DJ Crazay
Digital Saviors Chicago presents the Saturday Night Live Aint’ No Jive Chicago Dance Party every Saturday night starting at 7 PM CT
We keep the tradition alive started on 94.7 FM, Disco DAI here in Chicago, kept alive and made famous at 102.7 FM WBMX back in 1981 and taken to new heights on B96 in Chicago throughout the 90s. We’re doin’ old school mixes like we did back in the day!
Listen anytime here.
Back in the day, people recorded the mixes on the radio so they wouldn’t miss them. Today, we do all the work for you! Now, you can listen to any of the mixes, just like this one, on-demand in our DJ MIXES section.
Tracklist for this mix
KOTO – VISITORS BRIDGE OPENING
DOCTORS CAT – FEEL THE DRIVE
NEWCLEUS – JAM ON IT
ALISHA – ALL NIGHT PASSION
TKA – SCARS OF LOVE
CHAS JANKEL – GLAD TO KNOW YOU
SWEET SENSATION – TAKE IT WHILE ITS HOT
FOX THE FIRE – PRECIOUS LIL DIAMOND
SHANNON – GIVE ME TONIGHT
KONK – YOUR LIFE
MY MINE – HYPNOTIC TANGO
NAYOBE – PLEASE DON’T GO
RAZE – JACK THE GROOVE
FREEZE – AEIOU
MASHALL JEFFERSON -MOVE URE BODY
B. BLASÉ – SHAME
CAPRICORN – I NEED LOVE
EXPOSE – POINT OF NO RETURN
SEQUEL – I’M OVER YOU
TAFFY – LOVE MY RADIO
SWEET SENSATION – VICTIM OF LOVE
NAYOBE – IT’S TOO LATE
Z-FACTOR -I AM THE DJ
FREESTYLE – DON’T STOP THE ROCK
RIS – LOVE N MUSIC
ALEXANDER ROBOTNIK – FUZZDANCE
PETER BROWN – THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT
YELLO – BOSTICH
LIME – ANGEL EYES
GINO SOCCIO – REMEMBER
TEMPER – NO FAVORS
GUACHO – DANCE FOREVER
PINAPPLES – COME ON CLOSER
MODEL 500 – NO UFOS
GEORGE KRANZ – DIN DA DA
PRINCE – EROTIC CITY
DJ CRAZAY Began one cold December night his friends & him ended up at a club in the suburbs called Dilligafs, where a group of DJs were there that night, The Hot Mix 5. So many people there the frame on the metal door gave way. The club had the loudest music around, & all that craziness was from the DJs throwing down. He was hooked. New Years brought an awesome radio mix with Mickey Mixin Oliver.
Not having any equipment & knowing nobody who DJ’d, mainly edited pieces together to begin. $550.00 later his 1st set of 1200s changed everything. He was off to the races. He began to try to emulate the radio mixes he heard. Learning by ear, later he would say he could mix it in his head before touching a record, something later would help him learn quicker. Mixes became absorbing 8+ hrs a day, til he knew he could do what he heard. Dilligafs & Olivers were his local clubs.
After a short stint at a taco dance club he decided to cold walk in to a club to ask if needed help, and what would I need to do. The club manager asked him if he knew Mickey Mixin Oliver, “Of Course” & the manager said good, tonight you start, with Mickey. Talk about serendipity! 1st time Mickey said “Your up kid” he took over, & surprised Mickey by playing a song with a trick he learned by hearing on the radio, with a song called “If U Only Knew”. As the night was ending Mickey said had to go home & make a radio mix. DJ Crazay said “I will get there one day.” Mickey simply said “If you can get it to me by noon, I’ll get it on the air. Again, right place right time, & one great mentor giving someone a shot😊
A very long night of creation began. Unlike these days, when u made a mistake, u had to start the whole mix over. Hours later, drove to turn that in. Opening song, Rob Base’s 2nd song, & included were several songs by, of course, Mickey Mixin Oliver. Crazay said “There is nothing like sitting recording that first time on the air”
From there stints at Pacific Club, Eddie Rockets, Doc Weeds, PS Chicago & Poets on Division. One night 2 clubs missin djs on division, used vhs recordings & live stints to mix at 3 clubs on division in one night. Also one night at Eddie Rockets Jon Secada was performing, a friend of his was on the stairs, a cute curly haired girl struck up a convo, she said she had an album coming our soon & just bought a new car. A hug at that end from someone who later everyone knew as Maria Carey. Doc Weeds Niles residency was the main gig for years. Mile long lines, Meeting Bears players & his idol Walter Payton.
Once into the 90s, as many clubs closed, he switched his talents to becoming a Fitness & Swimwear photographer, having 82 published images in Muscle Mag & other magazines. But his 1st love, music, always till around. Another decade later he first saw someone using Serato, curiosity still leads the way, leading to a complete switch over to digital or the thousands of records he still has.
Now, with digital leading the way, remixes of almost anything is possible. Every song he plays is one he has remixed in some way. Thousands of songs. Even spending time making entire mix tapes, of the rock from the 80s & 90s, everything from Motley Crue to AC/DC, Van Halen. Now all music was open to be remixed & used.
When asked if spins new music, Crazay said “I have a few mixes of newer stuff, but, I began in the 80s, & 80s/90s are always gonna be what & who I am.” “I have rock mixes, house mixes, freestyle, everything, even mellow rock songs, but all in the mix. Just like music “In The Mix.” The New equipment, Mixers, just give me more creativity, and a whole new spin on using those old songs.
At heart, still uses 1200s, hooked up to DVS system & a S9 Mixer in a way in the 80s could only dream of. The old ways just make these days more fun, no carrying records, no 4 records for one song needed, things younger folks have no idea about. Our old ways are less dependent on technology. Don’t have to look up at screen for BPM, its in our heads. Then the technology is just something to further be creative with music already known.
The music from the old era has seen such a resurgence & just fun as hell to ride once more, & express our talents in more new ways. At any given time u can hear Mickey, Julian, Geno & more. Hopefully someday soon, another event with Mickey to really put book ends on my DJ career😊