Hailing from a small town in northwestern Connecticut, DJ Ras J grew up like many kids in the seventies—immersed in classic rock, playing in garage bands, and even DJing during lunchtime at his tiny high school station, WLIT, where he mixed rock and new wave records for classmates from a converted closet studio. His early exposure to reggae in his neighborhood planted the seeds for a lifelong connection to Jamaican music and culture.

As an exchange student in Manchester, England, he attended parties at the legendary Hacienda—his first true exposure to rave and DJ culture. While still in college, Ras J began visiting iconic NYC parties at The Tunnel and Limelight and also attended concerts from reggae legends like Burning Spear, Aswad, UB40, Steel Pulse, and Shinehead. In 1989 he launched his official radio debut as DJ Ras J on WECS 90.1 FM at Eastern Connecticut State University. His groundbreaking "Ewadjo" show blended roots reggae, psychedelic rock, hip hop, in-studio dub mixes, and a regular live freestyle session—one of the first of its kind in the country. During this time he also wrote for The Register Citizen and the Campus Lantern, covering artists such as Fela Kuti, KRS-ONE, Elvis Costello, and Ringo Starr.

His first paid DJ gig was opening for The Wailers in 1992 in Willimantic, CT. Later that year, he moved to NYC for an internship at Cold Chillin’ Records, working on college radio promotions for Kool G Rap, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté, Big Daddy Kane, and more. Over the next several years he worked for major labels and on national marketing campaigns for Buju Banton, Red Fox, Tony Rebel, Damian Marley, Born Jamericans, Patra, Jimmy Cliff, and the Wu-Tang Clan. His work brought him into the orbit of Afrika Bambaataa, Kool DJ Red Alert, DJ Kool Herc, Stretch & Bobbito, Bobby Konders, DJ Q-Bert, Soulslinger, DJ Dara, Funkmaster Flex, and other pioneers. Alongside Tommy B and Ax from the Beatnuts crew, he promoted the Bambu Nation party series in NYC featuring a young DJ Mighty Mi, and worked weekends as a roadie for Wild Apache and dancehall icon Super Cat.

Ras J relocated to Chapel Hill in 1997, working in commercial radio for SFX Broadcasting (G105, WRDU) and later becoming the first Marketing Director for Redeye Distribution and Yep Roc Records. His final major project before leaving the label world for public television was overseeing the retail setup for John Mayer’s Room for Squares.

After nearly a decade in the music business, Ras J returned to DJing in 2003, opening a sold-out show for Buju Banton at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC—his first major gig since college. He quickly became a Cradle regular, going on to open for Steel Pulse (December 2010), Lee “Scratch” Perry (January 2018), The Budos Band (February 2011), Charles Bradley (April 2012), and The Wailers, as well as performances at the Roots Reggae Legends Festival with Culture and The Meditations (January 2012).

He has opened for numerous reggae and soul icons across the Southeast, including Capleton (October 2010, Lincoln Theatre), Toots & the Maytals (June 2019, Red Hat Amphitheater), Half Pint (January 2020, Raleigh), and Black Uhuru (September 2019). Ras J also appeared at the Chesapeake Bay Reggae Fest (2016, 2017, 2018) with Johnny Osbourne, The Meditations, and The Cables. His decade-long monthly residency SIMMER DOWN: Roots & Culture Reggae Revival, launched in 2008, became the longest-running vinyl reggae party in North Carolina—foreshadowing the modern global vinyl revival.

Festival appearances include Moogfest (June 2016), the Capital City Reggae Festival (November 2016), and the 420 Festival in Raleigh (2019, 2021, 2024) with Sons of Paradise and Kash’d Out. He headlined the Carrboro Reggae Festival in 2013 and made his film cameo in the Amazon Prime feature “The Herb Train” (2020).

In the 2020s, Ras J continued expanding his reach: opening for Khruangbin at the Band Together Comeback Festival (October 2021), performing with Genesis Owusu at Motorco (April 2022), and holding a four-year residency at Boxyard RTP (2020–2024). In November 2025, he performed with Superchunk and The Mountain Goats at the Storm Relief for Jamaica benefit at Motorco.

Today, DJ Ras J continues to spin with the Triangle Soul Society, co-hosts the Grassroots Vinyl Lounge at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, and helps present the annual Bob Marley Bash at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro. His deep crates of vintage reggae vinyl, his connection to sound system culture, and his lifelong message of peace, unity, and positive vibration remain at the heart of every session.

One love, vinyl & unity. #ncvinyl

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the entire universe."

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