Meet DJ Cassidy, roll call playlist creator and DNC breakout star

Lil Jon, Beyonce, Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen and more — the Democratic National Convention was certainly full of excitement, but who was in charge of the music?

It was DJ Cassidy — and he became one of the breakout stars of the DNC.

In particular, his Tuesday night set at Chicago's United Center for the ceremonial roll call drew immediate social media reaction and late-night coverage.

The process, which is usually dry and procedural, was set to music for the first time with Cassidy's choices.

Wearing a shiny blue suit and sunglasses, he played a song — or a mashup of songs — specifically chosen for each state, district or territory.

Cassidy is no stranger to political events, having played at Barack Obama's 50th birthday party at the White House and a virtual fundraiser for President Joe Biden. He's also performed at events for Oprah Winfrey, Jay Z, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell and the Kardashians, according to his website.

But, he described the DNC roll call Tuesday as a "truly surreal" experience in an interview on MSNBC.

Who is DJ Cassidy?

Cassidy's passion for DJing started when, at age 10, he asked his parents for two turntables and a mixer. He started at school functions before graduating to major political events.

He has been nominated for two Grammys for his work with Mary J. Blige, according to his website.

"DJ Cassidy’s career is the culmination of a lifetime of deejaying around the world, observing people react, and making people move," the website reads.

Cassidy also hosts a series called "Pass the Mic," which started online during the pandemic and was later repurposed into a live touring show.

How did DJ Cassidy pick the songs for his roll call set?

Some of the songs had obvious connections to the state they represented, such as "Sweet Home Alabama" for Alabama or "Texas Hold 'Em" for Texas. Others required more of an artistic touch. Cassidy said he proposed each song to the DNC producers and state delegations.

Without an obvious option, Cassidy chose music that "exuded the themes, emotions and spirit of the night," he told the Detroit Free Press in an interview. He only had a few weeks to prepare, given the extremely short length of Kamala Harris' campaign.

Here's the full DNC roll call playlist

Alabama: "Sweet Home Alabama," Lynyrd Skynyrd

Alaska: "Feel It Still," Portugal. The Man

American Samoa: "Edge of Glory," Lady Gaga

Arizona: "Edge of Seventeen," Stevie Nicks

Arkansas: "Don’t Stop," Fleetwood Mac

Colorado: "September," Earth, Wind & Fire

Connecticut: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," Stevie Wonder

Democrats Abroad: "Love Train," The O'Jays

District of Columbia: "Let Me Clear My Throat," DJ Kool

Florida: "I Won't Back Down," Tom Petty

Georgia: "Welcome To Atlanta," Jermaine Dupri; "Turn Down For What?" Lil Jon; "Get Low." Lil Jon

Guam: "Espresso," Sabrina Carpenter

Hawaii: "24K Magic," Bruno Mars

Idaho: "Private Idaho," B52s

Illinois: "Sirius," The Alan Parsons Project

Indiana: "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough," Michael Jackson

Iowa: "Celebration," Kool & The Gang

Kansas: "Carry On Wayward Son," Kansas

Kentucky: "First Class," Jack Harlow

Louisiana: "All I Do Is Win," DJ Khaled featuring T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Rick Ross

Maine: "Shut Up And Dance," Walk The Moon

Maryland: "Respect," Aretha Franklin

Massachusetts: "I'm Shipping Up To Boston," Dropkick Murphys

Michigan: "Lose Yourself," Eminem

Mississippi: "Twistin' The Night Away," Sam Cooke

Missouri: "Good Luck, Babe! Chappell Roan

Montana: "American Woman," Lenny Kravitz

Nebraska: "Firework," Katy Perry

Nevada: "Mr. Brightside," The Killers

New Hampshire: "Don't Stop Believin'," Journey

New Jersey: "Born in the USA," Bruce Springsteen

New Mexico: "Confident," Demi Lovato

New York: "Empire State Of Mind," Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

North Carolina: "Raise Up," Petey Pablo

North Dakota: “Girl on Fire,” by Alicia Keys

North Mariana Islands: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

Ohio: "Green Light," John Legend

Oklahoma: "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)," Garth Brooks

Oregon: "Float On," Modest Mouse

Pennsylvania: "Motownphilly," Boyz 2 Men; "Black & Yellow," Wiz Khalifa

Puerto Rico: "Despacito," Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee

Rhode Island: "Shake It Off," Taylor Swift

South Carolina: "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine," James Brown

South Dakota: "That's What I Like About You," The Romantics

Tennessee: "9 to 5," Dolly Parton

Texas: "Texas Hold 'Em," Beyonce

Utah: "Everybody Talks," Neon Trees

Vermont: "Stick Season," Noah Kahan

U.S. Virgin Islands: "VI To The Bone," Mic Love

Virginia: "The Way I Are," Timbaland featuring Hilson & D. O. E

Washington: "Can't Hold Us," Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton

West Virginia: "Take Me Home, Country Roads," John Denver

Wisconsin: "Jump Around," House of Pain

Wyoming: "I Gotta Feeling," Black Eyed Peas

Minnesota: "Kiss," Prince; "1999," Prince

California: "The Next Episode," Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg; "California Love," Tupac Shakur; "Alright," Kendrick Lamar; "Not Like Us," Kendrick Lamar

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Meet DJ Cassidy, roll call playlist creator and DNC breakout star