DJ Randy Bettis discusses Party Groove: GayDays Vol. 3

By Just Russ
Photo by Dale Stine

“Be safe, watch out for one another, and dance your butts off!” These are words of wisdom to Pride partygoers this season from DJ Randy Bettis, who is embarking on a national tour to promote his new CD with Centaur Music called Party Groove: GayDays Vol. 3. The new disc is a total gay and lesbian experience comprised of several performances in and around Orlando. This is the first promotional tour for Centaur and Bettis, who is thrilled to share the music with fans everywhere.

Bettis has enjoyed an amazing year as a DJ, playing with big names like Tony Moran, which has ultimately brought him a lot of attention. He cites his performance at the Heritage of Pride Pier Dance last year as one of the most special gigs of his career. “I had the honor of playing to 7,500 beautiful people from the LGBT community from all over the world on a pier on the historic Hudson River, [over]looking the Manhattan skyline, and having my friends perform a remix of a song called ‘Shine’ that my partner and I created. It was magical!”

The accomplished DJ is a former competitive gymnast and has worked in the musical theater business. He considers himself fortunate to have been able to break into Broadway rather easily and find success in more than one creative endeavors. Bettis is planning on doing some actual songwriting in the near future, but right now stays busy doing a lot of the engineering and a good bit of the arranging, too.

He keeps a tight schedule between shows at several Manhattan nightclubs, working as a music producer and regularly donating his talent as a DJ. Bettis supports Broadway Bares, which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He is a resident DJ at Splash Bar in New York City and has played in some of the most legendary night spots including Sound Factory, Limelight, Webster Hall, and XL. He’s got some forthcoming surprises, too, one of which, involves his current work with Tony Award-winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell on a special project in Las Vegas. For the time being, however, Bettis is focused on the success of his promotional tour.

“The minute I finished mixing the project I felt really thrilled with the whole feel of the CD and I wanted to pull a team together to work with me on a tour. It’s very exciting!” Right now he is confirmed for an RSVP Mexican Riviera Cruise and several dates on the East Coast as he embarks on the GayDays Tour. Also locked into place are performances at Krave in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 23, and at The Factory in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 4. Additional dates are being added to the tour.

The new disc is a memorable collection of 12 songs rich in history and has an overall uplifting feel surrounding it. From the opening track by Carl Bean, “I Was Born This Way,” to the closing number, “I Have to Say I Love You in a Track,” by Jay Sea vs. Jim Croce, listeners will not be disappointed. Other featured artists include Judy Torres, RuPaul featuring Tom Trujillo, Boogie Pimps, and Blaze featuring Barbara Tucker. Fans are calling the disc the perfect summer soundtrack.

For more information on Bettis, visit www.centaurmusic.com or www.djrandybettis.com.