He was called the sensational Max Kendy by club freaks in the 70s, till late 90s. There is no doubt that the pint-sized Kehinde Ishola (a.k.a Max Kendy) has touched their souls when and while it mattered with his sensational presentation. Today, it's almost three decades he bowed out when the ovation was loudest. The top ex-DJ who may have seen it all and now survives on entertaining the corporate world and big-time social clubs like Island Club, Yoruba Club, Tennis Club, Ikoyi Club and Ikeja Club literally jumped to his feet recently when our Contributing Editor, IFECHI OKOH, inched up to Kendy, urging him to relieve his exploits, anchoring it on assessment of today's DJS and their operations. Sit back snd savour this vintage close-up!!

Who is Max Kendy?

Max Kendy was named Kehinde Ishola from birth, 63 years ago. I hail from Idofian LGA of Kwara State. I will be a year older this September by God's grace. I schooled in Lagos. That is primary and secondary schools.

When did the DJ journey start for you?

It actually began sometime in 1979, when I was just 19 years old in this city of Lagos, a year after I left the secondary school. My late father inspired it all without even knowing it. That was really the fun of it. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Before I took a dive into the disc jockey concern, my late father was neck deep into the marketing of albums of all sorts. He did this for some frontline indigenous recording labels like Shanu-Olu Records, Afrodesia, Take Your Choice Records(TYC) and Ogo-Oluwakitan Records, Mushin. I remember vividly that he was just the biggest sole distributor in Lagos metropolis then. As a child, the mere sight of those well designed album sleeves held lots of interest for me. So naturally, I got involved in the concern with all my heart, with time. He saw this and also entrusted me with some serious assignments which I did to the best of my knowledge and to his delight and satisfaction. With time, I started to supply records to some DJs. That was how my romance with the business started. Somehow, one thing led to another in a chain-like structure, paving the way inevitably for me to join the league of Club DJs, I mean the happening ones then to the glory of Almighty God. Honestly, I must applaud and embrace DJ Lyde who had a studio on the way to Lawanson. He actually taught me initially all I needed to know through serious monitoring and advice when and where necessary. On my own, I went further to learn more from other top DJs, especially the celebrated Oyo State resident DJ, late Alex Conde, whom other DJs like me, worshiped then. I must confess here that my too much love and high reverence forced me to start answering Max Kendy on my way to the top. This too, in a way, hastened my rise in the concern because of the gigantic image of Alex Conde in disc jockying business in Nigeria then.

What was the name of the first corporate nite club you played which you can't forget till now?

It was Granada Hotel Nite Club, right under the Ojuelegba bridge in Lagos. It used to be a five star hotel then. So you can imagine the standard then. So, it was actually a lasting pride for me to have taken-off from such a top notch social enclave. I enjoyed my fame while the club reigned in the 80s till 90s. It really paved way for me when I wanted to move to another club where I played for years before I moved over to the current and corporate social clubs which I last played for.

Can you still remember some of your contemporaries, both living and dead?

I still remember top professionals like Slyvia Oforgu, formally of the Radio 2 Nigeria Pop Round the World fame, DJ Eddy Jay of defunct Klass Nite Club and Niteshift Coliseum, late Kenny Jay, Emperor U-Jay and other celebrated DJs.

When and how did the scene change paving way for the new generation DJs?

Well, since life itself is not static, anything that has a beginning, must have an ending. So when it was time for the old generation which I belong to, to excuse the new ones, it happened naturally.

What’s your take on the new generation DJs?

There’s no doubt that our generation is far from the one of the present DJs. Since that is the case, things that were in vogue then are no longer in vogue now. Our sense of value too then, is not the same with the new generation whose perception of life and living today is far from ours.

Can we know your take on DJs of your era and today’s?

I have to be pretty frank in this response for posterity sake. If not, it won't and will never forgive or forget me. Honestly, today’s DJs are simply lazy and are not sure of themselves. All the bunch of them know is scratching records unnecessarily in a funny manner which makes their presentation funny and very unserious. During our time, we took pains to learn and do our presentations with all diligence. I wish those days could be re-enacted, so that the bunch of today’s DJs who are not sure of themselves would be exposed, to justify my claim.

What do you wish to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered for my pioneering role in the clubbing concern and as one of the think-tank of today’s Dee-Jay Association of Nigeria (DJAN). I will also want to be remembered as somebody who wants the best for his colleagues, I mean for contemporaries and up-coming DJs.

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