In the mix Playboy DJ

By Allen Brewer
Western Herald

Bangin’ Promotions, owned by WMU alumna Shannon Williams, is bringing former Playboy Playmate and celebrity DJ Colleen Shannon to Wayside on Dec. 13.

Colleen Shannon was Jan.  2004’s Playboy Playmate of the Month and 50th Anniversary Playmate. Since then, she has begun making a name for herself in film and on the DJ circuit.

According to her Web site, she is slated to release her first album soon and has performed with such well-known DJs as Paul Oakenfold, Funk Master Flex and Jazzy Jeff as well as mainstream artists like Snoop Dogg and Sting. She is also the newest resident DJ at the Pure Night Club in Las Vegas, joining DJ AM and Samantha Ronson, among others.

“DJ-ing was pretty much a hobby but turned into a profession,” Shannon said. “The first time I touched a turntable, it scratched and it really excited me.”

Shannon said her infatuation with being a DJ was present before her appearance in Playboy, about nine years ago.

“I was at the Playboy mansion and thought it would be a dream to DJ there,” she said. “About a year later, they called me in to test me out for the 50th anniversary issue and wanted to do a turntable theme for my shoot.”

Since her appearance, Williams has been touring under the moniker of “Sexiest DJ in the World.” She said that her Playboy pictorial has helped her DJ career a lot.

“I’m part of a niche market, you know,” she said. “But at the same time, looks can get you in the door but only talent can keep you in the room.”

In regards to using her looks as a way to market herself, she doesn’t view it as a problem.

“I don’t think it hurts,” she said, laughing. “But if I was just riding the Playboy thing, I would’ve faded a while ago.”

For Williams, being a DJ is less about being a celebrity and more for the love of her job.

“If you’re doing it for just the celebrity aspect of it, you won’t stick around long,” Williams said. “I always appreciate the experience.”

And for her, DJ-ing is something that she sees as a life plan.

“There’s times when I see myself doing this until I’m 40 or 45,” Williams said. “But you never know where life is going to take you.”

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=2842

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Dec 7 2008. Filed under A & E. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com