Rich Alston is a music enthusiast who collects vinyl and is a local DJ who spins a broad range of musical genres. Mr. Alston, also known as DEE JAY RICH, is a Morristown NJ native who began his DJ journey at the age of 14. After saving up money from a part time summer job, this would be selecta purchased his first set of turntables and mixer.
“Records, instruments and audio in general were always around the house growing up. My mom was a church choir director, pianist and she too was a record collector. The apple never falls far from the tree and music always had a special connection to me and my family. As a kid I sang in the church choir and played drums briefly. In elementary school, I played in the school band. While at home I also studied the electric guitar and my fasication with musical instruments continue to this very day.”
When looking back at all of his musical influences, one can see why Rich is such a well-rounded DJ. For Dee Jay Rich there is a natural appreciation of all music and it definitely shows in his creative mixes and DJ sets.
“To me music is love, and freedom. The songs are my paint and the DJ set experience is the mural. Depending on my mood and environment my paints, brushes, and tools change often but I aim to please and hit the mark every single time.”
DEE JAY RICH has a weekly residency at a local bar and grill. He also provides audio for private events and is the co-host of a special event called Open Turntable Sessions at two NJ breweries. For Rich it’s all about setting a mood and making people groove. “I try to introduce my audience to music that is often considered Leftfield or underground. At the same time I play mainstream music and my fusing all of those elements creates a unique blend that is my signature sound.”
Dee Jay Rich often gets called The b-side DJ simply because of this stylized manner of playing. This musical connoisseur feels the most satisfied when he acts as a mentor to aspiring DJ’s. Having those relationships really can make a difference for those coming up. The icing on the cake is the physical response of the people on the dance floor. The thumbs up, finger snapping, foot tapping and or body movement is the kind of immediate feedback that lets this DJ know he is on the right track!
This event is presented as part of our free Arts in the Community series, generously supported by ADP. With our Arts in Community program we continue our commitment to providing creative arts programming to spaces outside of the Theater. We strive to be inclusive and to provide opportunities for local and emerging artist to perform, network and express themselves.
