Give A Shout To All Those Original Influencers, The Disc Jockeys, On This ‘National DJ Day’, Even Those From Maine!

They were some of the world's first "influencers", the original Disc Jockeys of yesteryear, who shaped everything from music to pop culture with just the sound of their voices and the music played for the masses.

According to one site online, the first person to play records over the airwaves was a 16-year-old kid named Ray Newby in 1909. But the world wouldn't hear the term "Disc Jockey" until a couple of decades later.

In 1939, popular radio commentator Walter Winchell came up with that name to describe a radio announcer who played popular records.

Thus, the nickname, DJ, was created, and the rest is history.

"Today, contemporary DJs play music from vinyl to digital. Regardless of the medium they use, the term disc jockey still applies."
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While the term has grown to encompass more than just those who play records over the airwaves, it now applies to many different things.

"Hip-hop DJs became popular in the late 70s and 80s, using multiple turntables and using the turntables themselves as an instrument to alter the music. Mobile DJs often act as the master of ceremonies at events or parties, directing the evening's activities."

January 20th is officially National Disc Jockey Day, or so I've been told, and that got me thinking about some of the folks who have come before me.

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Some of the more famous Disc Jockeys in history include the likes of Alan Freed, who coined the term Rock n Roll.

There was Wolfman Jack, whose gravely voice was legendary for over three decades, and Casey Kasem, who introduced pop music and long-distance dedications to an entire generation.

And then there was Dr. Demento, who represented a population of people eager for anything offbeat and anything but mainstream.

Growing up in Bangor, Maine, many of us remember the legendary voices of DJ Fred Miller, Chuck Foster, Kid, Cindy Campbell, Mighty John, and so on.

They were the ones who shared music with us and shared stories. At times, they were a lifeline and a sense of comfort for those who may have been alone, or at the very least, felt lonely.

Read More: How Maine's Female Broadcasters Paved The Way For Women Like Me

Those voices that came over the radio could make you laugh, make you think, inform, and entertain you.

So much of our childhood was spent glued to the radio, before streaming and the internet came along.

If you were lucky, you might have even had a cassette tape recorder that you could use to record your favorite DJs in action or even your favorite songs.

In a world where everything is instantaneous, and personalities are in the minority over AI and streaming, it feels as if real-life DJs are few and far between.

So if you click with a certain DJ, or just appreciate them keeping you company, today's the day--your chance to let them know.

Who were some of the voices that helped introduce you to your favorite tunes and stories?