Press Release for John Murray Owner

June 13, 2016


Central grad now public address announcer for Globetrotters

John Murray also runs a successful DJ business in Denver.

By Josh Rhoten
jrhoten@wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE — John Murray’s voice pays the bills.

A former Cheyenne resident, Murray is a public address announcer and DJ in Denver. His owns Jammin’ DJs, an entertainment company, and he recently went on an international tour with the Harlem Globetrotters as their public address announcer.

Murray got his start in the broadcasting business while he was still at Cheyenne’s Central High. Among his internships and on-air positions, he worked at 97.9 KING FM and 100.7 KOLT FM in the Capital City.

“Those early jobs really appealed to me as far as going out and meeting new people,” he said. “I am a very social person by nature, so the job just fit well.”

Marie Parks, who was Murray’s legal guardian for two years while he was in high school, said he was drawn to the DJ business because it fit his personality.

“He just likes to do it because he is a ham,” said Parks, who still lives in Cheyenne. “He just really enjoys getting out in front of people, and he just has a great voice for it.”

Murray graduated from Central in 1996 with the intent to go into the U.S. Air Force. Unfortunately, he had to have emergency brain surgery right before he deployed, and that changed his post-grad plans.

“I went to Fort Collins, Colo., and did some work at their stations and went to Front Range Community College,” he said. “Eventually, I started my own mobile DJ company, and my career has just sort of grown from there.”

During that time, Murray also began to work as the public address announcer for Georgia State University basketball games.

He now announces for various sports at the University of Georgia and for other major sporting events like the Olympic time trials and the Churchill Cup, an international rugby competition.

His hard work paid off when he was invited to audition for the Harlem Globetrotters.

“Someone had given them my resume, and I went out there and auditioned,” he said. “I got that job, so I traveled with them through Europe, performing for troops overseas and then through 100 cities in the U.S.

“There is a lot of improvisation and comedy in their show. You have to be aware when you are up there, but they are a great organization that is family based, and that’s what I love most about it.”

Murray’s Jammin’ DJs provides entertainment for weddings parties and other events. He said it is one of the largest entertainment companies in Georgia.

“We did about 1,800 events last year,” he said.

Murray also has a strong family life. He and his wife have two sons and are expecting a third soon.

“I am just lucky to be able to do this job that puts me in front of 100 or 1,000 people and lets me be a part of their event and make it even better,” he said.

John’s addition

“I feel very honored to be recognized by my hometown newspaper for the different accomplishments I have achieved throughout the years since graduating high school in Cheyenne. I am very thankful for the opportunities I have had through out the years including my position with the Harlem Globetrotters, the opportunities to announce for team USA, and the winter olympic trials in Denver and more. I am also thankful for my family and friends who have encouraged me and supported my ambition to do these events.”