‘Reflections Of A DJ’ by Jean Valentin
My first meeting with photographer Jean Valentin was a brief one, and at first glance he had an Antonio Banderas thing going on, accent and all. Later I would find out he wasn’t Spanish, although he still had that European charm (and sense of style). My second meeting with him was at an industry event,... Read More
The iPod vs. The DJ for the Wedding Reception
I just finished an interesting two-part article written by Elizabeth Oakes at Examiner.com titled “An iPod Wedding: Should I Or Shouldn’t I” (See article here – Part One and Part Two). I must say I agree with much (but not all) of what she says, as I have had first hand experience helping out a... Read More
A Beatles Journey: Don’t Hate On The Octopus
What is, and always will be so astounding to me about The Beatles is the immense diversity of their songs and music. There is no question in my mind that, starting with ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ all the way through ‘Let It Be’ (the album) that their knack for hit making (or as Sir Paul... Read More
A Beatles Journey: Larry Kane & John Lennon
I had just turned ten in February of 1979 when, with a gift certificate in hand that I had received for my birthday a week earlier, I strolled into Sam Goody’s at the Neshaminy Mall. I suppose I could have bought any album I wanted, but I chose The Beatles ‘Blue Album.’ I had listened... Read More
A Photographer, An Entertainer & Authentic Swing
“Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that’s ours and ours alone. Something that can’t be learned… something that’s got to be remembered.” ~Will Smith as Bagger Vance Photographer Jean Valentin captures the style of Cutting Edge Entertainment’s Nate Jones with just the... Read More
‘Marc The Good’ (DJ)
Mench is a Yiddish word which means ‘a good person’. A mench is a particularly good person with the qualities one would hope for in a dear friend or trusted colleague; a gentleman… Marc is truly a mench. I also looked up the word ‘good,’ which – as an adjective – gave definitions like righteous,... Read More
Justin Guarini: Idol Of A Philadelphia DJ Company
For an Entertainer, Hell hath no fury like a posse of sugar-crazed thirteen year-olds at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. In a career that mirrors the best of roller coaster rides, I consider my time at Cutting Edge Entertainment as one of the definitive high points. It was here that I truly honed my skills... Read More
Walter Cronkite and The End Of An Era
Admittedly I was twelve years old when Walter Cronkite said his “That’s the way it is” for the last time as CBS Evening News anchor, but not only do I remember him well, but just the mere mention of his name evokes memories and emotions of a world that was much different than today. As... Read More
Ask A DJ – Know Your Lyrics
In a discussion I had recently with one of my DJ employees, he asked me if I thought the song ‘Just A Gigolo’ by Louis Prima (and later re-done by David Lee Roth) was appropriate for a wedding, and my answer – as cliche as it might seem – was “If you question it, then... Read More
Closed Door; Open Window
I read someplace that endings are only the beginnings of something else. This is very true, but often times endings are opportunities. When I’m not a DJ (when I leave work for example), I’m also a lot of other things. I’m a video gamer, a fairly good cook, a world traveler and a collector... Read More