do an extensive set of interviews with Ashford & Simpson. They are behind so many important rare soul songs and Motown classics. I want to tell their story my way. It looks like it may happen, too. I'm very excited.NORTHERN SOUL FANS Specifically, I'd like to meet more people who are into northern soul. I'm seriously into it so if anybody else on MySpace is into it, give me a shout. I'll gladly swap CDs of my homemade comps with you. Also, I enjoy buying selling and trading northern 45s. Also, for the real-deal vinyl collectors, we're always looking for scans of record labels to be used in the articles. We'd love your involvement and input.Interested in writing a feature for us? Go to our web site: http://www.theresthatbeat.comAlso, check out our online soul club and forum: http://www.hitsvillesoulclub.comAGING B-BOYS AND HOUSE HEADS I'd also like to hear from people who might be into electro and obscure hip hop from the 80s, as well as old house music. I thought I had damn near everything until I looked on eBay and some people's record collecting sites. I love to swap CDs and tapes of my mixes and compilations with people. I was seriously into breakdancing and mixing back in the 80s, so old school is also in my blood. Got any radio shows of KISS FM , WBLS, Power 99, WBMX, etc.? I'd love to hear old tapes. I've got some to swap, too.PEOPLE LOOKING FOR RECORDS I'm trying to build a client base of people who are interested in all obscure forms of black music, ranging from 1950s doo wop, Belgium Popcorn/NY Jamaican Beat, reggae, 60s and 70s Soul, Jazz Funk, Disco, obscure Boogie, House, Italo Disco, Breaks, Electro, Old School Hip Hop, rare 12" singles, etc. etc. etc. - even old school speed Metal/Thrash, Harcore Punk, Industrial, New Romantic, all kinds of stuff! If you're looking for classics or really obscure sounds, just ask me because I might have it or know where to get it. If you've got great taste like me, we'll get along great!