DJ SHELLAC

AJ REGAL

KJ

DJ SHELLAC

“Music soothes my soul and releases my mind” are the spiritual words of DJ Shellac, a person who has been around music his entire life. Shellac, whose real name is James Jones Jr., has officially been a DJ since the mid 80’s, but was introduced to the concept of arranging and changing sounds to his perception by his father James Sr. earlier than that. Listening to his father on weekends making custom tapes for friends of all types of R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Blues began the journey. This concept fused with the countless hours of listening to the pioneers of mixing helped Shellac to tune his ears to the art.

Shellac had many influences and mentors as he learned how to DJ growing up on the South Side of Chicago. “I used to just sit and watch in awe as cats like Hugo Hutchinson, Wayne Williams, Mike Dunn, Cochese, and Devastating Darryl mixed and made edits in my friend Ted’s basement”. They taught Shellac how to mix and not just play records so you always kept the crowd hyped. “My biggest thing was being able to blend and these guys made sure I understood that.” Listening to countless hours of radio shows like WBMX, WNUR, WKKC, WCRX, and later WGCI where legends like the Hot Mix 5, Steve Hurley, Frankie Knuckles, Walter “Get Down” Brown, and others made Shellac realize “This is what I am destined to do”. Going to parties at the Muzic Box, Bizmark Hotel, and the Hotel Continental to hear masters like Ron Hardy and Lil Louis, gave a clear understanding to Shellac of what it took to elevate the crowd.

As a student at Southern Illinois University, Shellac became one of the top DJ’s as he did a majority of the local parties and venues around the campus. He had a regular spot as a DJ on the campus radio station, WIDB, and also started a famed weekly mix show with their own version of the Hot Mix 5. Shellac has worked in many different places and cities like the Cotton Club, Seagulls and La Mirage in Chicago, First Ave and the Qwest in Minneapolis, various venues in Memphis, and many private affairs.

“I have played in many different places playing all types of music, I even DJ’d a country western prom once, but my passion has always been to play house music.” Shellac, who is one of the founders that established Infinite Soundz back in 1993  (www.infinitesoundz.com), not only DJ’s at clubs, private parties, and other venues but is producing his own music along with collaborations and remixes with others in the industry. The Infinite Soundz organization, comprised of brother AJ Regal and cousin KJ, are now working hard to expand their talents into the realms of house, R&B, and hip hop production.

“No matter what I do in life and where I go music will always guide my spirit because God placed it in my life for a reason”……….DJ Shellac

Contact Info

djshellac@infinitesoundz.com

AJ Regal

AJ Regal, hip hop producer and beat maker, produces and makes beats for all styles of Hip Hop/Rap/R&B music. His Hip Hop influences range from Dr. Dre to A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Premier, and The Neptunes. The greatest musical inspiration comes from AJ Regal's family. AJ Regal’s Father James Jones Sr. and Brother James Jr. exposed him to music at an early age. With the listening pleasure of his Father's massive vinyl record collection of 60's and 70's Soul, Funk and R&B, AJ Regal learned of the early pioneers. The influence from older brother James Jr. (a.k.a DJ Shellac), a professional DJ/Remixer since 1983 who broke into the music industry with the explosion of Chicago House music and early Hip Hop, introduced AJ Regal to the culture of music. AJ Regal , born April 3rd, 1977 in Chicago, IL, grew up on the south side of Chicago till age 11 when his family relocated to Memphis, TN in August of 1988. There, AJ Regal developed a close bond and musical partnership with his cousin Kevin Johnson (a.k.a KJ), a well known DJ/Turntable Wizard, and formed an M.C./DJ tandem that resembled one of his biggest Hip Hop influences, the hip hop group "Gangstar".  Other musical inspirations come from legendary artist like "Parliament-FUKADELIC" which is considered by AJ Regal to be the earliest form and roots of Hip Hop. AJ Regal also is greatly inspired by the artistic and creative career of "Prince", who he considers to be one of if not the greatest artist/musician ever in the music industry. 

AJ Regal gained experience in music production and beat making thru his membership with "Infinite Soundz". Infinite Soundz, a DJ/Production company found in 1993 by James Jones Jr., Kevin Johnson and AJ Regal  specializes in beat-making, remixing of records, artist production and production of mix tapes. AJ Regal has experience with a variety of musical and studio equipment including samplers (although he prefers to make his own original works), drum machines/rhythm composers, digital workstations, production software and mixing boards. He has created a vast array of beats using the AKAI MPC-2000, the Triton LE, and the Boss DR-5 to name a few. AJ Regal also studied basic music theory at the University of Memphis and took professional guitar lessons as a method to learn to read/write music. AJ Regal's major goal is to establish Infinite Soundz as a major production/entertainment company to the likes of Sean "Puffy" Combs with BadBoy, Russell Simmons with Def Jam, Master P with NO-Limit and other major Black Entertainment Moguls such as Quincy Jones, Spike Lee and Bill Cosby. AJ Regal’s immediate goals are to establish himself, his name, style and works in the music/entertainment industry and gaining useful knowledge of the business while sharpening his music making skills.

Contact Info

ajregal@infinitesoundz.com

KJ

After taking nearly seven years off, KJ returned to DJing in 2003 with Infinite Soundz.  He has been a DJ for more than 15 years.  His career began with spending a lot of time on collecting records and studying the production work from many artists.  Some of the artists were Eric B. and Rakim, Public Enemy, and Boogie Down Productions.  KJ was, and is still amazed at how they influenced the music industry and the fan………”Some times I dream of going back to the days of DJs and MCs with just two turntables and a mic.” 

The first event that he can remember doing was his family reunion in Mississippi.  “I was requested to play the O’Jays – Family Reunion so much, I though that this DJing thing was not going to be for me.”  Later KJ started doing more weddings and private parties in the Memphis area.  KJ’s biggest highlight came when he had the chance to spin for U.S. Congressman Harold Ford Jr. at his birthday/campaign party.  While attending the University of Memphis, KJ began spinning at parties for the fraternities and sororities on campus.  “I got my first break at a weekly step show when DJ C. Styles (a.k.a. DJ TAZ) gave me a chance to spin.”  After that step show, KJ would go on to meet other DJs and MCs around the campus.   

While in school, KJ would team up with John Rhyne (a.k.a. Cold Shoulders) and other students to enter various talent shows on campus.  This gave him a lot of exposure that led to many other deals.  You can now hear John featured on the re-mastered copy of the “Hot Mix ‘96” mix-tape.   

For the near future, KJ would like to see Infinite Soundz as a company that has a big influence on music and its fans around the world.  The various avenues of opportunities are endless and KJ believes that teaming up with Shellac and AJ Regal gives Infinite Soundz what it takes to make it happen. 

Contact Info

KJ@infinitesoundz.com