BLACK HISTORY MONTH
NANCE.........PG 8
Vol 25, No. 10 •February 2026 News You Can Use
From Turntables to Timeless: Honoring the Legacy and Impact of the DJ Special to the CNF Black History Month Spotlight Prior to becoming the focal point of the party, the DJ served as the vital core of the culture. The history of the DJ is deeply rooted in Black creativity, innovation, and community. In the 1970s, in the Bronx, New York, DJs like DJ Kool Herc began using two turntables to extend the instrumental “breaks” in funk and soul records. Those breaks gave birth to hip-hop—not just as music, but as a movement. The DJ wasn’t just playing songs; he was creating a new sound live, right in front of the crowd. Around the same time, Black DJs were shaping other genres too. In Chicago, DJs helped build house music. In New York clubs, DJs blended disco, R&B, and soul. Caribbean sound system culture, brought by Jamaican immigrants, also played a major role in influencing DJ techniques like toasting and remixing. What started as block parties and community gatherings grew into a global force that changed music forever. But the DJ has always been more than someone behind turntables. A DJ is a storyteller, using songs instead of words. A DJ is a peacekeeper, bringing people from different backgrounds together on one dance floor. A DJ is a time traveler, able to take you back to your childhood with one song and introduce you to the future with the next. continued on page 4 Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835
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John Owens—"Sugar Daddy John" By Justice Reid Before playlists lived in phones and DJs carried their whole music library in a backpack, John Owens— better known across dance floors as “Sugar Daddy John”—was learning the craft the old-school way: one vinyl record at a time. John’s journey behind the turntables began in 1979, when DJing wasn’t trendy—it was talent, timing, and pure feel. Early on, he linked up with fellow DJ Honeyboy Hill, and the two didn’t just play music… they studied it. They sharpened their skills together, eventually traveling to the Mobile Beat DJ Convention in Las Vegas, where they soaked up everything they could about crowd control, sound, stage presence, and the art of true entertainment. That trip didn’t just inspire them—it stretched their vision of what a DJ could be. Back home, they were active members of the Tri-State Record Pool in Memphis, attending monthly DJ meetings that felt like treasure hunts. They’d leave carrying boxes of promotional vinyl, sent out by artists and labels hoping DJs like them would be the ones to break a record. In the ’80s and ’90s, DJs weren’t just playing hits—they were creating them, introducing new music to communities before radio ever caught on. John has seen the industry change from vinyl to cassettes, from CDs to laptops, and now to phones and digital controllers. Through every transition, one thing never changed—his love for moving a crowd. There were a few DJs in Corinth before him, but when John entered the scene, he was determined:
John Owens
he wasn’t just going to play music—he was going all the way. And he did. Over the years, Sugar Daddy John has traveled city to city, providing the soundtrack for weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, proms, class reunions, family reunions, and just about every celebration you can imagine. His music has been there for first dances, last dances, and memories that still make people smile decades later. But DJing hasn’t always been easy. John will tell you straight: some nights pay well… some don’t. Some crowds are kind… some aren’t.
Still, the friendships, the stories, and the joy of witnessing a dance floor come to life made it all worthwhile. To him, DJing is more than a hobby; it's more than a side job. It’s an adventure. Now, with 46 years of experience, John carries not just crates of music history but also a heart for the next generation. He knows how hard the road can be, and he also knows how powerful encouragement is. That’s why he’s always willing to help younger DJs coming up—offering advice, sharing lessons, and reminding them that passion is what keeps you in the game.