DJ Blue

Bernard Blue Benson, better known as DJ Blue is a Liberian DJ and entrepreneur. In 2008 he won the Best DJ Award from the Liberian Entertainment Awards, and has also featured as guest DJ at the Big Brother Africa reality television show in South Africa.

Early life

Born and raised in Brewerville, near the Liberian capital Monrovia, Benson attended the Lott Carey Mission High School in Liberia up to 11th grade. He emigrated to the US in 1988, where he completed his high schooling at Norcross High School in the state of Georgia. Blue later completed a two years course at Ferris State University in Michigan in the field of HVAC, and continued his studies at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia.

Career

DJ Blue started his career as a hobby in the early 1990s but later began playing at night clubs and events across the US and the Caribbean.

The Monrovia Classic Festival in Atlanta, Georgia from 2001 to 2003 was organized by DJ Blue and a few friends.

DJ Blue with his cousin Cypha D’King and friend Hazem Harb formed BlueLinks Records in Monrovia, and signed afro pop music artist F.A to the label in 2009. The trio also started the BlueLinks show on Magic FM, sponsored by Lonestar Cell and MTN Group. After five months, the program moved to Truth FM and later to state radio ELBC. DJ Blue and partners then opened their own radio station, Hott FM 107.9, in 2010, with community branches in Ganta and Gbarnga, the towns' first radio stations. Hott FM employs over 100 Liberians.

BlueLinks Records and UNICEF Liberia worked to record and produce a song and video about ridding Liberia of the Ebola virus. The track "Ebola is real" aimed to educate people about the dos and don’ts of the deadly virus and featured Liberian music artists DenG, FA and the group Soul Fresh. The single received national airplay.

Hott FM and DJ Blue have sponsored food programs in the slums of Liberia, the construction of a modern public latrine in Liberia for the Kpallah community in Brewerville that serves over 8000 Liberians, the JW Pearson Jr & Sr High School, and an eight-stalls modern latrine project in Ganta that will serve over 5000 students.

International musicians and groups interviewed on Hott FM by DJ Blue include Akon, Sarkodie, Timaya, Wizkid, Sisqo, Ice Prince, J Martins, R2Bees, and Chidinma. On March 15, 2016, he hosted the Desire Concert, which was covered by MTV Base, and featured Chidinma and BlueLinks recording artist F.A that was attended by over 30000 fans.