“I’m gonna make you dance. I’m gonna make you move. I’m gonna make you sing. I’m gonna make you boogie!”
When a loved one dies, the grieving process can take shape in a variety of ways. Whether its looking through old photos, visiting the special places we shared with the departed, reading their last text messages on our phone, or placing flowers at the grave site: we all find a way. Many times, however, assistance from family and friends is required.
When Roy Samano was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, the city’s tight-knit community of DJs and entertainment personalities stood in shock. Roy, who was known throughout Houston and beyond by his DJ name “Elroy Boogie,” was one of the kindest, most loving, and most talented DJs to ever touch a turntable. When he passed away last month, our hearts sank. Hundreds attended his eulogy and funeral service.
REWIND: The Rocks Off 100: Elroy Boogie, Top-Notch Turntablist
Tuesday night at Mixxwell Audio Lab (1550 Westheimer), those same friends and family came together in tribute to Elroy. When a police officer or soldier passes away, there is a 21-gun salute. When a beloved sports figure goes on to the big ballfield in the sky, we are shown highlights of his or her career. So it’s only fitting that a DJ be remembered with a mixer and a turntable, or in this case, eight mixers and turntables.
Of the elements of turntablism, which include beat-juggling and mixing, scratching and cutting are the most personal. The DJ used his or her own imagination to create sounds that accompany the backing beat being played. No two cutting sessions sound exactly the same. At Mixxwell, the DJs are limited to the following set of guidelines:
The roundtable scratching session is similar to a jam session that traditional instrumentalists hold in order to practice and have fun with their peers. Being exposed to different talents places an incentive to be at your best when you finally reach your turn.
The audience often cheers and congratulates a particularly exciting scratch session, as heads bob and the next DJ warms up to step in front of the turntable.
Roy’s parents, brother, and other family members were in attendance Tuesday, each wearing the now famous Elroy Boogie caricature T-shirts and buttons. The night was held as a benefit to the Samano family, with a donation requested at the door and hot dogs, chips and drinks being offered as well. The minimum goal was to raise at least $1,000 to offset medical bills accumulated during Roy’s illness. That amount will be matched with another $1,000 courtesy of the local Red Bull office.
Story continues on the next page.
The DJ crew The Almighty Kracker Nuttz, of which Elroy was a member, hosted and organized the event in conjunction with the Samano family. Co-founders DJ Baby Jae and Klean Cutt kept the night running smoothly, which at one point included a crowd of more than 100 people. Lunaface Promotions also showed support, giving away concert tickets to upcoming hip-hop shows. Other DJ crews in attendance included the Booth Pimps and Kratez Crew, as well as DJs from Austin who drove in to show respect.
A special candle with Roy’s logo will be lit at every Kracker Nuttz event in the future, in remembrance of our friend, brother, and son… King Elroy Boogie.
#BoogieOn
List of DJs who attended the event (in no particular order):
Remix
Sober
Gonz
Akshun Kidd
Skratch Daily
Mix Mash Potatoes
Kleankutt
Baby Jae
Protege
Klinch
Ian Bailey
Nando1
Santos
Dan and Noel “Smash Bros”
Wu Chang
La.D.Da.
Enfo
Seduction
Abe The Assassin
Manu
Ebonics
Vim mega karaoke
Main Event
Kid Cali
Rockwell
Mas
Chop-E
Demo
Scoop
Dayta
The Chad
Kyle Berg
Good Grief
Cypher
Gracie Chavez
See more photos on the next page.
ROCKS OFF’S GREATEST HITS
Top 10 Bars, Clubs & Ice Houses On the Northside Daddy, Why Is Numbers Called Numbers? The Top Five Most Disastrous Musician Interviews Ever The 10 Suckiest Bands of the ’00s Top 10 Bars, Clubs & Ice Houses In the Galleria Area
This article appears in Aug 29 – Sep 4, 2013.
