djSpike's Page

I was born March 1955 and raised in Philadelphia PA, until I was approx. 16 years old, then I moved to Berks County to finish school. After school I moved back to Phila in 1974. Started hanging out in the underground gay discos. I would always gravitate to the dj booth, watching them mix records to a packed floor. they were like gods, to these dance worshippers. This is what I wanted to do, because it was making people smile, celebrate life and each other.
There was one club The Allegro on Walnut St., it was hot. Being under age my friend Terry use to sneak me in. You went up stairs to the dance floor, and it was packed. I remember being amazed at the sound, lights and all the guys dancing their asses off that the building actually shook. I remember being introduced to the dj, and he invited me in the dj booth. My heart pounded with excitement … being raised above the dance floor, the lights flashing and every person on the floor was under the dj’s spell. Watching him que and mix music, the beat flowing from one song to another … never missing a beat. The music building from one song to another, the dancers responding in a trance tribal ritual under the dj’s spell. I knew that I found my calling, this was what I wanted. I wanted to spin music, so that I can give people the joy and release that they so much searched for. An outlet from the day of working to a nite of release and celebration of life. So, I started hanging around the underground dance clubs near the dj booth, watching and talking to the dj’s, trying to get one to teach me the mixing technic. One nite at the old Loft, a guest dj was up from Baltimore. Rich was a handsome man,and we took to each other instantly. He was the resident dj at the Hippopotomus [the Hippo] in Baltimore. Before I knew it, I was in Baltimore sharing his apartment. During the day it was a non-stop mixing class, queing records, matching beat to beat and creating and endless stream of dance music. At nites, I went to the club watching him mix and the crowds reaction. The floor was constantly packed and the crowd showed their appreciation. One Sat. nite, he turned to me and said “take over”. I literally shit my pants, fear raced through my body. I protested saying I can not do this, I am not ready. His response … “ You got 5 minutes, the music will stop and I will point to you when the crowd looks up.” Thankfully the man had a heart, he was playing a song that I practice mixing tons of times. I searched for the next record, my hands shaking I slid the vinyl on the rotating mat. I qued the needle into the groove and listened through the headphones. Never looking up, I mixed these two songs like I have done many times before. I never recalled hearing the mix, but when I peeked unto the dance floor I saw the whole floor still dancing under the flashing lights. Richie smiled and said that I did not miss a beat and left the dj booth. I continued mixing for the next hour, and then we took turns mixing back and forth. I was now an official dj, because the Hippo became my first dj-ing job. Ta – Dah !

I was a resident dj in clubs like The Hippo- Baltimore MD, Dirty Ednas, Chester Inn Disco, Chez Pare' , Little Johns, The Mansion - Atlantic City NJ , The Tally Ho, The Fiddler, Landis Valley Disco, The Village, The Warehouse - Lancaster PA, The Glass Door - Reading PA, KURTZ , Pepperbox , Eqqus , 8th Floor , Phase One, Tribal, Pulsations , Shampoo , Dome - Philadelphia PA. I did guest appearances in NYC, Toronto CANADA. I helped out at the early Blue Ball party in Phila. I also did the RNC Convetion in Phila. 2000 and special events that were affilated with MTV to name a few






www.myspace.com/djspikejayson

Keeping everyone dancing in tribal harmony


club_djspike@yahoo.com