HISTORY
The first disc jockey was an experiment on the airwaves. In 1909, sixteen-year-old Ray Newby was a student under the supervision of Charles “Doc” Herrold at Herrold College of Engineering and Wireless. He played the first records over the airwaves before the word disc jockey even exsisted.
It wasn’t until 25 years later that radio commentator Walter Winchell coined the term “disc jockey”.
National Disc Jockey Day is celebrated in remembrance of the death of Albert James Freed. Freed, also known as Moondog, was an influential disc jockey in the 1950s. He is credited with introducing the term “rock ‘n’ roll” to the world.
Today
Today, modern DJ’s play music from vinyl to digital. Regardless of the medium they use, the term disc jockey still applies. Nowadays everyone knows a DJ; thousands claim that they are one (even if they only mix it up in their bedrooms). Disc Jockey Day is all about celebrating the hard working entertainers that have brought energy to dance floors across the globe. Respect needs to be paid to Disc Jockeys of all levels from velvet suited wedding crooners to international superstars – if you’ve made people dance by playing back to back music, today is the day to hail your talents.
Big Superstar DJ’ing was born out of the popularity of the Ibiza dance scene and nowadays dance music and DJs are global and the technology has moved way beyond two turntables and a microphone. This day it is important to remember the definition of a Disc Jockey, a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience; therefore almost anyone can be a DJ so get out there and play some music!
