As part of his quest to prove that Tom Petty based his song 'The Last DJ' on 'The Last Great Radio DJ', Orange County singer/songwriter Jim Wagner has turned to some music expects for an opinion.
Katherine Powers, an associate professor and graduate program adviser who teaches music history and musicology has stated that Petty's song has "striking similarities" to his song. In a written statement, she says "there are certainly some striking similarities, both on the level of overall artistic design as well as the level of specific events".Dr. Chuck Tumlinson, a director of Jazz Studies, after hearing the Wagner song, said "I do suspect that Petty appropriated some of your material".
Dr. Gerald Eskelin, who is a Petty musicologist, told Wagner "I agree with you that it would appear that Petty knew of and likely heard your song before he wrote his".
Jim Wagner wrote and registered 'The Last Great radio DJ' in 2000. The song was written about KLOS radio presenter Jim Ladd.
Two years later, Ladd's friend Tom Petty released the similarly titled 'The Last DJ' as the title track of his album.
Both Ladd and Petty deny that the Wagner song is the foundation for the Tom Petty song.
Jim Wagner has passed on a dossier of research as evidence to Undercover that the Petty song may have had its origins in his. Undercover will bring you further stories on the origins of 'The Last DJ' over the next two weeks.
