DJ Cassidy

DJ Cassidy

DJ Cassidy is a New York DJ and party selector from the Upper East Side of New York City. Born Cassidy Durango Milton Willy Podell in 1981, he starts DJing at a young age after asking his parents for turntables and a mixer for his tenth birthday. He describes himself as a hip-hop kid and begins taking work at teenage parties, school carnivals and talent shows before moving on to nightclub sets in his school years.

Early life and career

Cassidy studies sociology at New York University, graduating in 2003 after first attending George Washington University from 1999. He is the son of music agent Jonny Podell. While working the 10-to-4 night shift in the basement of Lotus, a Manhattan club, he is discovered by Sean “Diddy” Combs, who leaves him his phone number on a napkin. That contact leads to bookings at Grammy parties and the MTV Video Music Awards.

He becomes known for performing at celebrity events and private functions, and for a distinctive image that includes a 24-carat-gold microphone, boaters, cricket sweaters, bow ties and colour-blocked tuxedos. He works at events for Oprah Winfrey and Anna Wintour, and at weddings for Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian. He also performs at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration and at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. After working at the opening party for Oprah Winfrey’s girls’ school in South Africa in 2009, he is recommended to the Obamas.

Paradise Royale

Cassidy’s debut album is Paradise Royale, released by Columbia Records. The project is built around dance music from 1978 to 1982, with Cassidy researching the era by assembling a playlist of 25 songs from that period and studying the musicians and production methods behind them. The album contains no covers and no samples. Instead, Cassidy recruits 22 musicians associated with the sound of that era, along with a 14-piece string section, and asks them to use the same instruments they used on their original recordings.

Among the musicians linked to the album are Nile Rodgers of Chic, Ray Parker Jr., Jerry Hey, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn, Robert “Kool” Bell and Patrice Rushen. The album also includes guests such as Mary J. Blige, Chromeo, Estelle, Melanie Fiona, CeeLo Green, R. Kelly, John Legend, Ne-Yo, Kelly Rowland, Passion Pit and Usher. Specific tracks mentioned include “Calling All Hearts” and “Make The World Go Round”. On the former, Nile Rodgers plays the same guitar used on Chic’s “Good Times” and Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family”; on the latter, Ndugu Chancler uses the same drums used on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”.

Profile and performance style

By 2011, Forbes reports that Cassidy is performing around 200 gigs a year and can earn very high fees for some appearances. His work focuses on high-profile parties and dance-oriented sets, linking him closely with disco, soul, electronic music and party culture.