After many years of planning, and a few months that felt like years, Jay Dee Queue has released his debut album, 23rd Century Ska. A huge thanks to all those that were instrumental in making this happen … just like the butterfly effect, I am where and who I am now because of everything that has come before: 

Mom (where to start … thanks for letting me be what I wanted to be), Dad (for being the first to push me with “Keep Movin’ On”, and for becoming the father that you are to me), James (don’t know which path we tread upon bro), Tom (for being a rock), Grayson (coolest little brother in the world), Mimi (for being the mother you are, and for “inducting” me into the Talkowski clan), Amanda (an amazing sister, and person), Chris (no matter what, you are my brother, and have changed the way I see the world), Maggie (for putting up with my temporary insanities, and for wanting “Everything”), Grandma Lombardi (for all the M&M’s), Aunt Mary Ellen (for the “badaydahs”), Nana and Papa Talkowski (for endless love and caring), the entire Talkowski clan for being the solid foundation you all are, Grandma Quinn (a great grandma with an infectious laughter, R.I.P), Grandpa Calloway (for endless stories, and for showing me how to be a gentleman, R.I.P), Gary (for when times were good, and for forcing me to become a man), Anik (for always laughing), Jourdan (for believing it could work), Akul (for endless inspiration), Eric, Rudy, RJ, Jagtinder “Mr. Paul” and Anju Dang (this couldn’t have happened without your boys, and for your unwavering support), Lewis Richards (this album wouldn’t be complete without you: you pimped my ride man) to the old skanker crew: Cyrus, Robbie and Tyler/Joey (for all the memories, past and present); Mr. and Mrs. Kelly (for letting us be kids), Ryan (“she was wearing a mooooooomoo”), Sean and Lauren Andrew (for rolling to shows, and believing in James), Laura Cutway (for knowing who I really am), Adam Shapiro/Matt Couch/Matt Austin (for being in the best punk/reggae band to hit OC), Edward Ortega (for the many moments of debauchery, “Mi Eschusi”), Alain Kinaly (for making me run faster), Paul Lancaster (for being down, and helping me believe in this thing), Jimmy/Wendy/Phil (check out Motor Gun Hotel, these guys are amazing), Pam (for helping me to feel regret for the first time), Adam/Anzie/Travis (I can’t begin to explain how much you guys influenced who I am), Yeri (for the great times, and the “filth and the fury”), Rob Allison (for helping me find my voice), Ira Raibon (for being a “silly rabbit”), Ray Hunter (for helping me to be studious, even if it didn’t happen until later), Dr. Heath (for being the best advisor a young punk could hope for), Mr. Quinn (for believing in kids’ ability to make sensible decisions), Mrs. Cullinan (for knowing me … kinda), Mr. Warren (for letting me finish physics), Glibert Bronsal (for having the dream: I owe you two stacks of cash man) …

For mad artistic inspiration … all of my songs are just echoes of yours: first and foremost, Nesta Marley and Jesse Michaels/Op Ivy; Slug/Ant/Atmosphere, The Clash, Mad Professor, Lee Scratch Perry, LTJ Bukem, Kruder and Dorfmeister, Easy Star All Stars, UB40, The Specials, Jefferies Fan Club, Link 80, The Hippos, Pharmaceutical Bandits, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Santana, Novalima, Bradley/Sublime, Eric Clapton, The Suicide Machines, Damien Marley, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Royal Crown Revue, The Groovie Ghoulies, Junior Murvin, Augustus Pablo, Jah Warrior, Del (in his many incarnations), Digable Planets, Toots and the Maytals, Hybrid, The Gorrilaz, Outcast, Jimmy Cliff, B.B. King, Diesel Boy, DJ Dara, Grooverivder, Goldie and Metalheadz, Minor Threat, Oceans Eleven, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Save Ferris, Gwen Stefani/No Doubt, 311, Otis Redding, John B (UK), The Herbalizer, Fela Kuti, Antibalas, Less Than Jake, The Bruce Lee Band, Kenny Wayne Shepard, RJD2, Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam, Kurt Cobain/Nirvana, Blueprint, MF Doom, Jean Grey, Black Eyed Peas, Brian Setzer/The Stray Cats, Pato Banton, Cortney Love/Hole, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Jacob Miller, Desmond Dekker, The Pinkos, Slightly Stoopid, Kemuri, Hot Stove Jimmy, Bigwig, The Aquabats, Mos Def, Elton John, Chicane, Mark Farina, Safri Duo, Aphrodite, AK1200, DEIBC, Bad Brains/Soul Brains, The Sex Pistols, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Roni Size/Reprazent, Jazzanova, The Dust Brothers, Portishead, Terrence Trent Darby, The Spin Doctors …

For teaching me to read and write, and keeping me well informed on matters from history to the soul, and for a breath of sanity in an insane puzzle: George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Art Spiegelman, Homer, Chuck Palahniuk, Charles Dickens, Michael O’Brien, Garth Nix, C. S. Lewis, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien, Aldous Huxley, Mark Twain, Aristotle, Jean-Paul Sartre, Mother Teresa, Robert Anton Wilson, John Steinbeck, Philip Pullman, Elie Wiesel, Katsuhiro Otomo, Socrates, Edgar Allen Poe, James Redfield, Richard Connell, Plato, Soren Kierkegaard, Aristotle, Kazuo Koike, Sophocles, Shingo Nanami …

And to the countless other inspirations I regret to forget …

Thank you for your support: it is truly what keeps me going through all the “down” times … much peace and love … let’s make a change together … Justin AKA JDQ

Here’s a sample track from the disk: 04 Path I Tread Upon (MP3)

The full album is available at StereoFame for listening and purchasing, and will be on iTunes in January 2010.