DJ Lady D
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = DJ Lady D
| image = DJ Lady D 2008.jpg
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| caption = Jackson in 2008
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| birth_name = Darlene Jackson
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| origin = Chicago, Illinois, USA
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| years_active = 1995–present
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| associated_acts = {{hlist|Superjane|Paul Johnson|DJ Colette|Black Coffee|Chip E.}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.djladydchicago.com/}}
| module = {{Infobox person
| child = yes
| alma_mater = Northwestern University (MD)
| education = Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
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Darlene Jackson,{{cite journal|url=https://digitalcommons.colum.edu/house/11/|title=Interview with Darlene 'Lady D' Jackson|journal=Columbia College Chicago|date=January 2013 |last1=Salkind |first1=Micah }} known as DJ Lady D, is an American DJ and writer from Chicago, voted Chicago's Best House Music DJ of 2023 in the [https://chicagoreader.com/best-of-chicago/music-nightlife-poll-winners-2023/ Chicago Reader annual poll] .{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/tellmemore/2010/07/07/128367542/a-poetic-heartfelt-love-for-house-music|title=A Poetic, Heartfelt Love For House Music|website=NPR|date=July 7, 2010|author=Jackson, Darlene}} Dubbed "Chicago's house music queen" by Chicago Magazine, she is known for her house, techno and disco sets and has appeared in events such as Wanderlust, Noise Pop, Westfest, SXSW and Lollapalooza.{{cite web|url=https://5mag.net/calendar/festivals/west-fest-july-8-july-10-2016/|title=West Fest Celebrates 12 Years with Another Massive Lineup|date=June 6, 2016|website=5Mag.net}}{{cite web|url=https://ftloc.org/participant/dj-lady-d/|title=DJ Lady D|date=October 18, 2018|website=For The Love of Chocolate Foundation}} EDM.com listed Jackson as one of the "top 10 black artists from Chicago."{{cite web|url=https://edm.com/features/black-history-month-10-influential-black-artists-from-chicago|title=HONOR THE BIRTH OF HOUSE MUSIC WITH 10 INFLUENTIAL BLACK ARTISTS FROM CHICAGO|website=EDM.com|author=Kupfer, Rachel|date=February 1, 2021}} In 2022, BET.com cited Jackson as a pioneer of the house music movement along with Black DJs like Black Coffee, Vince Lawrence, and Gene Farris.{{cite web | url=https://www.bet.com/article/rszirt/black-music-month-5-house-dance-djs-to-follow | title=Black Music Month: 5 House and Dance DJS You Should Follow | website=BET }} Popsugar validates Jackson as one of "the black women who shaped house music" {{cite web | url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/black-women-who-shaped-house-music-48864373 | title=From Robin S. To Crystal Waters, These 9 Black Women Defined House Music | date=24 June 2022 }} and Mother Jones {{cite web | url=https://www.motherjones.com/media/2022/06/beyonce-break-my-soul-renaissance-drake-house-music-lgbtq/ | title=Beyoncé is bringing back house music—and not a moment too soon }} references DJ Lady D in a think piece about Beyonce's smash single, "Break My Soul", and acknowledges Jackson, has been "pumping out house music for decades" like artists Chip E. and Black Coffee, according to the article. Jackson was recently elected in June 2023 to the Board of Governors for the Recording Academy Chicago Chapter.{{cite web | url=https://www.recordingacademy.com/membership/governance | title=Recording Academy Governance | website=Recording Academy }}
Early life
Jackson grew up in South Side Chicago, Illinois in Washington Heights with two brothers and three sisters.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tcp-DwAAQBAJ&dq=dj+lady+d+birthday&pg=PA85|title=Do You Remember House?: Chicago's Queer of Color Undergrounds|pages=85–88|date=December 19, 2018|author=Salkind, Micah|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-069843-0}} She went to Marcus Garvey Elementary School and listened to the radio when she was a child.{{cite web|url=https://chicagoist.com/2014/12/17/keeping_the_beat_alive_lady_d_part.php|title=Keeping The Beat Alive: An Interview With Lady D (Part Two)|date=December 17, 2014|website=The Chicagoist|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818030205/https://chicagoist.com/2014/12/17/keeping_the_beat_alive_lady_d_part.php|url-status=dead}} She attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and studied science.{{cite web|url=https://5mag.net/features/dj-lady-d-interview/|title=DJ Lady D: The 5 Magazine Interview|website=5Mag.net|date=April 16, 2007}} She received her [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlene-jackson/details/education/ undergraduate degree] in Biology at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.
Career
She started professionally DJing in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://app.discotech.me/articles/best-lady-d-songs-of-all-time-top-tracks|title=Best Lady D Songs of All Time – Top 8 Tracks|website=Discotech}} Her first track, "Champagne Lady", was released on Afterhours Music as was included in Afterhours Compilation Sessions Vol. 2. She then released a mix CD called Naked Kaleidoscope.{{cite web|url=http://www.apart-music.com/js_artist/dj-lady-d/|title=DJ LADY D|website=Apart-Music}} She was invited to play for one of her friends, who was a promoter, and because of that, had various promoters contacting her.{{cite web|url=https://chicagodefender.com/lessons-learned-chicagos-female-spin-doctors/|title=Chicago's Female Spin Doctor: DJ Lady D|author=Zabar, Kai El'|date=March 24, 2015|website=The Chicago Defender}} She opened to fellow Chicago DJ Paul Johnson in 1996.{{cite web|url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/07/28/house-music-legend-dj-paul-johnson-recovering-after-covid-19-forced-him-onto-a-ventilator/|title=House Music Legend DJ Paul Johnson Recovering After COVID-19 Forced Him Onto A Ventilator|author=Golden, Jamie Nesbitt|date=July 28, 2021|website=Block Club Chicago}} In 1997, she formed the all-female DJ collective Superjane, which also includes DJ Heather, DJ Colette, and DJ Dayhota to "prove that women DJs were more than a novelty act."{{cite web|url=https://5mag.net/features/superjane-at-20/|title=Superjane at 20|author=Matthew, Terry|date=September 1, 2017|website=5Mag.net}}{{cite web|url=https://chicagoist.com/2014/12/16/keeping_the_beat_alive_lady_d.php|title=Keeping The Beat Alive: An Interview With Lady D (Part One)|author=Robinson, Kevin|date=December 16, 2014|website=The Chicagoist|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818030205/https://chicagoist.com/2014/12/16/keeping_the_beat_alive_lady_d.php|url-status=dead}} In 2000, she participated with Superjane in the SuperJane USA Tour 2000 with Austrian DJ Electric Indigo.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1122959/lady-dj-collective-superjane-embark-on-us-tour/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818030204/http://www.mtv.com/news/1122959/lady-dj-collective-superjane-embark-on-us-tour/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 18, 2021|title=LADY DJ COLLECTIVE SUPERJANE EMBARK ON U.S. TOUR|author=Moss, Corey|date=August 10, 2000|website=MTV}}
In 2004, she started her own record label called D'lectable Music.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.colum.edu/careercenter/2015/03/19/meet-darlene-jackson-dj-producer-remixer/|title=Meet Darlene Jackson, DJ, Producer, Remixer, Writer, and our newest Creative Industry {{sic|Li|ason|nolink=y|expecting=Liaison}} |website=Columbia College Chicago|date=17 February 2021 }}
In 2011, she appeared at Lollapalooza and was interviewed alongside Young the Giant.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/grammys-lollapalooza-young-giant-and-dj-lady-d|title=The GRAMMYs At Lollapalooza With Young The Giant And DJ Lady D|website=Grammys|date=December 2, 2014|author=McPhate, Tim}} She received a Master's degree from Northwestern University in 2016 and started advising students at Columbia College Chicago.{{cite web|url=https://pvdfest.com/essential_grid/do-you-remember-house-book-release-panel-and-party/|title=Do You Remember House? Book Release Panel and Party|website=PVDFEST}} On July 6, 2019, she was included in Westfest.{{cite web|url=https://5mag.net/calendar/festivals/west-fest-2019-dj-stage/|title=Chicago House Lives! WEST FEST Announces 2019 DJ Schedule|date=May 7, 2019|website=5Mag.net}} In 2020, she became the president of the theatre group Collaboraction.{{cite web|url=https://ndigo.com/2020/07/08/collaboraction-welcomes-new-president-darlene-dj-lady-d-jackson-by-briahna-gatlin/|title=Collaboraction Welcomes New President Darlene "DJ Lady D" Jackson|author=Gatlin, Briahna|website=N'DIGO|date=July 8, 2020}} In 2024, Lady D performed the [https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Q02ylPB1x/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== half-time show] for the Chicago Bulls vs Memphis Grizzlies game at the United Center. Her song, [https://www.traxsource.com/title/2169118/a-deep-felt-love "A Deep-Felt Love"] was signed to Defected Records and released on the Soulfuric Deep imprint on January 26, 2024. It went to #1 on the Deep House Charts on Traxsource.com.
Artistry
= Influences =
Jackson has been inspired by other artists such as Lil Louis, Depeche Mode, D'Angelo, and the Cocteau Twins.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/april-2008/5-albums-that-inspire/|title=5 Albums that Inspire …|website=Chicago|date=May 29, 2008}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.djladydchicago.com/ Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lady D, DJ}}
Category:American house musicians
Category:Musicians from Chicago
Category:American electronic dance music DJs