Many viewers are wondering who the DJ was at the 2024 Democratic National Convention after he turned the normally boring roll call into a full-on party. In one of the most memorable moments of the night, he helped spin Lil Jon’s “Turn Down The What” as the artist rapped the song during Georgia’s roll call. That said, those who are familiar with celebrity functions and past celebrations for the DNC will recognize the artist as DJ Cassidy. Here is a quick breakdown of who DJ Cassidy is and his long history with the Democratic Party.
Who is DJ Cassidy at the 2024 Democratic National Convention?
DJ Cassidy, otherwise known as Cassidy Durango Milton Willy Podell, is known for being the DJ during the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama and the 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden.
The artist is also famous for his colorful outfits and accessories, including a gold microphone, cricket sweaters, bow ties, and flashy tuxedos. For the second day of the 2024 DNC, he wore a wide-brimmed woven hat and a shiny blue tuxedo with a matching shirt. For the event, DJ Cassidy played a different track for each state’s roll call, with the full playlist he used available on Spotify. He also played Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” during Gavin Newsom’s intro.
Born on June 27, 1981, Cassidy is the second son of music agent Jonny Podell and was interested in deejaying since he was a kid. In an interview with MusicRadar in 2014, he recalls asking his parents for two turntables and a mixer for his tenth birthday.
While spinning tracks during a GQ Party at the Manhattan club Lotus, Cassidy was discovered by Sean Combs. This led him to work the wedding of Jennifer Lopez and Cris Judd as well as Beyoncé and Jay-Z. He also worked parties for Orpah Winfrey and Anna Wintour, the former of which recommended him to the Obamas, who used him for their 50th birthday parties.
In 2023, DJ Cassidy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his work, among many other artists, in Mary J. Blige’s “Good Morning Gorgeous”. He has also been nominated three years straight for the BET Hip Hop Award for Best DJ of the Year from 2021 to 2023.
