Current:Home > reviewsWho was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call -Dynamic Wealth Solutions
Who was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call
View
Date:2025-04-18 04:40:47
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! (44)
Related
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Hilary Duff’s Son Luca Comrie Is All Grown Up in Rare Outing in London
- Ulta 24-Hour Flash Sale: Take 50% Off Clinique, Urban Decay, Dermablend, Dermalogica, PMD, and Exuviance
- The Bachelor Alums Lauren and Arie Luyendyk Jr. Share Affordable Ideas for Your Next Date Night
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- 10 Under $100 Spring Sandals We're Wearing All Season Long
- Pink Gives Glimpse Into Her Imperfect Love With “Muse” Carey Hart at 2023 iHeartRadio Awards
- Michael Sterling Vows to Win Eva Marcille Back After RHOA Alum Files for Divorce
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Transcript: Brad Smith, Microsoft president and vice chair, on Face the Nation, May 28, 2023
Ranking
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Lala Kent Shares Details on Explosive Vanderpump Rules Reunion Taping
- New mom nearly dies from rare flesh-eating bacteria days after giving birth
- The Bachelor Finale: Find Out If Zach Shallcross Got Engaged
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Old Dominion Singer Matthew Ramsey Fractures Pelvis in 3 Places During ATV Accident
- DWTS' Jenna Johnson Shares She Suffered Miscarriage Nearly 2 Years Before Welcoming Baby Rome
- CIA Director William Burns secretly met with Chinese counterpart in Beijing last month
Recommendation
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
Russia claims to repel new attacks by Ukraine, but Kyiv urges silence on long-awaited counteroffensive
Riverdale's Camila Mendes Channels Kim Kardashian as She Pokes Fun at Final Season
Selena Gomez Proves She Loves BFF Taylor Swift Like a Love Song at iHeartRadio Awards
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
Rwanda genocide fugitive Fulgence Kayishema, accused of killing 2,000 in church massacre, arrested
U.S. warship sunk by human-guided kamikaze bomb during World War II found off Japan
Nordstrom's Unreal Spring Sale Is Here With Up to 70% Off Deals on Free People, Vince Camuto, Dior & More