Dale's Tails

American Idol’s Randy Jackson is feline good

Musician Randy Jackson, a judge on American Idol, sits in front of an audience and begins to speak, or tries to. But the applause is just too loud at the recent press conference at Grand Central Station.

“Whoa, dudes,” he implores the crowd. Finally, the gathered press and onlookers quiet down enough for him to speak. “9Lives [cat food] approached me and before they could get the words out, I said, ‘Dude, I’m down.’”
    What he’s down for is Morris’ Million Cat Rescue, a campaign to get 1 million cats from animal shelters across America adopted. As part of the campaign, Morris the Cat and his new sidekick, Lil’ Mo, will visit 34 cities across the country in a long trailer as they count up to 1 million adoptions (check www.9Lives.com for confirmed dates and locations). Jackson threw out the first pitch, so to speak, by adopting a kitty he named Dawg.
    At the press conference, it was Jackson’s job to introduce the latest kitty to become the iconic Morris (the original was adopted from a shelter outside of Chicago in 1968), whom Jackson refers to as “a really cool cat.” Morris appeared from backstage with his person, Rose Odile, and they all posed for the paparazzi. One photographer was overheard saying, “I just got back from the United Nations for a photo op, and it was nothing like this.” That’s just Jackson’s popularity these days.
    Later backstage, Jackson is relaxed, dressed in a trendy untucked striped shirt, sports coat, and blue jeans. “I grew up with cats and dogs,” he says. “In the South, in Louisiana [Baton Rouge], we had tons of pets, ever since I can remember. There were birds, reptiles, frogs, snakes, you name it. I love animals, period, especially cats and dogs, hence, I am the Dawg.”
    He maintains his “Randy-ese” heard on Idol is not show-biz shtick. “It’s funny the whole Dawg thing,” he says. “I’ve been saying [it] for like 20 years. This is who I am. You know what I’m saying? It’s all cool, man.”
    Jackson lights up when he talks about his Southern roots. And he’s passionate about reminding people about what he calls “the forgotten city.”
    “I know there were millions [of dollars] raised for New Orleans,” he says. “But you don’t see it on the ground. It’s so sad. There was no city on earth like New Orleans. I wanted to call attention to the plight–and that’s why I did my [syndicated] radio show from there, and then did Ellen. The music permeates the food. It’s all about feeling great and internal happiness. New Orleans musicians never cared about the New York, L.A., or Nashville scenes. They did just their own thing. I don’t know if the city can come back the same. But there’s also a certain resiliency.”
    Resiliency is something Jackson understands; it defines his long career in the dog-eat-dog music biz. He’s done it all, from playing bass with the ’70 s rock band Journey to touring and performing alongside celebs ranging from Herbie Hancock to Elton John. He’s produced for many top artists, and was a VP at Columbia and MCA Records.
    “I’ve been lucky,” he says. “First to play with some of the greatest jazz-fusion guys. Then to recording with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Angie Bofill, and the list goes on.”
    Jackson’s passion for animals is as great as his passion for music, and he has several pets at home whose names aren’t Mariah, Aretha, and Whitney. There’s the aforementioned newly adopted kitten, named Dawg. He also has three dogs (as in canines): Toshi, whom he describes as a small noisy Terrier; Bobbie, a little Poodle; and Buckley, a soft-coat Wheaton Terrier.
    His human kids are 9, 11, and 16 and are responsible for naming the dogs. “I think dogs take on the personalities of the people they live with,” he says. Which dog is most like Randy? He doesn’t even have to think about the answer. “Buckley,” he responds instantly. “He’s just like me; he’s cool, well-mannered, likes getting his hair done, and well-behaved.”
    “Man, adopting 1 million cats,” he says of the 9Lives campaign (which is also donating $1 of each purchase of a 9Lives product to charity). “It can be done. It has to be. I mean it blew me away when I learned three of every four cats that enters a shelter doesn’t make it out alive.”
    As for his fellow Idol judges, they’ve repeatedly, publicly professed their love of pets. “They really do love dogs,” Jackson says. “Well, Ryan [Seacrest] probably loves himself more. Who can’t love an animal, dude? If you don’t, something’s wrong.”