Cameron Paul, the innovative mixmaster, radio DJ and record label owner, died Monday night of complications related to cancer. He has been widely remembered on social media today, especially in the Bay Area, which he called home for decades.
As a host on KMEL-FM and in clubs, Paul was a pioneering DJ when it came to the art of the mix, essentially crafting mashups years before the term was coined. His remix of Salt-n-Pepa’s “Push It” was often favored by radio stations instead of the original, and the mixes for his label, Mixx-It Records, became sought-after and studied by DJs nationwide.
Paul was notoriously guarded about his DJing secrets. But in the below video, he reveals his tricks for beat-matching, isolating drums, layering and more. Watching it today isn’t necessarily relevant in an era of Ableton and other computer software, but it does provide a close-up look at Paul doing what he did best, with passion and skill, his vibrant personality on full display.
RIP, ‘Master of the Mix.’
