We had the good fortune of connecting with Clarke Boozer and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Clarke, why did you pursue a creative career?
After nearly 4 decades of working the traditional company and government jobs, I realized that I was not serving my true purpose and doing what I was passionate about. A serious medical condition forced me to go on permanent disability. While I was undergoing treatments and rehabilitation, I needed to find something to keep my mind busy..
I always had a love for music and sharing it with anyone who wanted to listen. As a teenager, I was always the guy who would have the huge portable stereo blasting the funk in the locker room before practice and the games.
I can remember putting my speakers in the window and playing the latest release so even the neighborhood could catch the vibe.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I originally started as a DJ for a mobile DJ service in 1979. I was working the lighting system at a party on New Year’s Eve. The DJ got intoxicated so I jumped on the turntables without hesitation. I started mixing all the hottest club favorites, packing the dance floor for the remainder of the party. When I entered college at Oregon State University, I got involved involved in radio on KBVR FM. I started with a jazz show and even got to join funk and soul program. I quickly moved up to the funk music director and produced the Friday night Funk Mix Show. My greatest accomplishment there was going from 2 hours of programing to six hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Our program soon became the #3 rated college radio program nation wide. Soon we were doing house parties and club appearances.
After graduation I started a mobile DJ service of my own wit a high school friend , the late Anthony Dupree Casey. I did this for a few years until my first child was born in 1992.
Fatherhood no longer allowed me to DJ on a regular basis so I took a 30 year hiatus.
During Covid, I decided to get back into it as a hobby. The digital technology changed the game drastically. I bought a cheap controller and started mixing for fun. My daughter recorded a video of me I. Action and I put it on social media. One of my college radio buddies, Darvin D Malone saw it and called me. He said ‘ “man you still got it!”
I decided to take the leap into internet radio, I posted some of my shows on Mixcloud,. Within a few weeks my shows were getting top 10 rankings globally. This really ignited the fire, so I upgraded my equipment and started getting DJ gigs again.
As I researched the craft, I discovered that to get noticed and get more gigs, DJ’s should produce their own tracks.
I was doing a lot of reggae sets on my radio shows and connected with several independent artist.
My manager told me I should put out a riddim featuring some of the artist under Stonefire management. She also said that I needed to record a song.
At first I was intimidated by the idea. In the process, I connected with Young Promiss and asked her to do a feature on the song I wrote “Big Mon Tings”. I sentthe riddim to her and she sent it back with her flow. It was so hot I thought we might have a banger. I jokingly said we might hit the charts with this one.
As of this questionnaire, it has been the #1 reggae song in the United States, on N1M for several weeks now.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to a brew pub to expo some of the best craft beers in the world. Then a trip to the scenic Columbia Gorge, to catch a view of the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Hit the Oregon Cosst for some great seafood.
Then finish the week with the Oregon reggae festival.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shoutout Young Promiss for inspiring me to drop some vocals on our Big Mon Tings Single. My manager Tori of Stonefire management for linking me with so many talented artist and pushing the DJ Boozadelic brand. Commando Joe, for encouraging me to become an artist. My Wife, Nadine for believing in me. My mother and father for the moral foundation and guidance. Ultra Van Krome and Ras D for the studio work fDeepak Chopra for his book The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dj_boozadelic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djboozadelic?mibextid=PtKPJ9
Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCFtVt3jaBaS5KH_CrcBe-HA?si=xdeLG-qEhvo-o5ee
Other: https://dmmentertainment.net/dj-boozadelic-is-widely-regarded-as-one-of-the-worlds-top-djs/
Image Credits
Clarke Boozer