DJ Calvin Morgan

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan Calvin was always surrounded by great music, either coming from the radio or his parent’s home stereo. Be it that classic Motown sound, The British Invasion or the latest Rock and Roll, music was a vital part of growing up. It’s funny, recalling the Ice Cream man rolling down the street with “Green Onions” or “Shot Gun” playing from his speakers.
Maturing, Calvin would grasp more of the European sounds of the late 70’s and the early 80’s and also the New Wave groove of the B-52’s out of Athens, Georgia. Calvin would get his 1st chance at Djing while at Cooley High School on the Northwest side of Detroit. As brief as it may have been, the 30-minute daily music and information segment was just the break his fellow students would need to get through the rest of the day.

The true influences would come from stations such as WJLB, WLBS and WDRQ. Those were the avenues that Calvin would use to gravitate towards more Club music. The real music, the stuff that was keeping the clubs hopping, Dwayne Bradley, Ken Collier, Delano Smith, Jeff Mills, The Electrifying Mojo, Darryl Shannon, those were the guys that prompted Calvin to turn his attention to House even more so.

When the House Music Bug hits you it’s hard not to become hooked, for Calvin it’s a drug, it takes you on a ride. Prompted by several friends and the girl of his dreams at the time, Calvin decided to pursue his street/Mobile DJ career. The 1st gig found Calvin at a friend’s house with his belt driven Technics, and a sound system that he rented from fellow DJ Al Heath. As impromptu as it may have been, it was the push that Calvin needed to start purchasing more music and spending countless hours practicing in his bedroom. In the fall of 1980 on the campus of Western Michigan University, Calvin would be introduced to Hamilton Murray, another aspiring DJ from Detroit. Hamilton was also starting to get deep into House; he was also an associate of the Direct Drive DJ Crew. Direct Drive was one of the hottest crews in Detroit when it came to parties, and their style is what was missing at WMU. Upon returning home from WMU, Calvin could be heard at several parties at the Y, U of D, the legendary Downstairs Pub as well as countless private functions.

In 1984 Calvin would pick up a full time job and other responsibilities that would move him away from Djing. Never too far from the music, Calvin stayed current with all of the latest tracks, knowing one day he would again pursue his love. In 1987 the show would be taken on the road, the big move to Atlanta, Ga. It was in Atlanta that Calvin would broaden is musical taste even further. At the time of his arrival, the musical vibe in Atlanta was one that was geared more towards the top 40 sounds, and the sound that was coming out of Florida. Never to run from a challenge Calvin would once again find himself being educated on new styles of music, Reggae, Soca, Latin, and Miami Bass. Throughout the Southeast Calvin would have a chance to play in Florida, Alabama, North and South Carolina. In 1990 Calvin would form Calvin’s Music Delivery Service, a mobile entertainment company. It has been said that Calvin has some of the best sound when it comes to House music and equipment rental.

The last three years Calvin has played in Zurich, Fribourg and St. Moritz Switzerland, Frankfurt and Stuttgart Germany and also at clubs Pacha, Lucifer and Naïve on the Island of Ibiza. In the U.S. Calvin has played the cities of Chicago, Detroit, San Juan, Miami, Cincinnati as well as several late night, underground parties titled “Secrets”
You can hear several of Calvin’s mixes on live365.com (Housemusicforyou); you’ll also find some individual tracks from some great producers that are burning up the House scene. In the not so distant future, be on the look out for Calvin’s production work.