Dawud Johnson is a purveyor of deep, soulful house music. When asked what is it about music that he loves, he says he just loves good music blends. For him, music is spiritual; it’s a form of therapy. His musical journey began in 1977 playing basement parties. He went on to play at various colleges, halls and other venues. Over the years, he’s held several resident DJ positions at clubs within the NY/NJ area.
A very active member of the house music community, Dawud is the founder of Live In the Mix Entertainment – a group he formed to provide a platform for known and unknown DJs to gain more visibility. He’s also the founder of the Hillside Outdoor Music & Entertainment Festival and the co-founder of the NY/NJ Exchange Place House Music Festival as well as The House Brands & Fashionz Show where he brought different house brands, i.e., DJs, promoters and dancers together with local fashion designers together to “House the Runway”.
Though he loves playing in nightclubs, festivals and other special events, his love for music goes far beyond the spectrum of mixing tunes. As a DJ, producer and promoter, he has found plenty of ways to express himself musically. His latest venture is The 2022 Outdoor Music Experience (Summer Series) where he partnered up with BPM and the Essex County Board of Commissioners to bring music and live performances to Veterans' Memorial Park located on West Market Street in Newark, New Jersey.
