Current:Home > reviewsWho was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call -InvestPioneer
Who was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call
View
Date:2025-04-14 08:25:21
The Democratic National Convention featured a musical roll call Tuesday night, and DJ Cassidy, a Grammy-nominated performer − and now the first "musical maestro" of a convention roll call − led the event while he introduced each musical artist and state.
Cassidy, a producer from California, according to LA Times, wore a shiny blue suit, a beige hat and square sunglasses when he welcomed the crowd to the DNC's roll call as "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge played.
"Now, we're going to pass the mic from state to state so that all our voices are heard all around the nation," said Cassidy.
'Do Something!':Michelle Obama lays into Trump and rallies DNC
DNC roll call songs
When Democrat delegates announced their votes to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic runner, Cassidy played a unique song representing each state.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Tennessee delegates jammed out to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" while Texas took it to the floor with Houston-native Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul bragged about the Empire State's historical significance over Jay Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State Of Mind." California Gov. Gavin Newsom later praised the Golden State over a mashup of Tupac Shakur's "California Love" and Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us."
Another Beyoncé song, "Freedom," played as Harris made another surprise appearance, accepting the party's nomination in a live broadcast from a campaign event she and running mate Tim Walz were attending in Wisconsin.
'California Love' to 'Texas Hold 'Em':DNC honors each state with unique songs
'Truly surreal'
Cassidy took a not "normally fun or cool" political event, as described by former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, and turned it into something grand, with fun music and dancing.
"The whole night was truly surreal," Cassidy told Psaki in an MSNBC interview.
The four weeks of "meticulous" planning went into setting up the DNC roll call.
The ceremonial roll call of the delegates happened on Tuesday, the second day of the Chicago convention.
Before this year, music had never been a part of a convention's roll call, said Cassidy. And that's a fact he "really had to wrap his mind around."
Who is DJ Cassidy?
DJ Cassidy is no stranger to political events or the Democratic party.
The DJ, who got his start playing at school functions, was called on when former President Barack Obama "needed a maestro," they called him to play at both of the president's inaugurations, his 50th birthday, and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s 50th birthday at the White House, according to Cassidy's website.
He's also played at events orchestrated by Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, the Kardashians and even performed at Jay-Z and Beyonce's wedding.
How did DJ Cassidy get his start?
The DJ fell in love with music at a young age. On his 10th birthday, "DJ Cassidy was born" when he asked his parents to get him two turntables and a mixer.
"His love of music and appreciation of sounds both classic and cutting-edge date back to age five when he discovered pivotal Hip Hop records like Run DMC's "Sucker MC's" and cult classic dance films like 'Breakin,'" states his website.
Every weekend, Cassidy would visit record stores, study vinyl sleeves and learn who wrote and produced his favorites.
The young DJ studied artists from across genres and vowed to play all kinds of music for people all over the world.
"DJ Cassidy’s career is the culmination of a lifetime of deejaying around the world, observing people react, and making people move," stated his website.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- RHONJ's Melissa Gorga Slams Teresa Giudice for Comment About Her Daughter Antonia
- This On-Sale Amazon Dress With 17,000+ 5-Star Reviews Is the Spring Look of Your Dreams
- Ariana Madix's New Man Shares PDA-Filled Video From Their Romantic Coachella Weekend
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Here's what happened on day 4 of the U.N.'s COP27 climate talks
- Vecinos en Puerto Rico se apoyan, mientras huracanes ponen a prueba al gobierno
- A new kind of climate refugee is emerging
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- EPA seeks to mandate more use of ethanol and other biofuels
Ranking
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Western New York gets buried under 6 feet of snow in some areas
- Why experts say you shouldn't bag your leaves this fall
- Maya Lin doesn't like the spotlight — but the Smithsonian is shining a light on her
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- The U.S. ratifies treaty to phase down HFCs, gases trapping 1,000x more heat than CO2
- Succession's Dagmara Domińczyk Lost Her Own Father Just Days After Filming Logan's Funeral
- Brittany Mahomes Calls Out Disrespectful Women Who Go After Husband Patrick Mahomes
Recommendation
NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
Why Betty Gilpin Says You've Never Seen a TV Show Like Mrs. Davis
Investors have trillions to fight climate change. Developing nations get little of it
Look Back on All of the Love Is Blind Hookups That Happened Off-Camera
Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
A Twilight TV Series Is Reportedly in the Works
Why Katy Perry Got Booed on American Idol for the First Time in 6 Years
Canadian military to help clean up Fiona's devastation