Kaskade

Born in Chicago,{{cite news|last= Schulman|first= Michael|title= DJ Kaskade is Ryan Raddon, a Mormon|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/fashion/a-200000-a-night-dj-known-as-kaskade-is-really-ryan-raddon-a-mormon.html?_r=0|newspaper= The New York Times|date= November 9, 2011|access-date= 2015-04-14}} Kaskade grew up in nearby Northbrook and attended Glenbrook North High School.{{cite web|url= http://www.emusician.com/gear/1332/premium-blend/33970|title= Premium Blend|publisher= Emusician.com|access-date= June 20, 2015}} As a teenager, he would shop for music at Gramaphone Records on Clark Street in Chicago.{{Cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/kaskade-electronic-dance-music-is-the-sound-of-today/|title=Kaskade: 'Electronic [dance] music is the sound of today'|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=2018-03-27|language=en}} His brother, Rich Raddon, became an entrepreneur and film producer.{{cite web|url= http://pando.com/2014/07/22/family-feud-kaskade-and-his-zefr-founding-bro-take-different-stances-on-copyright-law/|title= Family feud: Kaskade and his ZEFR-founding bro take different stances on copyright law|work= PandoDaily|access-date=June 20, 2015|date= July 22, 2014}} Ryan attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah from 1989 to 1990, working on his DJ skills in his dorm room.{{cite web|title= Kaskade Bio, Music, News & Shows|url= http://djz.com/featured_djs/kaskade/|publisher= DJZ.com|access-date= March 7, 2013|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130329053743/http://djz.com/featured_djs/kaskade/|archive-date= March 29, 2013|df= mdy-all}} At age 19, Ryan served a two-year full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan. Following his mission, in 1992, he moved to Salt Lake City to attend the University of Utah, eventually graduating with a degree in communications.{{cite web|url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705294570/Night-club-DJ-is-proud-of-Utah-ties.html?pg=all|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150530190808/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705294570/Night-club-DJ-is-proud-of-Utah-ties.html?pg=all|url-status= dead|archive-date= May 30, 2015|title= Night-club DJ is proud of Utah ties|author= Scott Iwasaki|date=April 3, 2009|work= DeseretNews.com|access-date= June 20, 2015}} While attending school, Kaskade and his close friend Jodi Call ran a record store in Salt Lake City called Mechanized.

In 1995, Raddon began DJing his first monthly Monday night party at a basement venue called Club Manhattan. He used this additional income to purchase studio essentials.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/fashion/a-200000-a-night-dj-known-as-kaskade-is-really-ryan-raddon-a-mormon.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=How Ryan Raddon Became the -a-Night D.J. Known as Kaskade|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 9, 2011 |access-date=2014-07-23|last1=Schulman |first1=Michael }} In May 2000, Raddon moved to San Francisco with his wife where he got a job working as an A&R assistant to John Elkins at Om Records, a house and electronic label. To Raddon's benefit, San Francisco was an emerging site of a new deep house movement. While at OM records he continued DJing and producing music. Soon after, Raddon created his alter ego, Kaskade, which his wife worried would remind people of the dish detergent.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/fashion/a-200000-a-night-dj-known-as-kaskade-is-really-ryan-raddon-a-mormon.html?_r=0|title=A 200,000 a Night DJ Known as Kaskade is Really Ryan Raddon a Mormon|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 9, 2011 |access-date=2015-11-26|last1=Schulman |first1=Michael }} He took his stage name from a nature book when he saw a picture of a waterfall and a co-worker agreed "cascade" was a good choice, but he then changed the spelling. He did not take his name from the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest as fans sometimes cite.{{cite web|title=On the roof with producer/DJ Kaskade |date=April 3, 2009 |url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/off-the-record/2009/apr/03/roof-producerdj-kaskade/ |access-date=April 3, 2009}}

After mixing the third volume in the Sounds of Om series, Ryan was offered a three-album deal for Kaskade. He kicked off the deal with a full-length house debut, It's You It's Me. Garnering critical acclaim, spawning several singles, and receiving a prestigious Dance Star nomination for Best New Artist, the release put Kaskade squarely on the dance music world's radar.Preve, Francis. "Spotlight: Say Om - Kaskade's Analog Approach is Something to Chant about." Keyboard 12 2004: 46-9. ProQuest. Web. 5 October 2015. Concentrating on his DJing skills, Kaskade started to experiment and develop his own sound.{{cite web|url=http://thedjlist.com/djs/KASKADE/bio/ |title=KASKADE: Biography |publisher=The DJ List |access-date=2014-07-23}}

Kaskade released his first single "What I Say" on the label in 2001.{{cite web|title=Om Records: Kaskade|work=om-records.com|url=http://www.om-records.com/artists/17-kaskade|access-date=January 7, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412181038/http://om-records.com/artists/17-kaskade|archive-date=April 12, 2012|df=mdy-all}} In the Moment saw Kaskade's first top 10 single with "Steppin' Out" reaching No. 5 on Billboard Magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart and No. 6 on Dance Radio Airplay.{{cite web|title=Billboard.com|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kaskade|chart=all}} |access-date=March 17, 2007}} The fourth single to be released from the album, "Everything", reached No. 1 on Billboard Magazine's Hot Dance Club Play.

Kaskade's fourth solo album Love Mysterious was released in September 2006.{{cite web|title=KASKADE LOVE MYSTERIOUS ALBUM|url=http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Kaskade-Love-Mysterious-Album/C692257CC28A03224825794D00230769|publisher=Sing365.com|access-date=2014-07-23}} The first single from the album, "Be Still", reached No. 4 on Billboard Magazine's Hot Dance Club Play. The single features vocalist Sunsun, and includes remixes by Jay-J and Robbie Rivera. Follow up single "Stars Align" hit number No. 8 on "Billboard Magazine" Hot Dance Airplay chart and just missed the top ten, No. 11, on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. His fourth single released from "Love Mysterious", "Sorry", was his third consecutive top ten hit on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay Chart, at No. 9. Dirty South provided a remix for "Sorry". The remix was nominated for a 2008 Grammy for Best Remixed Recording.

In late 2006, Kaskade left OM Records and signed with Ultra Records.

Kaskade worked with Canadian electronic musician deadmau5 to produce tracks on Strobelite Seduction, including the first single (released as an EP) "Move for Me". The single became his fifth top ten hit on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay Chart, reaching the number one position in its September 6, 2008 issue.{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kaskade|chart=Dance/Mix Show Airplay}}|title=Billboard.com - Current Hot Dance Airplay|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=2014-07-23}} It also gave Kaskade his first number one single on this chart. The dance single has become a crossover hit, managing to reach number 71 on the Canadian Hot 100 as of February 14, 2009. "I Remember", another collaboration with deadmau5, became his first UK hit, peaking inside the top 15 on the UK Singles Chart. The video-clip which accompanied "I Remember" was filmed in Manchester, England. The single became his second chart topper on the Billboard dance chart. The follow-up single, "Angel on My Shoulder" with Tamra Keenan, also found success on the dance chart, placing at number 5 on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay Chart. His song "Step One Two" was the last single from the album, being released late in 2008.

In 2010, he added another number one Billboard Hot Dance Airplay track to his credit with "Dynasty", featuring Haley Gibby on vocals.{{cite web|title=KaskadeDynasty| date=July 14, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMGY_40Dkqs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/oMGY_40Dkqs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=Youtube.com|access-date=2014-07-23}}{{cbignore}}

In March 2012, Kaskade headlined at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida, coming on before Armin van Buuren Sunday night.{{cite web|title=Kaskade – Live @ Ultra Music Festival 2012 – 25.03.2012|url=http://www.livesets.at/2012/04/02/kaskade-live-ultra-music-festival-2012-25-03-2012-2/|publisher=Livesets.at|access-date=2015-11-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530085636/http://www.livesets.at/2012/04/02/kaskade-live-ultra-music-festival-2012-25-03-2012-2/|archive-date=May 30, 2013|df=mdy-all}}

In April 2012, Kaskade took to Indio, California to play two weekends at Coachella Valley Music Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.edmlounge.com/blog/2012/4/25/review-kaskade-at-coachella-valley-music-festival.html |title=Review: Kaskade at Coachella Valley Music Festival - Blog - EDM Lounge | Electronic Dance Music, News, and Reviews |publisher=EDM Lounge |date=2012-04-25 |access-date=2014-07-23}} In June 2012, the American House producer was one of the headlining acts at Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Nevada.{{cite web|url=http://www.edmlounge.com/blog/2012/4/8/electric-daisy-carnival-2012-phase-1-lineup-released.html |title=Electric Daisy Carnival 2012 Phase 1 Lineup Released! - Blog - EDM Lounge | Electronic Dance Music, News, and Reviews |publisher=EDM Lounge |date=2012-04-08 |access-date=2014-07-23}} That same month, he started the "Freaks of Nature" summer tour in support of his released album Fire & Ice.{{cite web|url=http://freaksofnaturetour.com/ |title=Kaskade's Freaks of Nature - Tour - Summer 2012 |publisher=Freaksofnaturetour.com |access-date=2014-07-23}}

In December 2013, Kaskade was nominated for two Grammy Awards: the song "Atmosphere" for Best Dance Recording and the album Atmosphere for Best Dance/Electronica Album.

In 2014, Kaskade was listed as the No. 8 highest paid DJ in the world according to Forbes, earning $17 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/eeel45eljkm/no-8-kaskade-17-million-2/|title=No. 8: Kaskade million - In Photos: The World's Highest-Paid DJs 2014|author=Zack O'Malley Greenburg|work=Forbes|access-date=June 20, 2015}}

In 2015, he was a guest star on BYUtv's Studio C. Additionally in 2015, he headlined Coachella alongside Drake for two weekends and, over the course of the two weekends, pulled in the two largest crowds the festival had ever seen.{{cite web|url=http://www.noiseporn.com/2015/04/kaskade-drew-biggest-crowds-coachella-history/|title=Home|website=Noiseporn}}

On September 25, 2015, Kaskade released his album Automatic featuring collaborations with CID, Galantis, John Dahlbäck and Two Nations.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/automatic/1029738562|title=Music:Automatic by Kaskade on Apple Music|website=Apple|date=September 25, 2015|access-date=2016-12-07}}

On November 24, 2017, Kaskade released a Christmas-themed album titled "Kaskade Christmas".{{Cite web |url=http://www.dancingastronaut.com/2017/11/kaskade-fans-top-nice-list-kaskade-releases-full-length-holiday-album-kaskade-christmas-stream/ |title=Kaskade fans top 'nice list' as Kaskade releases full-length holiday album, 'Kaskade Christmas' [Stream] |last=Narozniak |first=Rachel |date=2017-11-24 |website=Dancing Astronaut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320102946/http://www.dancingastronaut.com/2017/11/kaskade-fans-top-nice-list-kaskade-releases-full-length-holiday-album-kaskade-christmas-stream/ |archive-date=2018-03-20 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-03-20}}

In 2022, Kaskade and Deadmau5 announced a collaboration project named Kx5, marking the fourth time the producers have worked together. The first single from the project, "Escape", was released on March 11.{{Cite news |last=Middleton |first=Ryan |title=Kaskade & deadmau5 Launch Group Kx5, Announce First Official Single "Escape" |url=https://www.magneticmag.com/2022/03/kaskade-deadmau5-launch-group-kx5-announce-first-single-escape/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=Magnetic Magazine |date=March 2022 |language=en-us}} On January 27, 2023, Deadmau5 announced the self-titled Kx5 album will be releasing March 17, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Arrpita |date=2023-01-31 |title=Kx5 Have An Official Release Date For Their Debut Album |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2023/01/kx5-have-an-official-release-date-for-their-debut-album/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=EDMTunes |language=en-US}}{{update inline|date=May 2023|reason=The album must be released by now ... ?}}

On November 17, 2023, Kaskade released his second Christmas-themed album titled "Kaskade Christmas Volume 2".{{Cite Tweet|author=X|user=kaskade|number=1725205721770315781|title=Kaskade Christmas Volume 2 ❄️Streaming: Friday 11.17|}}

On February 11, 2024, Kaskade performed at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas both before and during the game, making him the first DJ to perform throughout the Super Bowl. He replaced Tiësto, who dropped out after a family emergency.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2024-02-09 |title=Kaskade To Replace Tiësto As Super Bowl's First In-Game DJ – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/tiesto-super-bowl-1235819678/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Deadline }}

On May 30, 2010, Kaskade became a resident DJ for daytime pool parties at the Encore Beach Club in Las Vegas, NV. The parties were entitled "Kaskade Sundays".{{cite web|author=Julie Kasperson |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/may/25/q-encore-beach-clubs-resident-kaskade/ |title=Q&A with Encore Beach Club's resident Kaskade - Las Vegas Sun News |publisher=Lasvegassun.com |date= May 25, 2010|access-date=2014-07-23}}

On March 26, 2021, Kaskade had a virtual event take place in the popular game Fortnite.

Raddon has three children from his previous marriage.{{cite web|title=Larry King Now|url=http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/2015/9/23/kaskade-talks-new-album-edm-drug-scene-reveals-his-pick-for-best-festival-0_1ob9h4rjgna9|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=September 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916214115/http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/2015/9/23/kaskade-talks-new-album-edm-drug-scene-reveals-his-pick-for-best-festival-0_1ob9h4rjgna9|url-status=dead}} He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.{{cite news|last1=Stern|first1=Marlow|title=The Straight Edge Mormon DJ Taking Over the World|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/26/the-straight-edge-mormon-dj-taking-over-the-world.html|access-date=13 November 2015|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=July 26, 2015}}

His net worth was estimated to be US$50 million as of 2023, making him one of the Top 20 highest net worth DJ/producers in the world.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Brian |date=2022-09-11 |title=The 30 Richest DJs in the World (2023) |url=https://www.musicianwave.com/richest-djs-in-the-world/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Musician Wave |language=en-US}}

On October 17, 2024, it was reported on TMZ that Raddon's wife Naomi filed for divorce, ending their relationship of 28 years.

{{Main|Kaskade discography}}

• It's You, It's Me (2003)
• In the Moment (2004)
• The Calm (2006)
• Love Mysterious (2006)
• Strobelite Seduction (2008)
• Dynasty (2010)
• Fire & Ice (2011)
• Atmosphere (2013)
• Automatic (2015)
• Kaskade Christmas (2017)
• Kaskade Christmas II (2023)
• Kx5 (with deadmau5) (2023)

• Urban Tour (2011)
• Freaks of Nature Tour (2012)
• United States Formula 1 Grand Prix Weekend (2012)
• It's You, It's Me Redux Tour (2013)
• Atmosphere Tour (2013)
• Redux Tour 001(2014){{Cite web|title = Kaskade Concert Setlists|url = http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/kaskade-23d6b09f.html|website = setlist.fm|access-date = 2015-10-04}}
• Automatic Tour (2015)
• Redux 002 (2017)
• Redux 003 (2019)

{{awards table}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2013 || Fire & Ice || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Best Dance/Electronica Album || {{Nominated}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 2014 || Atmosphere || {{Nominated}}

|-

| "Atmosphere" || style="text-align:center;"| Best Dance Recording || {{Nominated}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2015 || "Smile (Kaskade Edit)" || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical || {{Nominated}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2016 || "Runaway (U & I) (Kaskade Remix)" || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical || {{Nominated}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2017 || "Only (Kaskade x Lipless Remix)" || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical || {{Nominated}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2019 || Stargazing (Kaskade Remix) || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical || {{Nominated}}

{{end}}

• Om Records
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance airplay chart

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.kaskademusic.com/}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Kaskade}}

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Category:1971 births

Category:20th-century American musicians

Category:21st-century American musicians

Category:American male musicians

Category:Latter Day Saints from Illinois

Category:Brigham Young University alumni

Category:American club DJs

Category:Glenbrook North High School alumni

Category:Living people

Category:DJs from Chicago

Category:People from Northbrook, Illinois

Category:American progressive house musicians

Category:American remixers

Category:Ultra Records artists

Category:University of Utah alumni

Category:American electronic dance music DJs

Category:Monstercat artists