We were devastated to hear the news yesterday that Brooklyn’s finest soul DJ, party promoter, and all-around fantastic specimen of humankind, Jonathan Toubin, was injured in a freak accident in Portland that can only be described as horrific. Toubin was injured when a cab drove through a wall into his ground-floor room at the Jupiter Hotel, pinning him to the bed where he lay sleeping. He is currently in serious condition at OHSU hospital.
I’ve known Jonathan Toubin for years and I’d say at least half of my funnest nights ever had something to do with him. He is a rare human being who spends pretty much his entire waking life giving those around him every last bit of his positive energy. He’s a fast-talking Jew from Texas who secretly knows just as much about hardcore as he does about rare soul 45s. He’s such a good DJ that he makes me want to get married just so I can hire him to make my future in-laws shake their asses at the wedding. But he’s more than just an expert on soul music, he’s an expert on the human soul in general. He’s a loud-mouthed Leo, the king of good times, with an eternal good attitude and that rubs off on everyone around him. He’s the type of guy who goes to five Thanksgivings in one day just because everyone wants him to thumbs up their turkey time (I’m not exaggerating here, I hung out with him at Thanksgiving #4). He’s a master flirt and also a gentleman who would always carry my records when he walked me home when I lived a few blocks away from him on the Southside. If you know Jonathan, if you’ve ever been to a Soul Clap and Dance Off in your hometown or ever sweated it out to one of his DJ sets in Brooklyn, or even if you just have half a heart, send your love, your vibes, your wishes, your prayers, your energy or however you like to get down to Portland.
