1) What is your first memory of Prince?


my 1st meeting with Prince stands out in my memory because he avoided all eye-contact and seemed to get nervous at the sight of me offering my hand for him to shake.he warmed up a couple of years later though.
our 1st meeting in person was in 1982,he was playing in Detroit,i was interviewing Morris backstage.



2) How would you sum up your relationship with him? was it business? friendship?

i put it this way-i had a service that Prince needed(spinning his new records).
Prince always had a great single out in those days so i needed him also to make my show funky.it was a friendly buisiness arrangement you could say.


3) What is your favorite Prince album? song? concert tour?


1999 is my favorite Prince album.
if i had to pick 1 song it would be "When Doves Cry".
favorite tour was Lovesexy.


4) Prince has often said the Detroit is his favorite place to perform, why do you think that is true?


because the fans he has in Detroit have always welcomed him here.
some cities are a little fickle and only want to come see you when you have a hit,in Detroit,the people supported Prince no matter what.an un-conditional love.

5) What do you think of today's Prince music?


it's not much different than it ever was to be honest.
the lyrics seem to be a bit more personal these days though.

6) Why weren't you in Purple Rain?


i wasn't asked to be in Purple Rain.
i was asked to play "When Doves Cry" a couple nights before anyone else had it!
i still have the acetate that was cut for me to play!

7) When was the last time you saw or talked to Prince?


the last time i spoke to Prince was by telephone,in 2001.

8) Prince has long been in favor of "real music/real musicians" what do you think of hip-hop and how contrary to his school of thought?


Prince is a"musicians-musician",that being said,i think he get's somewhat offended when an "artist" can't play an instrument.


9) Tell us your favorite Prince memory?


it was in Detroit on the Purple Rain tour.
i was put in a small dressing room backstage to tape some i.d's for the radio station-
i was supposed to get station i.d's from a couple members of the Revolution-
it was getting late,like an hour until the concert was supposed to start,nobody from the band was in sight,i thoght i was screwed and then i hear this loud rumble outside my door-it was Prince,Bobby Z,Alan Leeds and Chick(the bodygaurd)-they were playing nerf-football in the hallway!
the funny thing was,Bobby and Alan were on a team and Prince was up on Chicks shoulders with football in hand,Prince would give the signal to "charge" and low and behold,Chick would take off running down the hall with Prince "piggy-back" on his shoulders.it was a funny sight,i guesse you had to be there...

10) something about Prince you know that might suprise us..


how strong he really is.

Now, moving away from Prince and into Mojo, Music and Radio?


1) Most people want to know...What have you been up to?


i have been program director at a couple stations for the last 3 years.


2) Will we ever hear you on the radio again? or what about satellite or the internet?


we are in talks right now with the satellite stations.


3) What do you think of the state of today's radio?


todays radio isn't for guy's like myself.
we require a little more freedom to play what we think people "need" to hear.
todays radio is very formatted,i don't agree with most formats.
radio is kind of safe and boring right now.

4) Could anyone get away with your type of show ever again?


yes,on satellite radio!

5) Was there anything you wanted to do on your show that just wasn't allowed? cause it seemed like you did what you wanted to..


i was granted alot of artistic freedom because i believed in what i was playing.
luckily for me,my instincts were right!
i was not allowed to air "Bob George"though.i think Detroit would have loved that cut,lat,late at night,of course.

6) What bands/artists do you enjoy that have come out over the past few years?


Van Hunt,D'angelo,Remy Shand,Roots,Outkast etc...
plenty of good stuff out there.

7) Tell us about the concept of Mojo and the Mothership..Where did that come from?


well,nobody else was doing what we did there at the time.
we welcomed the listeners to come along on that trip with us,made the show more like a club.you were not going to turn the dial during my time-slot and hear the same songs that i played,i always made sure i gave my audience a little something extra.

8) Alot of questions came in about the time when you were "bouncing" around from station to station...what can you tell us about that time?


simple-formats at the stations changed from week to week.
i needed to be able to do my show without interference from the suits...

9) How about tapes of your old radio shows? many orgers would love to get some...


i have some tapes of my shows.
would not be able to "clear" them for release i'm afraid.

10) What does the future hold for Mojo?


like i said,we are talking to satellite radio stations now!
in the meantime i will continue my job as program director.

Message from the Mothership:
i just want to give thanks to all who took the time to write to me.
i have never forgotten you!
if everything works out,you may hear the mothership loud and clear again,soon!
thanks from the bottom of my heart everybody!

Motor Babies,

Mojo will b checking back here if u would like 2 leave him a message...

Grrrrr I just stopped in to check on news before going to clinicals so I can't give this the full attention it deserves right now.

I've just gotten through the first couple of questions and it is a wonderful read. I'll be back to give the rest my full attention.

Thanks for pulling this together MidnightFunk (and everyone else involved in making this happen)!

I've always thought satellite radio is a waste of money, but if Mojo is on I might consider it!

If Mojo was on satellite radio, I would definitely buy it!!!!

Thank you MidnightFunk!

That's a great interview!

Thanks MidnightFunk. That was a GREAT interview and to Mojo, thanks for sharing with us and if you go to Satellite Radio, I will get it just to hear you.

I have always said that the only reason I would subscribe to sat radio is if Mojo was on there. Good stuff, even if my questions weren't used ... Again, Mojo, I really just want to say thank you for hipping me to so much growing up. It's all your fault, and I love ya for it. Wish I could get a copy of that interview I did with you back in '89.

What station are you program director at?
[Edited 3/8/05 20:27pm]

Well, time to go and buy that portable xM radio, as soon as Mojo is on air.

Many thanks 2 u MidnightFunk and all those who made this interview possible. I just love all the things u guys have said about this wonderful man

I read the Q &A and I still don't understand. Wtf is the mojo/mothership
and what is his signifigance with Prince?

I've never heard the guy's shows before, but if he's looking into satellite radio, I sure it'll be XM (the better one; why? mainly cuz I subscribe to it...plain & simple ) and not Sirius!

klhk said:

At the start of Mojo's program day, he would start off with a little skit on how his ship was landing, to bring us jams with spaceship sound effects ... ala Dr. Funkenstein and the mothership..... The mothership in of itself had nothing to do with Prince, but Mojo was one of the only DJ's at the time in Detroit who would play a lot of P's new releases first along with never before heard b-sides and mixes....

Wow!

I did not have the pleasure of hearing Mojo in Detroit, so if he's going to satelite I will definately be there. It will be refreshing to hear something off format.

Those in the know, please let the rest of us know when/if Mojo goes satelite

My mental picture of Prince on Chicks shoulders playing Nerf football....that's a good Prince story...DAVE CHAPELLE???? Good Interview Thank's MidnightFunk and Mojo!!

I knew it!! Just let me know when and where you are on Satellite, Mojo, and I'm there!!

Thanks Midnight Funk, that was a great read!!!
[Edited 3/10/05 7:30am]

Wow,where to start. I rarely post on here but seeing something on Mojo inspired me. I have been wondering where he was and what he is up to and so glad I have my answer.
As a white kid growing up in the suburbs of metro Detroit, Mojo changed my freaking life musically forever. A complete musical education. This man was that great of a DJ. He is so much more than a DJ, he is a TREASURE and a LEGEND to the city of Detroit. The role he played in Prince's early career breaking him here played a big part in Prince's career in general and I'm so glad he agreed to answer some questions here.
If you did not live here or never had the honor to hear one of his shows you just can't understand I guess. But funny how I go back and read other messages from other Detroiters and it is like we all had the same experience. This man opened my eyes and ears to so much music I never knew existed and the color of the people playing it, the type of music it was made no difference. It was radio how it SHOULD BE, no formats, no restrictions, no playlists, to steal a Prince title a "Jukebox with a Heartbeat." I owe a good 75% of my musical collection to Mojo, he introduced me to Prince, he introduced me to Detroit techno, he introduced me to all that came before P and influenced him, I can just go on and on. All the things he did in his show, Star Wars, 35/35/35, his journeys, the Midnight Funk Assocation, his shows were incredible.

Mojo, if you ever read this thank you so much for all you did in this city.
Your influence on me and so many others is immeasurable. Whenever I spoke to you on the phone during your shows, you were always gracious with your time and a super nice guy. Words cannot describe how the Detroit airwaves miss you and if you get on satellite radio I AM THERE. Detroiters will always love you and we hope to hear from you again soon in some way. Radio needs you!!!

MikeA

MikeA7 said:

Wow!!! What a great read MikeA7. I’ve had the pleasure 2 hear all of you speak so highly of Mojo. All I can say is that I really envy u guys 4 having this wonderful man in your life coming up. Here I’m in Los Angeles and I can’t say the same when I was coming up. We had ok DJ’s but nothing compared 2 what u guys had. All I can say is I love reading your threads on this wonderful man and just 2 heard all of u say how he turned u on 2 P is absolutely priceless.

MikeA7 said:

That's what I'M sayin.

43rd annual film fest will have Ann Arbor reeling


The Detroit News


The 43rd annual Ann Arbor Film Festival begins March 15 in Ann Arbor. This year, there will be films from the Sundance film festival, along with "High Tech Soul," a documentary on the Detroit Techno scene. Most of the offerings are short films. Some of the films are free and some charge for entry. For more information on the locations, film descriptions and prices, contact:

Michigan Theater

603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor

Call (734) 668-8397 or visit www.aafilmfest.org/festiv...n_theater/

For all u Motor Babies, Mojo was interviewed for this movie (sorry..u don't get 2 see him)
[Edited 3/14/05 13:36pm]

This dude is gonna make me cave in and get XM radio.

up

Don't say damn...say whoa.
So proud to be from Detroit!

Hey MOJO!
If you have no plans for Memorial Day weekend...you should join us in Chi-Town, for the PurpleFUNK Fest2005!!!

Details can be found here: www.newpowerdetroit.com

MidnightFunk said:

thank you mojo!
i was born in detroit in 1969. your show helped me make it through some rough time. i credit you and prince with giving me a lot of inspiration to make good decisions. when pony down and ybi and drugs were the in my environment during my early teen years, your show, the music you played, your poetry helped me makeit through those years and become who i am today. i go down to detroit and can't help but fumble with the dial hoping to catch your return on radio.

have you everconsidered an internet show or an allegiance with some of the local small labels. my friend dj digital would love to meet you.

It's too much to type ... I just want to shake his hand and say THANK YOU. Thanks for the education, thanks for the endless grooves, thanks for inviting me on the aural adventures you took nightly in the mothership. You turned my mind onto ALL the good shit, ever since I was NINE. If you read this, Mojo, thank you. I still have that book you sent signed, and my homeboy still has the cassette version (book on tape or whatever) ... "For all the nights that you didn't hear my voice, and you knew I was burning the midnight oil somewhere...." ... And hey, THANKS ALSO TO WENDEL for covering the back end on those nights....

GREAT interview! Thanks Mojo. Hope to hear more from you soon.

I hope to hear Mojo on XM and/or Sirius soon.

FM Radio will die!!!