Current:Home > reviewsWho was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call -WealthRoots Academy
Who was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call
View
Date:2025-04-18 01:06:58
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! (1)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- 'This is a nightmare': Pennsylvania house explosion victims revealed, remembered by family, friends
- Hate machine: Social media platforms pushing antisemitic recommendations, study finds
- Teen in stolen car leads police on 132 mph chase near Chicago before crashing
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Selena Gomez Is Taking a Wrecking Ball to Any Miley Cyrus Feud Rumors
- Pink Shows Support for Britney Spears Amid Sam Asghari Divorce
- George Santos says ex-fundraiser caught using a fake name tried a new tactic: spelling it backwards
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Price of college football realignment: Losing seasons, stiffer competition
Ranking
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Idina Menzel is done apologizing for her emotions on new album: 'This is very much who I am'
- Texas giving athletic director Chris Del Conte extension, raise
- American Airlines sues a travel site to crack down on consumers who use this trick to save money
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Mississippi seeks new court hearing to revive its permanent stripping of some felons’ voting rights
- In Hawaii, concerns over ‘climate gentrification’ rise after devastating Maui fires
- Stem cells from one eye show promise in healing injuries in the other
Recommendation
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
Residents flee capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories ahead of Friday deadline as wildfire nears
Eagles' Tyrie Cleveland, Moro Ojomo carted off field after suffering neck injuries
Ukraine claims it has retaken key village from Russians as counteroffensive grinds on
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Suspect in Rachel Morin's death on Maryland trail linked to LA assault by DNA, police say
Second quarter Walmart sales were up. Here's why.
No death penalty for a Utah mom accused of killing her husband, then writing a kid book about death