Former Radio One Baltimore DJ Reggie Reg Passes

Reginald Calhoun, better known as “DJ Reggie Reg,” worked at Radio One’s WERQ-FM/ 92Q Baltimore, MD and was a well-known DJ on the city’s club music scene, died this past Saturday at age 50. at His sister, Betty Covington, said that he had been in declining health and died of congestive heart failure.

“He had been having trouble walking, but we just couldn’t stop him. At a musical event, he would sit in a chair these days. He died doing what he loved,” she said.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake said in a statement. “I was terribly saddened to hear of Reggie’s passing. He was one of the best DJs of my generation, with a personality bigger than life. He will definitely be missed.”

Former Mayor Sheila Dixon, wrote on her campaign page, “Reggie was a pioneer in Baltimore radio and paved the way for many who came after him.”

“I met Reggie about 1984 when he was an up-and-coming DJ,” said Frank “Ski” Rodriguez, a radio and television personality. “He was kinda finding his space, and Reggie hung out with everybody. He hung out at beauty shops and at record stores. Everybody gravitated to him.”

Frank Ski also recalled that he and Reggie Reg met a fellow Baltimore resident, Kevin Liles, who went on to become an executive at Def Jam Recordings. “This association with Kevin allowed us to have access to music,” said Mr. Rodriguez, a Baltimore radio veteran who had been on-air in Baltimore at 92Q and V103 and is now based in Atlanta, Ga.

“Reggie would say, ‘It’s not a party until everybody’s dancing,'” said a friend, Howard “Hi-Def” Dabney. “And once his voice came through the microphone, it was time to party. He was the house DJ at O’Dell’s. That was his home.”

Dabney also adds that it was Reggie Reg who recognized Jay Z’s talent early on and played his music before it gained national attention. “He was the jock who made the album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ before it was so widely popular.”

Calhoun was known in club circles as “Reggie Reg The Godfather” or “The Mayor of Baltimore.”

Radio One/Baltimore will hold a candlelight prayer vigil for Reggie Reg at 5pm (est) today.

Services will be conducted through the Wylie Funeral Service in West Baltimore.

I had the pleasure of working with Reggie during my tenure at Radio One/Baltimore.  He was a stand-up guy who loved his music and his daughter Jazzy  more than anything.  He was one of the rare individuals that everybody liked! RIP Reggie Reg.