DJ Spins An Oldies But Goodies Anniversary Party

Saturday Night could not come fast enough for the adult children of two happy couples celebrating 50 years of marriage. Imagine trying to plan a double surprise anniversary party for your parents and your spouse’s parents on the same night!  The good news is that all the siblings helped put the event together and kept the secret all along the way.

 

After dinner they each said a few words about their parents and most were tear-filled.  Their parents were beaming from ear-to-ear and did not stop smiling till we were breaking down our gear at 10:30pm.  After the announcements, we turned up the volume and Oldies Tunes from the 50’s and 60’s started the fun part of the night.  They reminded me why I enjoy this music so much as a professional DJ. It is fun, playful and great to dance to for young and old. There were even some kids and teens on the floor grinning and moving to The Drifters, Dion & The Belmonts, The Four seasons and Bill Haley and The Comets.

 

 

My ride home from The Holiday Inn in  Manahawkin, NJ was nice while reflecting on the party and the celebration of two marriages still going strong 50 years later. I know us professional DJs participate in so many events but I still get moved by special moments and celebrations.

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Oldies DJ For Birthdays and Anniversaries

I have been hired as professional Oldies DJ for several Oldies events lately. These are typically parties with lots of good, clean fun. I grew-up with plenty of the songs from the late 50’s and early 60’s with artists like Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Dion & The Belmonts, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Sam Cooke, Johnny Mathis and all the MoTown stuff being the ones that stick out in my memory the most. My family also listened to a lot of Jazz, Pop Vocalists and Big Bands as well.

 

For reasons I do not know, as a child I gravitated towards the Oldies genre on my own. It started with me asking my parents to find me The Crusin’ Series of albums and cassettes. They are where I first began to study the history of  music and the roots of Rock and Roll. The Crusin’ 1961 album was the first since it was the year I was born, then 1958 and 1962. Soon after that I got the double album soundtrack to the film American Graffiti.  My brother gave me as a gift a couple of albums by Shanana with covers of many of the great tunes of that era. The collection grew with time and patience.

 

When I first started as a professional DJ, I was hired for a party for some Morristown Police Officers. They had so much fun they kept hiring me for all their events and it wasn’t long before all the police, fire and P.A.L. events booked me and I became known as the “Oldies DJ” even though I was only nineteen or twenty at the time. I had fun and learned a lot about music and Rock and Roll.

 

I still enjoy the opportunity to break out the Oldies and spin great times with folks who really appreciate the music and memories.  I think it is easier for me since I was alive during most of this music and grew-up with it. I imagine a young professional DJ who is trying to play the songs of the 50’s and 60’s through reading about them or just what Billboard says would struggle with knowing what works with what, as I did when I was DJing in my early twenties and playing some Big Band and Swing gigs back then. I do know a couple of young professional DJs who actually do an excellent job with both The Oldies and music of today though.

 

Back to the playlist I am working on for a 50th anniversary party coming up soon!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJs Need To Support Our Military and Our Local Police & Firefighters

For reasons I have not completely figured out, when I first started my journey as a professional DJ, I was booked on a regular basis by local police and firefighters for parties. Many of these parties were reunions and local chapters of P.A.L. and other fraternal organizations. These events were all good times and primarily the music was Oldies centered, which typically make fun parties.

 

Today I still get to do some of these kinds of events but what has manifested recently is the opportunity to serve our troops by offering discounts to our military service men and women at their weddings. Last night I met with a young couple. The Groom is home in between deployments for his wedding.  After spending time with both of them, I felt good about the decision I made a while back to offer professional DJ discounts to our troops.

 

The wedding should be fun.  I look forward to being able to support them and be a apart of their day.  We set-up the music and coordinated the events of the cocktail hour and reception.  All systems go for a beautiful August wedding.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ