Jeffrey Allen Townes was born on 22 January 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. As DJ Jazzy Jeff, he is an R&B and hip hop disc jockey, record producer and actor who is probably still best known for his early career association with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
So just how rich is DJ Jazzy Jeff? Authoritative sources estimate that the net worth of Jazz is over $8.5 million, as of mid-2016, accumulated in the entertainment industry during a career now spanning over 30 years.
DJ Jazzy Jeff Net Worth $8.5 Million
From the age of seven, Jeff had a paper route to help support his family, even before he attended the Philadelphia School of John Bartram High School. In his teens he quickly went on to become the school, and popular block party DJ for his neighborhood, so that his name has been enshrined on the school’s ‘Wall of Fame’.
His career kicked off when he adopted his stage name, and in the early part of his career, he won the World Championship of DJ in 1986 – Music Seminar DJ Battle. Then with Will Smith, they gained the reputation of being ‘the world’s greatest hip-hop duo’ as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. In 1989 they won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for “Parents Just Don’t Understand”, actually the culmination of several years of gold and platinum-selling albums and singles in the late 1980s, and continuing into the early 1990s. When Smith was cast as the lead in the TV sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, in 1990, DJ also appeared regularly in the show as a character named Jazz, which certainly helped his popularity to grow to a wider audience, as well as his net worth.
Jazz went on with his career as a DJ, and also founded A Touch of Jazz production company, become a record producer concentrating on soul and R&B. Along the way, Jazzy Jeff was involved in developing many artists, of whom Eminem, Jewel, Darius Rucker, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli, Rhymefest, The Roots and Musiq Soulchild are just a few.
Jeff is considered to be one among the richest DJs in the world today. After DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince broke up, DJ Jazzy Jeff performed with Smith at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia on 2 July 2005, and in 2008 at the premier of Smith’s film “Hancock”. In 2013, they performed together on “The Graham Norton Show”, indicating their strong attachment to each other
In 2007, Jazz released “The Return of the Magnificent”, featuring collaborations with new school as well as old school artists including Peedi Peedi, Pos from De La Soul, CL Smooth, Big Daddy Kane and Method Man. The same year, Vinyl Destination was released by DJ Jazzy Jeff, a documentary web series of his more than a hundred DJ shows that he’s conducted around the world.
In his personal life, DJ Jazzy Jeff has been married to Lynette Jackson since 2010, and they currently reside in Wilmington, Delaware.
Disc jockey, Record producer, Musician, Actor, Turntablist
Education
Philadelphia School of John Bartram High School
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Lynette Jackson (m. 2010)
Children
Amir Mitchell-Townes, Cory Townes, Charlotte, NC, USA, San Francisco, CA, United States, Bournemouth, UK, Parents Just Don't Understand, Cory Townes, Amir Mitchell-Townes
Nicknames
Jazzy Jeff , Jeff Townes , Jazzy Jeff, DJ , Jeffrey Allen Townes , DJ Jazzy Jeff , Jazz
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance (1989), World Championship of DJ - Music Seminar DJ Battle (1986)
Movies
"The Neighbors" (2014), "Hancock" (2008),
TV Shows
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990), "The Graham Norton Show" (2013), "Parents Just Don't Understand" (1989)
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Trademark
1
Sunglasses
#
Fact
1
First hip-hop artist (along with Will Smith) to win the first best rap performance Grammy for "Parents Just Don't Understand" (1988).
2
Legendary Philadelphia hip-hop DJ and serious turntablist who has won DJ competitions such as the New Music Seminar's 1986 DJ Battle For World Supremacy. Although he never competed in the DMC World Championship competitions, he is in the DMC hall of fame for contributions to the world of hip-hop and DJing.
3
Was the part of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince together with Will Smith, with whom he won two Grammy awards.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2015
TV Series
Jazzy Jeff
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990-1996
TV Series
Jazz D.J. Jazzy Jeff
Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection
1991
Video as D.J. Jazzy Jeff
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Who's Doing the Dishes?
2016
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Fresh Dressed
2015
Documentary writer: "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"
Annie
2014
writer: "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" - as Jeffrey Townes
Today at Wimbledon
2014
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Tu cara me suena
2014
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Daily Ukulele
2013
TV Series short writer - 1 episode
In West Philadelphia, Corn and Braised
2010
Video short writer: "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" - uncredited
Rude Tube
2010
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Parks and Recreation
2009
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Welcome to the 80's
2009
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
The Wackness
2008
performer: "Summertime'
Entourage
2007
TV Series performer - 1 episode
SingStar Rocks!
2006
Video Game performer: "Summertime" - as D.J. Jazzy Jeff / writer: "Summertime"
The Cookout
2004
performer: "Summertime"
Jersey Girl
2004
performer: "Parents Just Don't Understand" - as DJ Jazzy Jeff / writer: "Parents Just Don't Understand" - as Jeffrey Townes
Malibu's Most Wanted
2003
performer: "Parents Just Don't Understand" - as Jazzy Jeff / writer: "Parents Just Don't Understand" - as J. Townes
The Parent Trap
1998
writer: "Parents Just Don't Understand" - as Jeff Townes
Ride
1998
as J. Towns, "Brand New Funk"
Bug Juice
1998
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Strange Days
1995
performer: "Lost in the Night" - as Jazzy Jeff / writer: "Lost in the Night" - as Townes
Beavis and Butt-Head
1994
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Made in America
1993
performer: "Dance or Die" - as DJ Jazzy Jeff / producer: "Dance or Die" - as Jeff Townes / writer: "Dance or Die" - as Jeff Townes
Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style
1992
TV Movie performer: "Summertime" - uncredited / writer: "Summertime" - uncredited
Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection
1991
Video writer: "Girls Ain't Nothin But Trouble" - as Townes
Boyz n the Hood
1991
producer: "Work It Out" - as Jazzy Jeff / writer: "Work It Out" - as Jazzy Jeff
Deep Deep Trouble
1991
TV Movie producer: "Deep Deep Trouble" / writer: "Deep Deep Trouble"
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
TV Series writer - 1 episode
In the Heat of the Night
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1989 writer - 1 episode, 1989
License to Drive
1988
performer: "JAZZY'S IN THE HOUSE" - as DJ Jazzy Jeff / writer: "JAZZY'S IN THE HOUSE" - as DJ Jazzy Jeff
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
DeRay Davis: Power Play
2010
TV Special documentary special appearance by
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Scratch
2001
Documentary special thanks - as Jazzy Jeff
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Phila.Sophical
Documentary post-production
Himself (as Jeffrey A. Townes)
As I AM: The Life and Times of DJ AM
2015
Documentary
Himself (as Jeffrey A. Townes)
The Queen Latifah Show
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
The Graham Norton Show
2013
TV Series
Himself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2009-2013
TV Series
Himself
Sample: Not for Sale
2012
Documentary
Himself - Interviewee (as Jeffrey A. Townes)
Philly's 4th of July Jam
2011
TV Special
Himself (as Jeffrey A. Townes)
Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling
2011
Himself
Downtown Calling
2009
Documentary
Himself
6th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors
2009
TV Movie
Himself
Xposé
2008
TV Series
Himself
2nd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors
2005
TV Movie
Himself (as Jazzy Jeff)
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
2005
TV Series
Himself
Back to Bel-Air: A Fresh Look
2005
Video short
Himself
Black in the 80s
2005
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
I Love the '90s: Part Deux
2005
TV Series documentary
Himself
Philly Boy: A Movie About M.C. Breeze
2002
Himself
2001 Lady of Soul Awards
2001
TV Special
Himself - Presenter (as DJ Jazzy Jeff Townes)
Headliners & Legends: Will Smith
2001
TV Movie documentary
Himself (as Jeffrey A. Townes)
I Love 1980's
2001
TV Series documentary
Brit Awards 2000
2000
TV Special
Himself - Performer
The Will Smith Music Video Collection
1999
Video documentary
Himself (segment "So Fresh")
Ultra Sound
1999
TV Series documentary
Himself
Essence Awards
1998
TV Special
Himself
The American Music Awards 20th Anniversary Special