Ever find yourself vibing with the music of an exceptional DJ, wondering at the origins of such an awesome artform? The history of dj spans decades and cultures in a fascinating musical unfolding that’s anything but likely. Take a sonorous stroll down the halls of history with DJ KMBRK as we trace the origins and evolution of disc jockeying from its inception, through its golden age, right up into its current stage. From resplendent radio to epic raves, the arc of the DJ is one you won’t want to miss!

Gilded in Gold: Radio Origins 

According to DJ legend, the label “disc jockey” was created by American radio commentator Walter Winchell in 1935 to describe the revolutionary radio work of Martin Block, a radio announcer who pioneered playing popular over the air. “Disc” referred to the circular phonograph records of the time (originally made from a material called shellac, moving to vinyl in the 1940s), while “jockey” was simply a term used to describe an operator of a machine. Hence the disc jockey was born!

Jimmy Savile: A DJ Dance Party Milestone

Though the DJ was born in 1935, it wasn’t until 1943 that the first official DJ-led dance party was thrown. English lore tells us that the event took place in Otley, England, in the upper rooms of The Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds. Radio DJ Jimmy Savile played jazz records so smooth that the listeners couldn’t help but get up and dance. And so the prototypical DJ dance party began. It was the first of many to pave the way for disc jockeying as a live artform.

Nightclubs, Discothèques, and the Scratch

Live DJing spread like wildfire throughout the 1950s, 60’s and 70’s, ushering in an era of commercial discos and specialized DJ equipment that only served to expand the artform in practice and popularity. From the dizzying social heights of Paris’ premiere Whiskey à Go-Go nightclub to the grassroots growth of sound system production in the ghettos of Jamaica, DJing had hit its stride. And let’s not forget that immortalized sound, the original record “scratch” invented by DJ Grand Wizard Theodore in 1975.

The History of DJ: I Want My MTV, Digitization, and The Present

The 80’s saw a swift evolution of DJ equipment and capability, owed in part to the birth of MTV and the video jockey. As the 80’s turned into the 90’s, DJ equipment crossed into the digital world, making the artform more approachable than ever before. Throughout the 90’s and into the present, DJing has only benefited from further digitization, ease-of-entry and internet accessibility. While it’s easier than ever to be a DJ, a great DJ will still stand head and shoulders above the rest. If you want a DJ that brings all the origins of DJ room-moving magic into the full force of present technology, go with DJ KMBRK for the party of a lifetime. The reviews speak for themselves!