The Supa Funk Regulata DJ Celo
by Richard O'Connor
 

Celo is Washington D.C.’s undisputed #1 DJ.  No one will argue this fact.  If there’s a fight it’s for second place.

In a city where DJ’s have traditionally taken a back seat to Go-Go bands, Celo’s turntable skills, and business acumen have made him among the region’s hottest commodities.

Unlike most local jocks who are content to play for the same crowd week after week, month after month, Celo has developed his skills by accepting new challenges.  Whether he’s chillin’ in New York with Funkmaster Flex, or spinning at an obscure club in Birmingham, Alabama, the “Supafunk Regulata” has demonstrated that he can rock any party.

As a result, he has made a name for himself among those in the industry.  You  have to go way back into the old school to find a DJ from Washington or Baltimore this skilled and respected.

Celo got his first radio mix show at the age of 17 while still a junior Mc Kinley Tech High School.  In most cities this would make you a local celebrity but Celo points out that few kids noticed or cared.  “Back then if you weren’t in a band, you weren’t shit in D.C.”

He was the first radio mixer to make local listeners take notice of true turnatable skills.  Until then many  thought that all DJ’s were the same.

Despite his popularity and success he is extremely humble and easy to approach.  Just ask him what makes him good, and you’ll probably be surprised at the simplicity of the answer.  “I think that it’s my music selection.”  Now come on Celo.  If it was that easy I’d have your job.

For years Celo has boasted the #1 rated mix show in Washington.  His 5 o’clock afternoon and 9 o’clock evening mix shows had such a loyal audience that it enabled whichever station he was working for (he has done stints with both WKYS and WPGC) to own those time slots.

So what really happened to Celo that made him leave radio?  “I was my happiest at WKYS,” he explains.  “We were in the process of burying WPGC. Then Damon Williams (the former music director) violated my contract.  I couldn’t stand for that, so I left.”

 Celo’s abrupt departure was no small loss to WKYS.  As the underdog trying to take over a market that has been owned by WPGC since the late 80's, Celo gave them tremendous credibility.  Not only were his mix shows #1, people were also staying locked onto the station. Anything that upset this chemistry threatened the staions newly acquired #1 status.

To the amazement of local listeners, Celo not only left WKYS, but was back at WPGC within a week.  “Since they violated the contract I could do that,” he explains concerning a contract clause that prevents DJ’s from working for a competing station in the same market within a 90 day period.

The loss was made even more devastating by the way WPGC flaunted Celo’s return. WKYS hasn’t been #1 since.  It’s probably no coincidence that Damon Williams lost his job within a week of Celo’s departure.

So what caused the bad blood between WKYS and Celo?  “There’s no bad blood at all,” he explains.  “ I had a good relationship with Steve Hegwood (Radio One VP of Operations) before Damon came along.  Remeber, me and Damon worked together at the old Flava 1580 AM.  He didn’t like the fact that I was mixing on the AM side (Flava) and the FM side (WPGC).  We just had a bad relationship from our prior job.  When he came to WKYS I felt like he had it in for me.”

Not long after returning to WPGC, Celo left the station for good.  “They weren’t paying anything.  I went back just to make a point anyway.”

Although no longer on the air, Celo is still D.C.’s most recognized and respected turntable technician.  Curious stations from around the country request his mix tapes and offer jobs.

“I would leave D.C. if the opportunity was right, but I can’t leave here for free.  The money would have to be right.”

So Celo, just how much money were you making at WKYS?  Without a word, Celo’s ear to ear grin said it all.  The money was obviosly quite good.