About Marcus...
I was born and raised in Miami, FL. I guess music has always been in my life. My father used to own a record store in the early 70's. I think that introduced me to my love of music because I started DJing at the age of 11. I can remember using full consoles as my turntables (you know a system that had radio, tape deck, and a turntable on top with a plastic fold down cover - at this point other DJs are laughing because they remember their first set up). After some time I got my hands on some belt-drive turntables which helped me perfect my mixing and blending skills. In my 11th grade year of high school I was hanging around a friend who took the initials of my name (K.A.J. for those who don't know me that well) and started calling me Kage.
What I call the changing point in my life is when my cousin's boyfriend at the time, who was Mr. Mixx of The 2 Live Crew, introduced me to the guy who sold me my first set of Technics 1200 turntables. Talk about a crying little punk. Since my mixing skills were already exceptional with my belt-drives, these 1200's boosetd my skills by 200% (I think this is when my first alter-ego became a permanent figure in my life). I put my set up in my garage and practiced for at least 3 - 5 hours a day with my garage door open. Needless to say my house was the hang out spot for all the neighborhood kids during my practice time (much love to everyone from NW 171 St., between 22nd and 18th ave.
My alter-ego started working night spots in Miami, from teen-clubs to strip-clubs, until I hooked up with promoters Lat & Dap of Fair Shake Productions. In '92 we started working a night spot in Dothan, AL every weekend and calling it the "Miami Weekend." After that ended I moved to Dothan.
When I got to Dothan I got my first job in radio at WJJN doing a weekend mix show. That lasted for about 5 years. Once I quit I hung up my turntables thinking I will give up DJing all together.
Something funny about being a real DJ, no matter how hard you want to quit the game, there is always that itch that makes you want to get back on the wheels. September 11, 2001... The day the twin towers fell, I was driving a taxi in Dothan listening to WBCD. The morning show jocks, Frankie Rodgiguez & Gina Hossenmakker, stayed on all day reporting everything that was going on with the tradgedy. At the end of their broadcast I called to commend them of their dedication and hard work. I also let them know I understood how difficult they had it with their marathon broadcast since I had done it before with radio telethons. After I hung up they made a comment on air of maybe we should hire him to work with us. Two weeks later I started working with WBCD. From WBCD I moved to WZND without changing locations - station format flip. After WZND lived it's less than a year lifespan another station format flip happened. This time to a Hip-Hop and R&B station - WDBT.
The Platinum Reign... A couple of years later a new night jock and PD enter WDBT. DJ Ki Ki - "Yo baby daddy" - comes up with a plan to bring the best DJs in the area under one flag - PLATINUM DJ's were born. DJ Ki Ki, myself, and Casual - the PD. We played at The Rose Room in Dothan for some time and we put on a show. In September of 2006 the "powers that be" decide that 105.3 The Beat has out lived it's usefulness and decide to flatline the station, so the Platinum Touch decides to expand. DJ Kiki runs Platinum in GA, Casual runs MS, and I stayed put in AL.
As far as my affiliations, I am a member of the Hood Hard Hitmakers with DJ Aaries, founding member of Alabama's Monarch DJs, and let's not forget a member of the Platinum DJs where everything we touch turns to Platinum.
The future... As of now I am traveling from club to club as a guest DJ while also booking private parties with my mobile entertainment company CREATIVE VYBES ENTERTAINMENT. I guarantee that you have not heard the last from me by a long shot because while you are reading this a plan is taking to action my next adventure... which you will find out about when the time is right.
