Radio/TV Personality Bo Griffin Remembered (1959-2010)

It’s with a very sad heart, we report the untimely death due to intestinal cancer of radio personality Bontia “Bo” Griffin, recipient of BRE Magazine’s first Shannon Dell Breaking the Glass Ceiling Drummer Award. She was one of the greats. Bo was one of the first female personalities to be the lead on a major market morning show, and that was WPOW-FM (Power 96) in Miami. She was No. 1 and also did stints on WEDR-FM (99 Jamz) and WHQT-FM (Hot 105) as well as entertainment reporter for local TV. Let me tell you, if you didn’t know Bo, then you didn’t know…personality radio. She lit up your radio with her wit, a sparkling laugh and knowledge of her community, the world. If it was hot, Bo was on it! She was funny, she could be provocative and she was beautiful to listen to. She was also one of the first radio personalities to segue into television. I know because I introduced her to the great Don Brown of NBC News, who immediately saw her vivacious personality, and she began doing double duty on Power 96 and NBC 6 in Miami as the TV station’s entertainment reporter. Originally from Greenville, South Carolina where she also launched her own clothing boutique, Griffin went on to the television show “Good Day Live,” guest host of the Game Show Network’s “GSN Live,” host of the travel series “Blue Ribbon” on Turner South as well as the home makeover show, “The Big Reveal” for HGTV. That was her dream, to be in front of the camera.

God bless her…she was my friend, she was a shining example of a professional, of a person who loved what she did, and she did it well. May she rest in peace, but I know she won’t. She’s already up there, lighting up that big radio station in the sky!

Michael Jackson, King of Pop, Dead At 50 (August 29, 1958-June 25, 2009)

Michael Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Center today from his Bel Air home via ambulance in response to a 911 call from the singer’s residence. Paramedics who arrived on the scene at approximately 12:30 pm today report they were unable to revive him from an apparent cardiac arrest.  Jackson was pronounced dead at the hospital.
His sister LeToya Jackson was among the first of the family members to arrive at the hospital. His father Joe Jackson is enroute from Las Vegas while his mother Katherine Jackson was being rushed to the scene as well.
Jackson, who had been preparing for his upcoming 50-date sold out concert tour at the O2 in London, had recently pushed the start date back from July 8 to July 13 because of reported poor health. There was a lot riding on the AEG tour which Michael had consented to do, reportedly he said, mainly so his children could see him perform one last time and, as always, for his fans.
Jackson’s Visionary, the Video Singles box set, was recently released. The limited edition 20 dual discs—CD on one side and DVD on the other—were packaged in sleeves featuring an exact replica of his original 7“ and 12” artwork.
Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.

Prophetically, Michael has posted on his website announcing his “This Is It” tour the following: “The time has come. It is now I see and feel that calling once again, to be a part of a music that will not just connect but, make all feel one, one in joy, one in pain, one in love, one in service and in consciousness.”