Grand Mixer D.ST

Grand Mixer D.ST was one of the Roxy's first resident DJs. Born Derek Showard in the South Bronx's Edenwald Houses, D.ST was raised on the films of Kurosawa and apocalyptic science fiction of the '70s. The abandoned Los Angeles in The Omega Man reminded him of the Bronx the rhythm is the rubble. Using money saved up from mopping floors at McDonald's D.ST purchased his first turntable an SL-1100, brought it home, turned it on, and just watched the platter rotate. No mixer. No speakers. No records. No sound. Via the televised 1984 Grammy Awards ceremony, D.ST would essentially introduce the American mainstream to Hip Hop when playing with Herbie Hancock's Rockit Band. He ran his turntables through guitar flange pedals and played his records like an instrument, another victory for Hip Hop's doubletalk. James Brown gave him a standing ovation.