Most everyone knows what a DJ is, however, the term has had a journey from its beginning in the 1930's as slang for an on-air radio personality - a "dies jockey" - who selected and played records. Prior to this, most music on radio stations was performed live by orchestra or musicians. The term is widely credited to American radio commentator Walter Winchell, who used it to describe Martin Block, a radio host in New York. Block is often considered the first true DJ because, in the 1930s, he played records while pretending the music was part of a live performance on his show "Make Believe Ballroom" on New York-based radio station WNEW.
With rock and roll's rise in the 1950s, the role of the DJ expanded. They became crucial figures in shaping musical tastes, particularly among teenagers. The popularity of DJs like Alan Freed helped popularize rock music. Freed, in fact, is credited with coining the term "rock and roll" and using it extensively on his radio show, further cementing the DJ's role in music.
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