AL HOT MIX HOLMES : DJ, REMIXER, PRODUCER AND ENGINEER
Al “Hot Mix” Holmes Also known as HMH on his remix productions, is a 40+ year DJ veteran out of Chicago specializing in House & Gospel House. Also producing & remixing for the past 10 years. He combines a unique blend of Chicago House, Jackin’ House, Tech House & Soulful House. He was first inspired to become a Dj in 1982 while attending a south side Chicago catholic high school called Mendel Catholic prep, which to this day is legendary for it’s bi-level dance parties. These parties was his first introduction to House music and its culture. He was blown away by that experience and was hooked ever since. His overall influences as a Dj would become Farley Jackmaster Funk, Steve Silk Hurley and Frankie Knuckles. His religious roots and Dj influences would later shape his production & remixing style which would be best described as hard, energetic, & soulful.
After graduating high school, he attended Columbia School of Broadcasting, where he further fine tuned and expanded his abilities. Learning editing, music programing, and voice overs. After completing his broadcast training he joined Pro DJs, a local mobile DJ company in Chicago where he provide the company mix tapes for the non-mixing Dj’s. Several years later “Hot Mix” entered into radio broadcasting. He co-hosted “Christian Underground” with Tony Mundaca on WYCA 92.3 FM in Chicago. There he also guest hosted “The Gospel Hour” on the same station. Years later he received his big break. He was asked to provide mini mixes for the Darryl King Show on Rejoice 102.3 FM also in Chicago. This break led to his own weekend mix show which he programmed and produced called “The Friday Night Praise Mix. He also started doing internet radio, spinning Gopsel House music on mixing4u.com in the U.K. and gospelhousemusic.com in the U.S.
In 2008, Sonya Blakey the program director for Rejoice 102.3 FM move to Inspiration 1390 AM also in Chicago and asked Al “Hot Mix” Holmes to come with her. Inspiration 1390 (A Clear Channel & Iheart radio sation) won a Stellar Award as the #1 gospel station and is currently the 2nd largest 24 hour gospel station in the nation. He aired everyday at 3pm c.s.t. on the “Jubilee at 3” Monday through Friday for the hottest gospel mixes ever. A few years later Sonya would move from the afternoon drive to the morning drive. Replacing her on the afternoon drive would be Marcella Jones. Marcella and Hot Mix continued the Jubilee at 3 for several more years. During that period Marcella Jones became program director at WKKC 89.3 FM. A publicly broadcasted college radio station in Chicago. WKKC would become legendary in the late 80’s with a House music mix show known as Friday Night Audio. WKKC would move in the 2000’s to a brand new building with the latest equipment and headed by the former president of WGCI FM which is still currently the number 1 urban radio station in Chicago. With all the new changes Friday Night Audio was revamped. During this time a DJ slot became available. Marcella Jones knowing Hot Mix Holmes deep roots in House & Gospel House music, asked if Hot Mix wanted to join the legendary radio program. With some many challenges playing new music especially Gospel House music under clear channel at 1390 AM, Hot Mix accepted the opportunity without hesitation. With his new home at WKKC he was able to play his 2 favorite genres of music. House & Gospel House with the added opportunity to play new music through his mixes. He can currently be heard oddly enough at the exact same time slot he had on AM 1390, every Friday at 3pm c.s.t.
His experiences has also lead him to producing the same two forms of music that’s closest to his heart, on his own record label HMH Music. Releasing original music and remixes under HMH ( Hot Mix Holmes) and his other collaborative production group known as The Spirit Boyz. In the past 2 years through an event of a mutual friend, Hot Mix would meet Dr. Dorrelle Lomax the founder of Gospel House Radio. Gospel House Radio mission is to bring attention and spread awareness of the combination of two genres of music that both originate from Chicago. Gospel and House music. Leaning heavily into this Chicago legacy and showing Chicago to the world in a much different light then what’s been portrayed in the news. It’s this mutual love for two genres of music which Dr. Dorrelle and Hot Mix were passionate about would form a new relationship. This
relationship would lead to Hot Mix being appointed as the Head Mix Minister of Gospel House Radio. Al Hot Mix Holmes constant inspiration is to travel globally DJing and continue to produce great music that uplifts, energizes, and unites People.
