DJ Cassidy

Cassidy Podell was DJ’ing at New York City’s club Lotus and caught the attention of Diddy, who was impressed enough to hire the teenager to spin at his MTV Video Music Awards party in 2001. Podell, who has been obsessed with spinning records since receiving turntables and a mixer at age 10, subsequently became an in-demand disc jockey. His services were sought by the likes of Russell Simmons, Pharrell Williams, and Kanye West. He played at the presidential inaugurations of Barack Obama, as well as the wedding reception of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Columbia signed him to a recording contract and, like labelmates Daft Punk, he was inspired by the polished and uplifting qualities of certain late-’70s and early-’80s R&B acts — the likes of Chic, Michael Jackson, Shalamar, Luther Vandross, and Change, in particular. DJ Cassidy likewise set up a series of super sessions featuring his heroes and younger favorites. Among the figures he snared were the core of Earth, Wind & Fire, Daft Punk collaborator Nile Rodgers, undervalued session ace Ray Parker, Jr., and heavyweight arranger Jerry Hey. From younger generations, he involved a wider range of artists, such as songwriter Claude Kelly, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Passion Pit, and Chromeo. In early 2014, the singles “Calling All Hearts” (featuring Jessie J and Robin Thicke) and “Make the World Go Round” (featuring R. Kelly) preceded the album Paradise Royale. ~ Andy Kellman