DJ Diz - Live at Dynagroove - 10-21-2000

Biography of DJ Diz

Biography:
If life is about 'being in the right place at the right time,' then
Diz’s timing could not have been better. Born and raised in Chicago, the
original epicenter of the House Music universe, Diz’s adolescence coincided
with the beginnings of that city’s legendary scene. He was 14 when his
older brother took him to The Music Box in 1985. That night, the course of his
life was altered when he witnessed the potential of music: to control emotions
and lead people on a collective journey. He’s been striving to do just
that ever since, and in the process has become a faithful participant in the
music, the culture, and the times.
Like many, Diz’s DJ beginnings were about whatever he could get his hands
on at the time. His record collection started with Disco and old Breaks inherited
from family members, and until he got his own decks a full year after that night
at The Music Box, he would go to a friend’s house to play records for
hours.
Throughout high school, he frequented parties featuring DJs such as Frankie
Knuckles, Ron Hardy, Farley and many other masters, and finally had a chance
to break into the scene at age 19 after meeting contemporaries Mark Farina,
Derrick Carter and Spencer Kincey (Gemini). His early gigs were at Alcazar with
Gemini, and at one-off parties. At his Wicker Park loft, what started as a means
for paying the rent developed into a two-year run as a fully-functioning nightclub
with staff, featuring Diz, Farina and Mark Grant on the turntables. Soon afterwards,
he and his friends took over Shelter, 'One of the city’s most severe
night spots.' From roughly 1993-98 Diz was the Friday resident at Shelter,
and the Saturday resident at Red Dog alongside Johnny Fiasco, in addition to
traveling increasingly. In 1995, Diz accepted a job offer from his brother’s
friend Anthony Pearson (better known as Chez Damier) to work at PRESCRIPTION,
the record label Chez was starting with his producing partner, Ron. PRESCRIPTION
did a lot of distribution business with CAJUAL, and that is how Diz met his
future producing partner, Joshua, whose nickname, as fate would have it, was
'Iz.' In 1995, 'Iz & Diz' produced their first record
together, 'Ghosts in Detroit,' released on PRESCRIPTION’s sub-label,
BALANCE.
A year later, Joshua/Iz moved back to San Francisco, but through the years
he and Diz have maintained their close friendship and continue to produce together
for labels like GUIDANCE, TWEEKIN’, SILVER NETWORK, and PANHANDLE. Recently,
Diz has been putting together his own studio, and will soon begin to release
his solo production work. In addition to playing regularly in Chicago, Diz travels
extensively both nationally and worldwide, occasionally paired with Joshua/Iz.
Recently, he’s gained a particularly loyal following in Los Angeles, where
he plays at least once a month. His club credits in Canada include Montreal
(Jai Bar, Harmony, Stereo), Toronto (Jet Club, Industry, Government), Winnipeg
(Pan Am Games outdoor festival), Vancouver (Sonar, Rehab, Plaza), and in Europe,
London (Bar Rhumba), Paris (The Queen, Rex Club, What’s Up Bar), Montpellier
(La Dune, Penguin Parties), Marseille (Café Espace), Corsica(Eclipse
Party), Avignon (festival), Brussels (Food Club), Scotland (Tribal Funktion),
and Stuttgart (Café Kesselhouse). Coming soon will be his first commercially
released mixed CD on Derrick Carter’s label, CLASSIC.