Current:Home > reviewsWho was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call -DollarDynamic
Who was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call
View
Date:2025-04-17 16:09:42
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! (6367)
Related
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- USA basketball players juggle motherhood and chasing 8th gold medal at Paris Olympics
- Four are killed in the crash of a single-engine plane in northwestern Oklahoma City
- Jury orders city of Naperville to pay $22.5M in damages connected to wrongful conviction
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- US abortion numbers have risen slightly since Roe was overturned, study finds
- US women will be shut out of medals in beach volleyball as Hughes, Cheng fall to Swiss
- Judge upholds Ohio’s gender-affirming care ban; civil rights group vows immediate appeal
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Dozens of sea lions in California sick with domoic acid poisoning: Are humans at risk?
Ranking
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Lucille Ball's daughter shares rare photo with brother Desi Arnaz Jr.
- US, China compete to study water on the moon: Why that matters for future missions
- The Best Crystals for Your Home & Where to Place Them, According to Our Experts
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- 49-year-old skateboarder Dallas Oberholzer makes mom proud at Paris Olympics
- Striking video game actors say AI threatens their jobs
- The Latest: Harris and Walz kick off their 2024 election campaign
Recommendation
New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
Exclusive: Oklahoma death row inmate Emmanuel Littlejohn wants forgiveness, mercy
Stocks bounced back Tuesday, a day after a global plunge
Judge dismisses most claims in federal lawsuit filed by Black Texas student punished over hairstyle
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Gabby Thomas wins gold in 200, leading American track stars in final at Paris Olympics
US abortion numbers have risen slightly since Roe was overturned, study finds
Chemical vs. mineral sunscreen: Dermatologists explain types of UV protection