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Ray J. Johnson, Jr.

RAY J. JOHNSON, JR.
 
 
Raymond J. Johnson, Jr.  is a character created by comedian Bill Saluga.  Saluga’s shtick as Ray J. Johnson is to become annoyed when addressed as “Mr. Johnson”, exclaiming in a loud voice, “My name is Raymond J. Johnson, Jr.  Now you can call me Ray, or you can call me J, or you can call me Johnny, or you can call me Sonny, or you can call me Junie, or you can call me Junior; now you can call me Ray J, or you can call me RJ, or you can call me RJJ, or you can call me RJJ Jr.” ultimately ending with, “but you doesn’t hasta call me Johnson!”  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

Bob Dylan’s Christian hit song “Gotta Serve Somebody” is a litany of people in various fields and various places in their lives who have to make that choice.  In this song, Dylan shows that he hasn’t lost his sense of humor:  In the final verse, he lists names instead, including two of his own nicknames – “You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy” (taken from his original surname Zimmerman) – and then two from a comedy shtick of the day – “You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray” – that is, the character Ray J. Johnson, Jr. that was created by Bill Saluga.  

 

(August 2014)