DJ Tanner

is the creative force behind Def Karaoke Jam.  A product of the New Jersey public school system, he stands as a shining example as to why you shouldn't be allowed to write music when you suffer from ADHD.  DKJ was founded by him in 1996 as an outlet for his potty-mouthed humor and contempt for a particular washed up former SNL funnyman.  With several self recorded cassettes in circulation, Def Karaoke Jam vs. the World was released in the fall of 1998.  An eight song tour de force that featured the raucous track Axl Rose. Although critically acclaimed, the album did not receive sufficient promotion in the United States to garner widespread support.  However, the album did sell 2.3 million copies in Iceland (Note: Iceland has a total  population of 330,000).

Soon after his first studio release was completed, DJ Tanner went on musical hiatus to attend college in an economically deprived section of Philadelphia, PA.  While attending Drexel University, he skeeeted on the Garden State's local wedding and Bar Mitzvah scene as a disc jockey and Electric Slide virtuoso.  Before Kanye made it cool to drop out, Tanner unknowingly finished college and relocated to a suburb of Charm City, which is a rather ironic nickname for Baltimore if you've been there.  He soon joined forces with a successful local hip-hop and R&B act, Slipdisk.  

Enjoying a loyal and ecstatic fan base, Slipdisk was known for packing dance floors and creating delirium with their take on Wreckx-N-Effect's, Pharcyde and Black Sheep.  The band and their signature blue jumpsuits were a staple on the DC, Baltimore and NoVa bar and club circuit.  In 2004, the band released Ruckus, a 12 song CD of their own original music.  On the album, DJ Tanner's lyrical mayhem was highlighted on the title-track, Ruckus (which can be purchased for a measly 99 cents on iTunes by clicking here).  Unfortunately, in 2006 the group disbanded after their 148th live performance.

In 2007, Tanner dusted off his acoustic guitar and began composing new music to be recorded as a return to Def Karaoke Jam.  Building on the same fundamentals that DKJ was constructed on, he has pledged to raise hell and release new music that will deliver to your extremely low expectations.

 
  Mr. Powers  

is an Emmy nominated music producer (TRUE STORY, here is his name on this crazy long list) and an established local DC musician.  He also co-founded Head High Records, an independent record label, and is a member of Tami D'Mar.  Unlike DJ Tanner, he is amazingly talented.  A veteran on stage and behind a recording console, he has been a key contributor to the revival of Def Karaoke Jam.  You can hear his triple-thick bass solo on The Ballad of DJ Tanner, his crooning on Surprise You're Gay, and he's mixed and mastered all of the new material.  Oh yeah, and he did all of this while having sex with a Golden Retriever.
 

is a multi faceted musician and composer.   If you were fortunate enough to see Slipdisk live, you've witnessed him excel in his element as an animated performer overseeing his supporting elements and every member of the crowd.  Although he graduated from LSU as a percussion major, he is one of those rare individuals that can rock nearly any instrument you can throw at him (don't even step to him with finger cymbals unless you are ready to wild out).  Along with Mr. Powers, he co-founded Head High Records and is a contributing member of Tami D'Mar.  He co-wrote and arranged the music to My Kapowski, flexed the golden autotune pipes on Linda the Cougar, and co-wrote Surprise You're Gay. 
  is a bad ass mother fucker.  True story, ask your sister about it.  She helped your mom setup the tripod in the bedroom.   He graduated from Towson University with a double major in music and scaring children.  He's played guitar on a Busta Rhymes song, his day job is composing music for television, and he has diabetes.  He's pretty much the Columbia, MD version of Yngwie Malmsteen.  When he's not performing with his band Never in Denver, he helps Def Karaoke Jam take over the world.  You can hear his magic on Linda the Cougar.
  's snare drum has seen more action than Ron Jeremy. Fo sho.  If the mean streets of Compton bred Eazy E and NWA, you can thank Dale City, VA for this crazy cracker.  While DKJ is his most honorable role as a musician, he does also perform with the Marine Corps band at Arlington National Cemetery.  In fact, if you tuned in for the HBO broadcast of the Obama Inauguration Lincoln Memorial Concert, Mike was the bad ass in full uniform that opened the show playing an enormous drum 10 feet from the new President.  He utilizes every bit of his percussion knowledge learned at LSU to contribute to such epic songs as Linda the Cougar.