Jason's Jive March 2026

Recently, we heard about the unfortunate incident in Chesapeake Bay, where a truck went off the bridge into the river, and the driver sadly lost his life. The vehicle in question belonged to Perdue Farms, a company that deals with poultry. May the soul of that gentleman rest in peace.

Normally, I would not comment on this, but what I found very disturbing was the way some folks chose to respond to the news. I was reading comments on some of the blogs and a lot of people chose to make light of the event. A life was lost, but some used this sad situation to make light of the incident. Out of respect to the late driver (whom I don’t know), I won’t repeat some of what was said. Nothing vulgar, just extreme lack of sensitivity.

Is this how we now value human life? Social media likes? Most of those people will not see this article, but I am hopeful that at some point, there is self-reflection and that we show an element of reverence in times of loss.

As somebody who drives on the road a lot, I understand some of the challenges drivers face. Driving a car is relatively easy. A small truck is an entirely different situation. I am talking about the smaller U-Haul type and above. You have got to deal with cross winds, people cutting you off and more. In 2019, when I left Maryland and relocated to Dallas, I drove the Penske 26-foot truck with my wife’s car in tow. Pushing off from Beltsville that August night, I drove down Powder Mill Road, to New Hampshire Avenue and then onto the highway. For two days, I drove on highways and smaller roads. Top speed was 55 mph and experienced the challenge that truck drivers go through daily.  Uneven road surfaces, impatient drivers cutting me off, heavy rain and storms, but the greatest challenge was dealing with cross winds. May I include, that driver fatigue set in a few times. My son (then 16 years old) and I drove across the country, seeing interesting places but more importantly accepting the fact that truck drivers have a very challenging time on the roads.

So please, next time you see a truck driver, just remember that they face a tough time on the roads, whether it is local roads or highways.

Now for some exciting news. Since 2025 I have delved deeper into the entertainment scene, working as a publicist for some emerging artistes. I have a reggae artiste, Virgil Hodge and an R & B/Afrobeats artiste, Nyinee. Virgil is based in the Caribbean and Nyinee is in Nigeria. When it rains it pours, lol. (laugh out loud --- a term used on the internet a lot). Both artistes have new music that is out. Nyinee has released a new single, Tolotolo, which talks about a lady choosing to be intentional in her quest for love --- wanting real love and not infatuation-type love. (Tolotolo is a word used by the Yorubas in Western Nigeria to describe a turkey, which tries to imitate the Peacock that traditionally spreads its wings and shows off it its true colors.  Then there is Virgil Hodge, who released a new single, Love Me Right, featuring Dejour. Let me tell you about Virgil Hodge.  She is a former Olympian representing St. Kitts-Nevis. This Addidas-sponsored professional athlete attended Texas Christian University, TCU, where she left a mark that earned her a spot in the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame. She opened for Jennifer Hudson in 2025 at the St. Kitts Music Festival and later in the year, had performances in Canada, Dallas, Houston and Miami. She continues to grow and just as she did in track and field, is rising in the music scene.

Please show your support for my artistes by adding their music to your playlist. It is available on all streaming platforms, and you can see Virgil’s performance on YouTube.  Thanks in advance. Finally, I also have a soul music artiste, Eva! Bittersuite is based in Maryland and is available for private events and concerts. She also has music on all platforms, including YouTube.

As I wrap this up, I must mention that I was honored to meet Sir Earl Toons, last weekend while covering a music event in Dallas. He is an original member of Kool and the Gang, and he co-wrote two of their songs that most of us dance to a lot, Celebrate and Ladies Night.

That’s the Jive.