About DJ Mix Master McQuay

DJ Mix Master McQuay has been a Pro DJ for the last 23 years. He grew up listening and learning from the best in Chicago during the 80’s House Music explosion and spent many years playing in clubs and college parties during the 80’s and 90’s.  The bug for spinning records came to him all at once while watching Frankie Knuckles spin a dance party in the gymnasium of CVS High School sometime in 1987.  While watching Frankie Knuckles spin during his set, DJ McQuay knew that he was destined to be behind two turntables while playing in front of large crowds of people.

DJ McQuay learned the craft of beat matching by listening to the Hot Mix 5 on WBMX radio every chance he got.  He also spent a lot of late nights learning from a fellow DJ named Tyrone who had two turntables from Sears, a tape deck, and lots of Chicago house tracks from artists like Farley Jackmaster Funk, Jesse Saunders, and Jamie Principal.  No, these were not the best turntables but they gave him enough to learn the basics and build from there.

It wasn’t until 2 years later after watching Frankie Knuckles tear it up at CVS High school, that DJ McQuay purchased his very first pair of Technic 1200 turntables and a desire to finally DJ in front of his first crowd.  This opportunity came quickly and luckily once DJ McQuay connected with a very popular DJ in Chicago named Barry Robinson.  Barry pretty much owned the college market and he gave DJ McQuay a chance to work with him at a few of his smaller events; it was a trial run that turned into a span of 3 years.  During this time, DJ McQuay grew into one of the best DJ’s on the college circuit playing for almost every major college in Chicago and almost every weekend.

DJ McQuay then ventured out and connected with fellow DJ Thomas McIntosh to form a small DJ company called “Snak Pak” productions.  Snak Pak became a major force in the Chicago college circuit for several years.

After leaving the college party scene, DJ McQuay received his first break into the Chicago club scene by earning a spot behind Lil Louis at Coconuts night club.  He then made his way around the club circuit by spinning at other Chicago land popular club spots like AKA’s, Shelter, and LaMirage.  It was also during this time that DJ McQuay spun at several rave and private parties with fellow DJ’s Mark Grant, Julian Jumpin Perez, Farley Jackmaster Funk, and Mark Farina.

After leaving the club scene in the late 90’s, DJ Mix Master McQuay built a reputable and successful DJ business where he found himself playing in front of large crowds at locations like Comisky Park, The John Hancock Building, and Chicago’s Windella Boats.  This business continued its successful run through 2002.

Since then, DJ McQuay has been enjoying life with his three wonderful children and his new fiancée in St. Louis, Missouri.  DJ McQuay’s love for everything “house” has brought him back to the turntables once again to run a podcast and share it with the world at large.