"...Recognized as one of the most influential radio DJs of all time."
Promotional video for Mickey Oliver's live Las Vegas Dance Music Review.
Mickey Oliver
Born in the shadow of the steel mills on the South Side of Chicago, Mickey Mixin' Oliver was destined to help bring the underground sound of house music to the masses. As a founding member of the ground breaking Chicago radio mixshow team on 102.7 WBMX, collectively known as the Hot Mix 5, Oliver drew global attention to house music with his incredible DJ mixes.
House music was considered to be the new sound of the urban underground, first spun in Chicago in the early 80s, most notably at the Warehouse nightclub where many believe the term "house music" was coined. More likely, the term was originated by the earliest house DJs who referred to their weapon of choice, the old Salsoul music, as just "records laying around the house.
As house music began to spread in Chicago's clubs, an urban format radio station, 102.7 WBMX was looking to become a force to be reckoned with in the Chicago market. Program Director Lee Michaels decided (correctly) that the best way to go about it was to put together a group of the most talented and cutting edge DJs around. As music director for the entire chain of Smuggler's Inn nightclubs, and already having created the Master Mix Medley for the prestigious Disconet Remix Service, Mickey Mixin Oliver was the first to be selected by Michaels for this new concept. The others who joined him at WBMX were Farley Funkin Keith (later Farley "Jackmaster" Funk), Kenny Jammin Jason, Ralphi "Rockin" Rozario, and Scott Smokin Silz. Together they comprised the very first major house music radio mixshow team in the world, the now legendary Hot Mix 5, making people "jack to the sound of the underground" from Chicago's airwaves starting in 1981.
The Hot Mix 5 set the standard for all others to follow, pioneering many of the turntablism tactics that have influenced the best DJ's even to this day.
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He then began his very first syndicated radio mixshow on Star String Radio Network, which was ultimately followed by Satellite Music Network, a division of ABC where Oliver was syndicated on over 100 stations from coast to coast. Spreading house music to appreciative fans around the world culminated in Olivers performing at the mecca of dance music itself, the Balearic Island of Ibiza!
In 1986, Oliver started Hot Mix 5 Records, along with a couple of others from the Hot Mix 5. Mickey Mixin' Oliver and Grant released the first song on the new label as MG2 with "My House Is Bigger Than Your House." That initial track was followed by what is perhaps considered to be Oliver's best known track to date, the Billboard charting Speak 'n' Spell hit "In-Ten-Si-T."
In 1988 the Chicago Bulls basketball legend himself, Michael Jordan, commissioned Oliver to provide the music soundtrack to a documentary for the Michael Jordan Foundation, for which Oliver wrote the song "Pick Me Up." Offers by the sports world began to follow. He edited the music for the Chicago Bulls Luvables routines, and made the music spots for Chicagos Sports Channel. Then came an opportunity to write a song for a hit movie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Belushi. The movie was called Red Heat, which attained the number one spot at the box office! The track that Oliver produced especially for the movie was called "Jackin National Anthem" which was played during an aerobics scene. That was also the year the Hot Mix 5 went cross-town to the more powerful WGCI.
Accomplishing everything he set out to do in Chicago, Mickey Mixin Oliver moved out West to Phoenix, Arizona in 1991 and helped found Powerhouse Remix Service. Around that same time he teamed up with Hot Mix Radio Network to put together the comprehensive ten hour "Mix Of The 80's" helping to launch the fledgling radio mixshow service.
Now, after taking a much-too-long hiatus from music, Mickey Mixin Oliver is making his reemergence back where he belongs, behind the decks and in the production studio! Currently, Mickey Mixin Oliver can be heard coast to coast on "Area 33" on Sirius Satellite Radio, where they've proclaimed, "...your mixes are amazing and have enriched Sirius... you're an amazingly talented DJ..." Oliver is also featured Chicago's Dance Factory radio every Sunday.
Oliver's placement in dance music history is secured by the fact he's recognized as one of the most influential radio DJs of the 20th Century. Presently, Mickey Mixin Oliver has returned to the studio, where he's busy producing new uplifting dance tracks for his forthcoming album. A real renaissance man when it comes to his classic songwriting, Olivers music features powerful female vocals, and incorporates influences from all over the dance music spectrum. Any fan of amazing DJ sets and world-class productions will agree that Mickey Mixin Oliver has come full circle, taking his rightful place at the forefront of dance music once again!
