A Sunday jam with RJ

MANILA, Philippines - If you’ve seen every film on the movie channel or you’ve become over-familiar with the music videos of local or foreign artists on the music channel, there is a weekly entertainment fare on TV that can be something to look forward to on Sundays.

RJ Sunday Jam is a three-hour show aired live (9 a.m. to 12 noon) on RJ TV 29 (Channel 19 on SkyCable). Hosted by Ramon “RJ” Jacinto, the show has a live streaming online and on RJ 100.3-FM. Hence, even if you’re abroad or simply in transit, you can catch the music and guest artists on your mobile phone.

Every Sunday, RJ readily starts the show on a perky note and that goes all throughout the morning. He is joined by “Angel” Jamie Fournier, who livens up the show by greeting viewers, reading their messages on the air, doing introduction on the video performances and helping RJ do interviews with guest artists.

Classic performance videos of local and foreign artists are aired constantly. These are rarely seen on other music channels, because even artists from the ‘60s or ‘70s are highlighted.

From Frank Sinatra or Willie Nelson to Bruno Mars or Adele, viewers and listeners can request for a particular performance of the artist they want to see and RJ Sunday Jam readily airs it for them.

There are interesting Paul McCartney videos from his first solo single, Waterfalls, or the classic Blackbird to his solo of The Beatles’ Let It Be, “for my kids.”

There are vintage videos of the “king of rock and roll,” Elvis Presley with Treat Me Nice and Shake, Rattle and Roll. Willie Nelson and Ray Charles in Seven Spanish Angels, plus Kenny Rogers with his band First Edition, “before he ate all the fast-food in his restaurant,” RJ smilingly commented.

There are also heart-tugging songs by Willie (Always On My Mind), Stevie Wonder (Knocks Me Off My Feet), Frank  (Strangers in the Night) and The Bee Gees (Words, Heartbreaker), shown with brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin.

It was certainly pure delight for viewers to see Sarah McLachlan on the piano in Angel, featuring Carlos Santana on guitar. Bruno playing the keyboards in When I Was Your Man, Keith Urban and John Mayer in Don’t Let Me Down or even American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary crooning the classic Leaving On a Jet Plane.

You can also see videos of RJ playing the guitar and performing onstage, with Apo Hiking Society member Jim Paredes and Nyoy Volante as they rendered the Apo hit, Panalangin. Or with singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan in Constantly.

Occasionally, there are guest artists who join RJ in the studio. When Mitch Valdes guested live recently, RJ surprised her by airing a video of DZRJ’s 40th anniversary at the Big Dome, where Mitch dished out Aretha Franklin’s Respect.

Nonoy Zuñiga also performed live, as well as Kitchie Nadal who promoted her latest single, Wandering Stars. A few months back, Fifth Dimension’s Florence LaRue and Leonard Tucker, joined RJ Sunday Jam to promote their show at Araneta Coliseum.

Last July, RJ Bistro at Dusit Thani Hotel marked its 30th anniversary, so RJ Sunday Jam gave away free tickets to The Next Generation concert staged at RJ Bistro. Featured artists like the ‘60s band The Renegades guested in RJ Sunday Jam

The program also gives away free tickets to concerts, through simple contests for viewers or special prizes like vintage photos of artists, shirts, shades or bags.

Notably, RJ promotes and markets his guitars in the show. He plays the different acoustic and electric guitars offered at discounted and special prices in the RJ Guitar Center, with 20 branches nationwide. There are also guitar accessories offered in the store.

RJ has a long list of studio albums and even Christmas albums to his name. At present, he is promoting Swinging the Kundiman, which gives a new twist to the traditional Tagalog folk music. Selections in the 14-track album include Bahay Kubo, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig, Dahil sa ‘Yo, Leron Leron Sinta, Sitsiritsit and even Matud Nila, Atin Cu Pung Singsing and Pamulinawen.

Last July, RJ was appointed presidential adviser on Economic Affairs and Information Technology Communications.