President: Brian Hines

Brian is Founder and President of the Charlotte chapter of the American Disc Jockey Association (ADJA) and has served as a long-time on-air personality for such leading Charlotte stations as Kiss 102, Mix 104.7, 99.7 The Fox, and 96.9 Kat Country. His company - Audio To Go - is recognized as a reliable source of professionalism, quality, and down-to-earth service that always places the clients needs and desires first and over-delivers in a big way when it comes to event entertainment.

Brian brings a wealth of experience, a solid foundation in programming music, and a joy for working and being with people to each and every event he helps his satisfied clients create. Whether you choose to hire Brian personally, or instead utilize the talents of one of Brians sterling - Audio To Go - team members, rest assured that you will find the level of professionalism, reliability, and class unbeatable.

Brian loves working with his board members of the Charlotte Chapter of the ADJA to further the growth of the entertainment industry as a whole. If you have any questons for Brian please feel free to call him anytime.

Vice President: Rick Hyburg

Originally from Buffalo, NY - Rick brings several years of experience and a strong musical background to each one of his custom tailored events. As a professionally trained vocalist and years of singing and playing music in all different genres Rick has excellent programming skills, ensuring a packed dance floor all night long.

After several years of working for someone else Rick started - The Singing DJ - in 2003. With a specialty in weddings, Rick is sure to make your dream wedding a reality.

Rick says *I love working with my clients to tailor an event around their needs and wishes. I believe that it is your day; all I need to do is listen to what you want and need. Thats when I take that information and build your dream event.*

Rick enjoys working with his teammates on the board to better the entertainment industry and increase awareness to the importance of a professional DJ for any event. Feel free to contact Rick if you have any questions!

Secretary: John Haskins

John brings 20 years of entertainment experience in music, theater, radio and deejaying to the Charlotte Chapter of ADJA. Born in New York and raised in Columbia, SC John attended the University of South Carolina on a music scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. Along the way he began a career in radio that included stops at 104.7 WNOK and 93.5 WARQ in Columbia and WXRA 94.5 Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point.

After years honing his crowd reading ability as a club and wedding deejay, John decided to get a day job and entered the IT field. Sensing that he was unhappy in this creatively stifling environment, his wife supported his decision to go into business for himself as a mobile DJ naming himself - Friendly Neighborhood DJ -. John regularly fights the never ending battle against lame parties at wedding receptions, school events and corporate functions with the tagline *Were Gonna Have a Great Time*.

He is thrilled to be a part of the Charlotte ADJA with like-minded people who dedicate themselves to raising their professional standards and educating prospective clients about the value of having truly talented DJs performing at their special events.

Treasurer: Steve Bradle

Steve is a native New Yorker backed by twenty years experience in the entertainment industry. With a strong desire to share his love for music, he enjoys entertaining and helping create lasting memories at Weddings, Birthday parties and various Corporate functions.

His career in entertainment began when he started as the lead singer in a band at the age of fifteen. After playing in a band for five years, Steve''s focus shifted to becoming a DJ. During his college years, he studied Radio and TV Broadcasting all the while moonlighting at the campus dance club learning to hone his craft. While still in college, Steve left the club scene and started subcontracting for several years with a local company performing at weddings, birthday parties, mitzvahs and managing sound and lights for play productions at the local schools. In 2000, Steve moved south to find a place in the booming economic city of Charlotte. After subcontracting for many years and becoming a polished professional in the art of entertaining, it was time to venture out on his own and start his own company - Rhapsody Entertainment.

With the start up of the Charlotte Chapter of the ADJA, Steve is very excited to be working with other like minded DJs from around the area to further the knowledge that can be obtained about our industry.

Membership Director: Jim Cook

Jim Cook has been *bringing the party* to events, in the Carolinas, for the past 21+ years.  Jim is an energetic and interactive entertainer, who has a real knack for playing the right music, at the right time, to keep the dance floor packed.  His emcee and music programming skills, attention to detail and level of professionalism has kept his award winning company, DJ Express, in demand for both weddings and corporate events.  Jim always places the client’s needs first, and enjoys helping plan their special event.  He has been the *house* DJ for one of Charlottes leading country clubs, for over 7 years and has performed at numerous events sponsored by NASCAR, their drivers, and several Fortune 500 companies, to include the major banks, in this area.  He travels, for clients throughout the Carolinas to places such as Asheville, Charleston, Durham, Greensboro, Myrtle Beach and Sunset Beach, to name a few. 

Jim has been trained and certified by the FAME DJ School and believes that the true professional DJ must keep growing through continuing education and networking with other professionals in the field.

Jim is very excited to be a member of the ADJA and a member of the board for the Charlotte chapter.  It is his honor to be part of such a professional board working to further educate and raise the credibility of the professional DJ.

Member At Large: Larry Martin

Larry is the owner and operator of A & A Disc Jockey Service and has been a successful master of ceremonies and disc jockey in the wedding industry for over 34 years, and his background in entertainment precedes that going back to his playing in a rock / pop band in high school. Yes, that means going all the way back to the 60’s. As the company owner he has been a member of the American Disc Jockey Association since 1982 and has participated in various seminars and workshops to constantly improve his skills. As an active and charter member of the Triad Bridal Association he has served two terms on the executive committee and through that association maintains a constant and cooperative relationship with many of the top wedding professionals in the area. He has completed two workshops through the nationally recognized “Marbecca Method.”

Larry’s eclectic musical tastes and his clear understanding of the ceremonial and emotional importance of the duties he performs for each of his clients has helped him take a great deal of pride and satisfaction from his chosen career. He grew up in southern Maryland and then, after a tour in the U.S. Navy, relocated to North Carolina to attend school and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in English. After college he worked as a high school English teacher and then as an interviewer and workshop instructor with the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina.

Throughout those experiences, entertaining at events was always a part of his life. In 1977 he decided to pursue his passion on a full time basis. Since that time A & A has grown into a small, but prestigious multi- system operation specializing in family oriented events such as weddings and bar / bat mitzvahs.

Last year, after nearly 25 years as a member of the national association, he was given the opportunity to connect with the newly formed chapter of the American Disc Jockey Association in Charlotte. NC. After the first meeting he was delighted to find himself surrounded by people who not only had a passion for making a living doing something he has always loved, but people who also wanted to contribute to and raise the level of the industry of which they were a part. Here’s looking forward to an even bigger and better 2009.