DJ for Country Superstar Keith Urban & Veteran of Stevie Wonder's KJLH 102.3 Los Angeles
Ah, yes, only in America can a pre-med student, bred on hip-hop music, wind up spinning on the 1's and 2's for—of all things—a country music superstar from Australia! You can't script such a wild scenario without raising an eyebrow, but it's true. DJ DEBONAIR is the young man entrusted to get live audiences around the world hyped to see and hear the legendary Keith Urban in action. Believe it or not, it’s just what Urban had in mind: bring music’s myriad paths to a world-wide audience.
DEBONAIR is no stranger to getting a crowd jump-started. While attending high school in his native Ft. Lauderdale, DEBONAIR was privy to an FM radio station at another campus where he co-hosted "The Bump Show." DEBONAIR spun hot tracks and interviewed icons Run DMC, Busta Rhymes and Notorious B.I.G. Upon enrolling at Florida State University, DEBONAIR parlayed both "The World of Hip-Hop" on WAMF-FM Tallahassee, and "The Underground Railroad" at nearby WVFS-FM.
After graduating in 2000 armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology, DEBONAIR soon realized his passions lay not in medicine, but in music. From 1999 to 2001, he held three titles at WVHT-FM Tallahassee as an air personality, music director and mix show director. A move to Los Angeles later in 2001 prompted a shift to promotion and marketing, where he worked for several major record labels. In 2004, DEBONAIR created Flawless P & M, a highly successful promotion and marketing company that has broken music from 50 Cent, Jaheim, Lil’ Jon, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, D12, Timbaland, Common, Field Mob, Lloyd and Rich Boy. DEBONAIR also wears another hat, that of producer and instrumentalist (saxophone and bass), and has produced tracks for Mario, Brian McKnight, Trina, Trey Songz and Mistah F.A.B.
DEBONAIR kept his turntable chops up spinning in Los Angeles hot spots and at Stevie Wonder-owned KJLH-FM’s “Saturday Night Mixdown,” where he became one of the city’s most respected DJs. His high-energy approach and uncanny ability to read a crowd captured the attention of Urban’s management team, who approached DEBONAIR in early 2007 to join Urban’s world-wide tour. The combination of Keith Urban and DJ Debonair fit like a hand in glove. Urban's reputation as a daring and exploratory artist attracts capacity crowds and a loyal listenership. "It was Keith's idea to have a DJ open for him and warm up the crowd," DEBONAIR says. "I like his approach in that he likes a wide variety of music, not strictly country. Keith lets me play pretty much whatever I feel: Bruce Springsteen, Fergie, Prince, John Mellencamp, AC/DC, 50 Cent, Michael Jackson and Led Zeppelin. The best thing is, everyone loves the mix. I get inspiration seeing thousands bobbing to my beat."
Since starting with Keith Urban in 07, DEBONAIR has also worked with country superstars Carrie Underwood, Gary Allan, and John Rich and his crew The Muzik Mafia. When not on the road, DEBONAIR spends his time building and racing hot rod cars. He is the proud owner of a 1968 Camaro SS Coupe, and is a passionate motorcycle enthusiast who regularly cruises Los Angeles’ boulevards on either a Ninja ZX9R or a Harley Davidson low rider. And in the winter, he can be found slicing his snowboard through fresh powder snow in the mountains north of Los Angeles. DJ DEBONAIR concludes: "Touring the world with justifies my belief that music is the force that unifies everybody."
