In the Mix with DJ Peace

Let me introduce you to Thomas "DJ Peace" Spann, who cut his teeth as a dj in the early 80's during the explosive beginnings of Chicago House Music….
As a teenager, he came to the attention of Steve "Silk" Hurley, who heard him play at a friend's party. Steve became Thomas' first musical mentor and would also go on to become one of the most respected and sought after re-mixers in music.

Through Steve Hurley, Thomas was introduced to the pioneers of the house music movement that was growing in Chicago - Farley "Funking" Keith, Eric"E.T." Taylor. Ron Hardy, and Frankie Knuckles, just to name a few.

As an unofficial member of Hurley's "Hot Waxx Productions", he learned various mixing techniques such as remixing, scratch mixing and b.p.m. matching by watching and playing with Steve, Farley and E.T. Soon, he developed his own unique style which incorporated his love for jazz, r&b, rock and world music.

It wasn't long, before he was recruited by promoters to appear as a guest DJ on many of Chicago's legendary house sessions held weekly at such venues as The Bismarck Pavilion, the Ascot Hotel, the Blackstone Hotel and other "A-list" venues.

By the time Thomas Spann graduated from high school in 1985, he was in great demand, playing on the sets of Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles and Andre Hatchett; one of the resident jocks for the Marz Bar on the infamous Rush Street; guest DJ at the Power Plant, Medusa's and Ron Hardy's  Music Box.

In 1986 Thomas was approached to headline Club C.O.D., which he did until he decided to join the military in 1987.

During his military stint, Thomas was assigned to Germany and served in the first Gulf War. He credits his time in the Persian Gulf for reawakening his"experimental ear" as he listened to the exotic rhythms of the region. Back inGermany, Thomas began experimenting with laying Middle Eastern soundsover percussion to create dance tracks that were played by a DJ friend named Sasha at a local club in Frankfurt.

These tracks, which were wildly well received by the crowd, led to Thomas spinning occasional house sets which caught the ear of a club owner and within a few months, DJ Thomas Spann was the headliner at Club Capri in Friedberg and at the Plantation club in Frankfurt.

Upon returning to the states in 1994, Thomas DJ'd sporadically in clubs while pursuing higher education at Chicago State University. During this period he hosted and produced his own talk show, "the 411" on WCSU-AM 610; hosted "Ragga Radio", a show dealing with Carribbean issues, and became very active in community affairs.

In 2002, Thomas relocated to South Florida, where, bored with the club scene and repetitive sounding djs, he entered - and won - the Battle of the DJs under a new, edgier DJ tag - "Tommy Gunnz". The battle was held at the now defunct "Club Matrix" in downtown Fort Lauderdale in February 2003.

Deciding to reinvent himself once again, largely due to the amount of turmoil and violence in our world, Thomas buried "Tommy Gunnz" and has been rocking the world ever since in his latest
reincarnation DJ Peace".

Thomas has been a featured "guest dj" for Hot 105 - FM's "the Tom Joyner Morning Show Cruise Bon Voyage Party in 2003 and 2004 as well as for "Funk Jazz Lounge" on occasion playing alongside the Brass King and can also be found on decks frequently as a resident for Soul Simple Entertainment (www.soulsimple-ent.com)

In addition, Thomas still travels back and forth to Denver, Chicago and Detroit to play.

Yeah. he's like a friendly ninja, this DJ Peace…
Materializes behind that console. Hits us in our head and our hearts with
his mixes - which might start with a movie soundtrack sample and end with a housiefied version of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot"….Helping us to understand that Ron may be gone, the Twins may have fallen, Larry left the building, but the music….

The Music….lives on………………

You can find DJ Peace at http://www.myspace.com/dj_peace69