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A PRINCE OF A DJ

Dominic Redd got hooked on Prince when he was in elementary school. "My family would play all the old stuff, and my aunts and uncles would go to the shows," he says. "I first saw Prince in eighth grade on the 'Purple Rain' tour. So I started buying Prince vinyl, bootlegs, whatever I could get my hands on."

By his own count, Redd -- known around Washington as DJ Dredd -- has seen Prince between 20 and 30 times. And as Redd began to gig around town, spinning '70s funk, R&B and old-school hip-hop at bars like the Metro Cafe and Aroma, he kept thinking how cool it would be to host a Prince dance party.

Fate -- and Prince -- eventually gave him a shot. "In 2000, I was in line buying tickets for a Prince show at George Mason University when I met this woman who was a member of Lovesexy DC, the Prince fan club," Redd recalls. "I talked to Kathy Jentz, the president, about doing a Prince dance party, and that December, we started doing a monthly event at the Metro Cafe."

That event -- simply called Lovesexy DC -- ran until the Metro Cafe closed last summer. The people who showed up were a microcosm of Prince fans, folks of all ages and races dancing to deliriously funky music, and, while catching their breath, chatting about Prince's music and films. And, given the diehard nature of the fans, Lovesexy's parties are more than just a greatest hits collection. "People always want to hear the dance stuff," Redd laughs, "But they also come up and ask for the obscure songs and the B-sides you don't hear out.

"Over a night, about 60 percent of what I spin is Prince -- he's done so much stuff. But the rest is related artists -- the Time, Sheila E., Vanity, Madhouse -- it goes on and on."

Last month, Lovesexy reappeared at the Velvet Lounge (915 U St. NW; 202-462-3213). On the second Sunday of each month, you'll find Redd filling the dance floor upstairs while some members of the club occupy the ground-floor bar to talk shop. To keep the events lively, Redd will be creating themed mini-sets of music each month. For example, March will feature "The Revolution vs. New Power Generation: Who Was Prince's Best Band?" That's something that will certainly inspire debate at the bar. "I'll probably spin eight or 10 songs, going back and forth [between the two bands] and let the people decide," Redd says.

Other upcoming theme nights include "The Spiritual vs. the Profane," which will focus on ballads and sexually explicit songs, "Prince vs. the Time" and "1983-93 vs. 1993-2003: Battle of the Decades."

True to his roots, you'll also find Redd playing Prince tunes outside of Lovesexy. "When I'm spinning at Aroma [on Fridays] or Rouge [on the first Wednesday of the month], I usually bring five or 10 songs and do a mini Prince set," he says. "People always ask me for it. But I don't want to do too much -- I don't want to get sick of it."

Link: http://www.washingtonpost...3Mar6.html

very interesting story..especially 4 us DJ's
somewhat similar 2 what goes on in the PURPLE UNDERGROUND here in North Carolina...
Xcept some people that come 2 the " Prince Parties" r not really fam, but people that just want 2 have a good time and meet some NPG freaks.
I usually play all Prince music...mostly B-Sides and dance trax...and most recently NPGMC music.
Could only imagine what it would b like 2 play 4 a city like D.C.
The nightly themes seems like a good idea..i may have 2 give that a try.