WACO, Texas — For more than a decade, Devin "DJ Precyse" Patton has spread positivity through music and the microphone.
"From my mom to my grandmother, they instilled in me to always be positive, spread good news and don't spread hate," said Patton. "I approach radio the same way. It's always positive energy because you never know what kind of day somebody is having. I want to make their day better."
Patton's dream of becoming a DJ started at home.
"My mom was a beautician and had a shop that was connected to the house," Patton told 6 News. "My mom would say 'Go get that record and put that on real quick' and I see all the people getting excited. Once I started listening to the music, she didn't have to tell me anymore. She'd say, 'What do you know about Stevie Wonder?' I'm watching everyone moving around. I started to realize this is something I can do."
As a teenager, Patton was hired to DJ at a local club and his career in entertainment began.
"I was 15 or 16 and they hired me," said Patton. "I was underage and they hired me as a DJ and the crazy part is K104 would come down to the club. That's where my dreams of being on the radio came from. I would go crazy. Radio back then was huge. That's when I started thinking 'I really can do this'."
Radio has been a touch point for the African American community. In the 1920s, Jack Leroy Cooper became the first African American radio disc jockey on WSBC in Chicago.
Changemakers like James Brown bought radio stations to help amplify Black voices. As hip-hop marks its 50th anniversary, the work being done by Black broadcasters is just as important as ever.
The FCC reports only 1% of radio and TV stations are owned by African Americans. Job site Zippia reports only 5% of radio broadcasters are Black.
"I honor our people and salute our people who came before us," said Patton.
When Waco's only hip-hop station hit the air in 2010 as 94.5 The Beat, local legend DJ Batman gave Patton his big break in radio. He's been part of Waco radio history ever since, giving a voice and platform to the people.
"I love making people happy. You know, being able to put the local artists on the radio and hear their happiness after hearing their voices on the radio," said Precyse.
Patton's new show "Texas Tap In," brings Texas culture to the world.
"We just launched. It's going to be about community," said Patton. "It's tapping in from Texas to the world. We want the world to see what's going on in Texas, from the homeless man to the CEO. The big artists to the new artists."
Patton credits God, his family and those who have gone before him.
"I live not only for me, but I live for my brothers, my dads, my grandmothers," Patton said. "I feel in my soul, I feel like I have amazing guardian angels."
You can listen daily to DJ Precyse on 107.3 The Beat in Waco and streaming online, and you can view "Texas Tap In" on YouTube.
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