It was a Friday night and Goodman Street was ready for a house party.
After a week of snow, people were out ready to celebrate. The vibrations were pumping and the dance was hot as University of Memphis baseball players, Pom Squad members, Greeks, and even non-students piled into the three-bedroom house to see DJ Ben Murray.
“The music was flowing and DJ Ben Murray was killing it as usual,” partygoer Jake Hinton said. “Everybody knows what’s up when he walks in.”
Born and raised in Eads, Tennessee, Murray, 23, always had a knack for music. He attended Oakland Elementary until seventh grade and later homeschooled until high school graduation. He grew to love country music from his father’s influence and began playing bass guitar at 16. By the time his graduation rolled around, he had expanded to rap music, and his nose was constantly stuck in his laptop learning to DJ.
“It was a growing process,” Murray said, who deejays every Friday at 5 p.m. on 101.9 Kiss FM. “It has taken me places I never thought I would go. It has shown me so much.”
Murray’s savvy might take him to the annual Bonnaroo music festival June 11-14 in Manchester, Tenneessee. On Monday, Murray will compete in a DJ competition hosted by Roo Radio. They are searching for the “Best College DJ,” and whoever wins will get VIP tickets to the next music festival and will be broadcasted on the station.
Deejaying also has been lucrative for Murray, providing him with the money he needs in college. The only other job he can recall was a lemonade stand at the Delta Fair where he worked when he was 17.
“I guess you could say it was one of my failures,” Murray said. “I got fired because it was a slow Tuesday night, and I wanted to watch my friends band play. So I put all the cash from the drawer in my pocket to leave and the woman selling turkey legs told on me.”
Murray’s first gig was one he found on Craigslist.
“It was so spontaneous,” Murray said. “My friend, Alex Inman, who also plays music gave me a call one day and just offered me one of his gigs he had found. They wanted to hear Black Eyed Peas and not acoustic music. So, I packed up my equipment and went to play. I barely had 100 songs on my computer, just enough to get me through it. But it was awesome.”
Micah Givens, Murray’s best friend and former roommate, said he has tagged along to most of Murray’s gigs. With Murray’s help, he has been able to learn how to deejay himself and even has received gigs of his own.
“The first time Ben and I kicked it was when he was deejaying at a Redbull event,” Givens said. “From then on it was 5 to 6 years of constant traveling. We were best friends ever since.”
Givens admires Murray for his constant dedication and work.
“He’s always working; always got his hands in something,” he said.
Nick Concklin, Murray’s current roommate, says that everyone gathers to participate in the fun.
“The party is bumping and the vibrations are flowing and the girls are super hot,” Concklin said. “It’s a whole new experience. Everybody comes to see Ben Murray and to party with him.”
Although it is a good time, Murray does not plan to deejay for more than five years.
“It’s fun to do, don’t get me wrong. We were those kids once,” Murray said. “I see myself doing something more important than entertainment though. I want to help people in the way that they need.”
