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JJ Rassler (also listed erroneously as "J.J. Rassler", "J. Rassler", "Jay Rassler") is a Boston-based guitarist, band leader, song writer, producer, music journalist and former record company promoter. Rassler leads the Downbeat 5 as lead guitarist and co-writer, with his ex-wife, Jen D'Angora, since 2001. They release "Ism" in 2003 on the Sympathy for the Record Industry label, "Victory Motel" in 2003 on Hi-and-Dry, and "Smoke and Mirrors" in 2005 on Steel Cage records. In (year) Rassler lead the popular JJ & Thee Cuban Heels, a Boston, MA band performing Rassler's original songs and creative cover versions of songs both familiar and obscure. They released the CD "Behold" on Green Mist records in 2011.

Rassler is best known for starting the influential Boston rock band DMZ with Peter Greenberg in 1976. DMZ recorded an EP on Bomp! records and an album for Sire Records before disbanding in ___. They reunited in ___, last performance was ___. The members of DMZ agreed among themselves that none would perform as DMZ without the others' consent. Rassler then formed the Bad Habits in Worcester, MA which quickly became The Odds. The Odds included Preston Wayne on guitar, Eddie Levaseur and were the house band at Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner from ___ to ___.

In 1987 and 1988, Rassler recorded and performed with The Queers, notably insisting that a reluctant Joe King take on vocals, instead of Rassler, to sing King's own compositions. Rassler is lead guitarist on The Queers' album, "Grow Up". He also co-wrote and performed on The Queers' album "Don't Back Down", and the EP "Bubblegum Dreams".

Rassler recorded and performed with Boston's Triple Thick on the CD "Lake Winnepesaukee", and recorded with Mr. Airplane Man on the CD "Shakin' Around".

Rassler's career in record sales, radio, marketing and promotions began in 1965 at Sam Goody's in his native Philadelphia and culminated in a 20-plus year tenure at the Rounder Records label from ___ to ___. He was production assistant for legendary WBCN disc jockey Maxanne Sartori from 1974 to 1976 while Sartori was breaking the Cars, Bruce Spingsteen, J Geils and others to national fame. Sartori got DMZ their first gig, at the legendary Rathskellar ("The Rat"), by pretending to promote a benefit concert for a phantom cause to draw crowds. Rassler was hosting his own radio show on WTBS, which later became MIT's WMBR-FM. Rassler suggested to his then roommate, Ed Hyson, that Hyson try his hand at radio programming by taking over Rassler's show since DMZ was about to be signed by Sire Records. Hyson then went on to acclaim as Oedipus, Program Director for WBCN in Boston.

While at Rounder Records, Rassler received Gold Records for work with Alison Krauss. He moved to Austin, TX in ___ to manage Tish Hinojosa, returning to Boston and Rounder in ____. While at Rounder, he created the label showcase format at SXSW for bringing new talent to broader attention. Rassler helped revive the career of important Cuban Afro-Jazz composer and orchestra leader Mario Bauza by bringing him to _____. Rassler wrote reviews of Latin music for Descarga online magazine from ____ to ____. In 2012 he began writing about his real-life adventures for the French popular music fanzine "Dig It". Rassler still maintains his vinyl habit at the Cambridge, MA record shop where he has moonlighted since _____.