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The Kennett Paper |
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11/17/2005 |
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DJ wows them in NYC |
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By: Wm. Shawn Weigel |
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Demetrius "DJ" Turner II is a young man on the move.
Just months after sweeping the first leg of the amateur night
competition at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, he wowed the New
York City crowds again, this time in front of such media luminaries as
Howard Stern, Donald Trump and Chris Rock. But what started out as
yet another talent competition became a sensational night that ended
with a center court performance and a televised interview. |
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DJ was
invited to perform at the New York Knicks home opener on Friday, Nov.
4, after a member of the Knicks promotional team saw his outstanding
performance at the Apollo this fall. After exchanging e-mails with
DJ's father, they soon asked DJ if he would like to compete against
two other artists for the Knicks' Talented Kids contest, where the
13-year-old Kennett Middle School student blew the room away with his
bluesy take on Ray Charles' "Georgia on my Mind" -- the same song that
landed him top honors at the Apollo -- while standing center court in
Madison Square Garden. DJ's performance was met with thunderous
applause from the crowd, the only criteria for winning (no judges). On
the way back to his dressing room, DJ said he was greeted by President
and Chief Operating officer of Madison Square Gardens Sports Steve
Mills, who complimented DJ on his performance. Before his head had
stopped spinning, DJ found himself at the Play-by-Play restaurant
being interviewed for MSGtv and ESPN for an after-game special, where
DJ answered questions after viewing a brief recorded segment of his
performance. |
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That's quite a night for a kid who's been playing the sax for less
than five years. "It was absolutely unbelievable," said DJ's father,
Demetrius Turner Sr., beaming with pride at his son's accomplishments.
"I mean, how many people get to play in front of a crowd that size at
the age of 50, let alone 13?" Was the young impresario nervous about
performing in front of such a huge crowd? "No," DJ said. The size of
the crowd came as no surprise to DJ, who had been to games before.
Prior to the Knicks game, however, his largest crowd for performing
was 4,000 people -- roughly one-fifth of the MSG crowd. Still, DJ
displayed nerves of steel as he blew his way through his 90-second
performance.
DJ's impressive rise to notoriety began just a few years ago, when his
paternal grandfather Vewiser Turner -- also a jazz musician in his own
right -- gave DJ his first sax at the age of 9. |
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Since then,
DJ's "career" has snowballed, as his father continues to find him
unique and often high profile gigs, including Atlantic City and the
Cape May Jazz Festival. DJ see his talent as a likely springboard
for a career as a professional musician. "Well, it's very possible,"
said Turner, but DJ is more concrete. "Oh yes," DJ says. "Recording
and performing," though he admitted that performing gives him a more
immediate thrill. |
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DJ is
available for bookings. For additional information contact him at
610-563-9396. |
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