25 Years and Counting

1973 wasn't exactly a great year to be a DJ--no MTV, no rap, no chance of affordable gear if you were a bellbottomed kid like Alan Cabasso or his brother Artie. But they had a secret weapon: their dad, Ike Cabasso. Once his boys convinced Ike that DJs needed professional gear at affordable prices if they were to master their craft, he founded a company. He called it Gemini Sound Products. And so it began. While big electronics companies ignored DJs, Gemini offered durable, innovative products that were surprisingly affordable. In fact, it's likely that more DJs got their start on Gemini products during the next two decades than with any other manufacturer. As word spread, Gemini grew. DJs noticed little things about their gear--not just how rugged or affordable it was, but how you couldn't accidentally turn off a turntable or eject a disk while it was playing. As if a real DJ had designed it. Their approach is simple: offer DJs the best gear at the lowest prices, and listen to what they're asking for. This focus has made Gemini the world's largest maker of DJ equipment. And it will continue to do so. Now led by CEO Artie Cabasso and company president Alan Cabasso at their headquarters in Carteret, New Jersey, Gemini has never strayed from its roots--creating equipment by DJs, for DJs. Twenty-five years later, the mega-company, Gemini Sound Products, decided it was time for a party, and party they did. The huge ballroom at the Westin Bonaventure was wired by a professional sound contractor based out of Washington state. Using unnamed 15' x 12' generic speaker stacks and 10 QSC amplifiers, it set the stage for a rocking good time. According to Alan Cabasso, few people realize that the Cabasso family started Gemini with money from a small home speaker company the family once owned, thus their love for music and the DJ business. The night opened with a magic act. Food was served buffet style at stations located around the room and there was an open bar for the first couple of hours. As dinner started, two female singers that were reported to be signed with the up and coming Gemini label, (Something new?) took to the stage for a couple of songs. Other than some monitor problems, the first few performances came off without a hitch - then it was back to the magicians and jugglers. All of this was just a warmup for the real party. Through all the opening acts, DJ Sharron was waiting patiently to take her place in Gemini history. Her set-up was simple but her performance was grand. Wired into the concert-sized sound system, this lady knew how to get people up and out onto the floor. Sending out a smooth mix of oldies, rock, and disco, she brought the dancefloor to life. The only downfall of her performance was when she, out of courtesy, turned things over to a visiting DJ and he had problems adjusting to the new equipment. Four or five bad mixes later, he seemed to get the hang of it. Later, hotel staff wheeled onto the floor two huge anniversary cakes created by a Beverly Hills bakery. The cakes, taking up the better part of an eight foot table, were enough for everyone at the party. Alan and Artie personally cut the cake and served it to their guests. As the evening wore on, a jam session broke out on stage with various recording artists including Carlos Cavazo and Rudy Sarzo from Quite Riot. This snowballed into a who's who of the old rock scene. From the staff of DJzone, congratulations to our friends Artie, Alan, and the whole Gemini crew for your continued commitment to the DJ industry.