Full interview coming, Saturday 7/26.

 

PART I

 

BM: Congratulations on all of your recent success returning to the DJ booth after 30 years. Could you tell us how you first fell in love with the art of a DJ?

DF: Well, in sixth grade I got kicked out of band and that devastated me, Both my dad and the band instructor told me I was no good, so I felt like music was taken away from me. When I got to college I hooked up with the university radio station and before you knew it I was DJing a weekend dance show. I loved it! I still wanted music to be a part of my life and even though I couldn’t play an instrument this is how I was able to do it.

BM:Why leave the DJ booth after college? What happened?

DF: Easy, Air Force, marriage, and family! (Laughs)

BM: What role does “getting back to the music” especially after 30 years, play in your life?

DF: For the last 30 years I became so singularly focused on running my companies, being a provider for my family and always trying to go after the next big thing. It wasn’t that I wasn’t having success. They were all very successful for an outsider looking in, but I was empty. These things cost me my soul and my marriage. Music has helped bring me back to my purpose. It has helped bring life back for me.

BM: What was ultimately, the “I can do this” moment for you in making your return?

DF: Honestly, it was when I purchased the equipment, I bought all top of the line stuff and when I decided to that, I knew I was all in. I’m still learning. I still learn from others, I still take lessons. I’m still in the journey. I’m still improving every week.

BM: What was your first public performance? How did it go?

DF: It was for a BostonMan Magazine event, the release of the Ray Bourque magazine at Tia’s on the Waterfront. I played in front of about 250 people and it was awesome. It gave me the confidence that I could do this. To have people come up to me after the event offering words of encouragement was a real boost.

BM: Shortly thereafter you founded DJs for a Cause, what was the idea behind that?

DF: During one of my early performances, I met an autistic boy named Colby and his father. Colby is on the spectrum and music is his primary form of communication. The smile and joy we were able to bring him and others by including him as part of my shows really opened my eyes on how much I could help others. Now we bring as host of DJs to shows all over the world performing to raise resources for all kinds of charities.

BM: How were you able to expand your DJ network that fast?

DF: DJs for a Cause opened the doors for me to meet some of the most incredible DJs in the city, who took me under their wing, gave me a vibe of the nightlife and got me connected with the right people. There are so many to name but some of the key DJs to help me along the way have been: DJ Mony, Jimmie Espo, Audio Prophecy, Shane Gardner, and Ashley Strickland. Without them, Im not having this interview with you today.

BM: You have also used your love for music to begin producing beats. Is this something you always knew you wanted to do?

DF: Yes. I always wanted to make music in addition to play it. I have a co-producer in the Netherlands and we began playing around with it and before you knew it…

BM: You had produced Survivor. Tell us a little more about that record.

DF: I had wanted to do something for Effie.