WORT is proud to bring DJ Mr. Dance, new co-host of Saturday Night at Smokey’s Joint (10:00 pm to midnight, Saturdays), as its chaperone to the prom. Break out your platform dance shoes and join us in honoring Rockin’ John McDonald!
Yes, you too can attend the People’s Prom, where WORT fans get to relive 1975 for a good cause: community radio in Madison. It’s this Saturday night, April 2nd, from 7:30 pm till whenever, at the East Side Club, 3735 Monona Drive in Madison. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased either online at wortfm.org or at the station, during business hours.
Admission to this time-traveling extravaganza includes such fun stuff as:
* one Ballroom Blitz (spiked specialty drink);
* a performance by disco-glam band VO5, as well as musical appearances by WORT DJs.
* the chance to vote for (or be voted) Best 1975 Costume;
* the chance to vote for (or be voted) best Rockin’ John impersonator; and
* access to a prom photo booth (selfie stick provided).
The event is also a tribute to guest of honor Rockin’ John McDonald, host of WORT’s rock oldies show I Like It Like That since 1975. Meet your local radio heroes and get a prom do-over, all in one night of nostalgic bliss on the Lake Monona shore. Proceeds will benefit WORT, which has been giving Madison aural pleasure since 1975. We now spread good vibes across the globe via the Internet, like a disco ball reflecting rays of light.
I posed a few timely questions to DJ Mr. Dance this week.
Joe Crawford Mrazek (for WORT): What do you plan on playing at the People’s Prom this Saturday night?
DJ Mr. Dance: Since VO5 plays the party songs of the 70s, I’ll play the ballads. “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth Wind & Fire, by example. I will play original music videos from the 70s, so I can show the audience something they maybe haven’t seen in 40 years. At The East Side Club they have a big screen on stage so it will look great!
WORT: Who were your favorite disc jockeys as a kid?
DJ Mr. Dance: I grew up in Minneapolis in the Sixties, when bubblegum pop on AM radio was king. In the early Seventies I fell in love listening to rock n roll late nights on KAAY (Little Rock).
A Saturday night show called Beeker Street with Clyde Clifford played me Led Zeppelin for the first time in 1969. First Black Sabbath in 1970, first King Crimson in 1969. The Second British Invasion. These record changed my world forever.
I’ve always tried to play a mix of fresh “firsts”. To share with an audience the first remix. First cover. The first time hearing an artist. All sewn together to tell a story.
WORT: What’s your background as a DJ?
DJ Mr. Dance: I started my career in 1975 on KBCR in Steamboat Springs, CO. I played records by artists from faraway places like Ben Sidran from Madison, WI. From the ski resort in Colorado I moved to Monterey Bay and the beachfront community of Santa Cruz (CA) where I was a disco DJ. In the 70s I was a member of The Bay Area Disco DJs, a record pool for club DJs. The first time I picked up my promos I had a Village People record! I moved to Madison in 1978 and worked at WWQM. I started Mr. Dance DJ Shows, performing at clubs in Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago. In the eighties I was a part of the team of DJs who played mixes on WORT’s program The Universal Soul Explosion. Since 2007 I’ve produced a music program on WSUM FM, Madison. Currently my show The Happy Hour Mix airs Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.
Okay, Community Radio Nation – come help WORT crown somebody king and/or queen of the People’s Prom this Saturday night. We have sashes and a tiara ready to go. VO5, Rockin’ John and DJ Mr. Dance are eager to help you party like it’s 1975!
