Through the trials and tribulations of my life, I thank God for the Music.
Music saved a DJs life.
Nu Yorican native, DJ John Rhythms was inspired by the music and culture the fast paced town had to offer him. Born and raised in the Bronx, John's passion for music came very early in life. At the very young age of eight years old, he was already headlining the show at a local afternoon spot sponsored by a friend to his father who was the resident disc jockey for that club. It was Love at First Sight & Sound!!! He quickly learned of the natural high music brings to oneself and saw the beauty of it from behind the booth as everyone was dancing and enjoying the music. There he dabbled with music to the likes of Latin Jazz, Afro Cuban,Salsa, and of course, Disco. Till this day it is still one of his most favorable memories.
John remembers when Rap music was the new scene in New York and everyone loved it and had forgotten about Disco and Soul. "The few places that you were able to listen to any Disco and/or Soul was to tune in to the radio stations 92WKTU, KISS FM and WBLS on the weekends," Johnny recalls.
As John matured, so did his focus and passion for music. By this time, John was already within his early teens and was set to make his mark in the world. John started attending Block parties and House parties where he saw different types and styles of DJ’s. This was the catapult to him becoming a DJ. He armed himself with the tools and keys as he repeatedly attended local parties that featured DJ’s and kept his attention to how the music was presented and how the audience responded. By fifteen, he purchased his first two turntables, a mixer and a pair of speakers. John started putting to practice that which he had longed to do. He laughs and says, “It was not as easy as it looks!†But because of that passion he grew as a DJ and meet fellow DJ’s which he has had the honor of working with.
In the mid - late eighties, known then as DJ John Paradise, he started doing more underground parties which lead him to DJ at many of NYC, NJ, and Florida’s’ top clubs. Clubs like The Palladium, Red Zone, Roseland, 1018, Roxy, Tunnel, The Underground, Systems, The Cheetah Club and other top venues.
In late nineties, John took a break from the music scene for his own spiritual growth. After going through some trials and tribulations in his life, he was inspired to go back to the one thing that has always made him the happiest, playing music for people to dance and enjoy. So after his hiatus, now known as DJ John Rhythms, he returned to playing the music that he loves as well as getting into producing. Since his return, John has produced along side his long time friend, London Alexander, and has also DJ’ed at several venues in NYC since his return and continues to flourish.
John Rhythms wants to thank all those Maestros that have inspired him & keep the music spinning:
Tony Humphries, John “Jellybean†Benitez, Latin Rascals, “Little†Louie Vega, Larry Levan (RIP), Ron Hardy(RIP), Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, John Robinson(RIP), Timmy Regisford, Jose “The Animal†Diaz, and many others too far to mention.
