Who is this DJ merritt anyway?
Dallas, Texas is probably best known around the
world for Who shot JR? Lee Harvey
Oswald, the Grassy Knoll and our little
friend, the pocket-sized man of his own moment,
Ross Perrot. But for those familiar with Dallas
cutting-edge electronic music scene, DJ Merritt
is the name everyone remembers. As in other important
cities for electronic music, strong support from
local radio plays an essential part in nurturing
the scene. DJ Merritt hosts Edge Club, the longest
running mix show in America for the last six years.
Its no coincidence that the show is a mammoth
five hours long, is broadcast in part from Dallass
hottest club, The Lizard Lounge, and airs every
Saturday night on the most popular new music station
in the city: KDGE The Edge, Dallas/Ft Worth. As
with anyone at the top of his game, DJ Merritt
has worked for it. He began spinning house and
acid house well over a decade ago during college
in Shreveport, Louisiana.
As his talents as a DJ became obvious, his college
radio station KSCL gladly offered him his own
electronic music show. In 1990, DJ Merritt launched
Friday Night Rave, a three-hour show
that premiered the best of the eras electronic
music -- certainly an entirely new thing for the
bayous and backwaters of Louisiana. After returning
to complete his education in Dallas in 1993, Merritt
quickly moved into the local club and rave scene
playing two or more sets a night. He rocked the
house and packed the dance floor at Dallas
hottest clubs including Aqua Lounge, Fish Dance
and Iguana Mirage. Merritt also worked overnights
at KDGE, until finally graduating to take over
Edgeclub in 1996.
Since then hes played with, and had as
guests on his show, just about every important
DJ & Artist in the world -- from Moby, The
Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Orbital, to Metalheadz
and Todd Terry. Merritts immense appetite
for music continues to propel both his sound and
his career. Over the years hes been known
to spin a wicked Drum and Bass set once in a while,
as well as his signature brand of Progressive
House and Future Breaks. More recently, Merritt
has taken the next logical step and started making
his own music. First venturing out with remixes
of Symphonic Music from Team Progress
and Believe from Inner Face and then
contributing his own original work Slappin
Skins to the Torchbearers project.
His next release has him teamed up with Ridgeback
buddy Darren Duvall for their major label remix
of the industrial band Kidney Thieves. With all
his expertise, DJ Merritt is also the Program
Director for an all dance online station and a
Trip Hop/Chill Out station for San Diego based
MusicMatch.com.
In addition to the radio shows, you can catch
DJ Merritt every week at various clubs and one-offs,
or on the big stage opening for artists like Orbital,
Prodigy, Moby, Groove Armada, and so on.
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