From around 2000 – 2007 I was an on-air radio DJ. My name was Damon Kelly.
I spent most of my time on U92, but also among half a dozen other stations.
Those years were some of the funnest of my life.
Had the opportunity to meet countless musicians and celebrities, hang out back stage, host huge concerts and club parties.
That chapter also played a huge role in a few forever moments of my life.
I remember the very first songs I played on-air was a club remix of Aaliyah’s Rock the Boat. Fate would have it, radio would bring another Aleah into my life… my wife.
I didn’t meet my wife through radio, but I started dating her through it. I met her visiting my family. I’d drive to hang out with my younger siblings, and she lived two doors down.
She worked evenings at a hospital, and I often covered evening shifts at the station. We’d talk late into the night on the radio studio’s hotline.
If you’re not familiar with how radio works, you’re often just sitting there between breaks (talking). So we’d be talking, put her on hold to talk to the world, then come back to continue with Hottie.
We’d talk for hours, and sometimes she’d come up and hang out in-person in the studio to talk. Other times we’d talk so late she’d fall asleep. Then when I’d drive up to see her after, she was still passed out listening to me on the radio.
My friends Jake (right) and John (left) started in radio around the same time frame, and still do concerts and cool events.
Ran into them at a local amusement park last weekend where they took this pic.
Jake also ended up being the DJ for me and Aleah’s wedding.
- Another was the DJ for when I rented out a mansion and threw a big party for my 40th birthday party.
- Another friend is now my realtor.
- And many other old radio friends are some of my biggest cheerleaders in everything else I do in life.
Grateful for those past adventures, and current friendships.
I don’t talk to all of them regularly, but they are all the ones that no matter how much time passes in between hanging out, we immediately pick up where we left off.
