Kaskade facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kaskade
Kaskade at Collision 2017 in New Orleans, May 2017
Background information
Birth name	Ryan Gary Raddon
Also known as	Kaskade
Born	(1971-02-25) February 25, 1971 (age 54)
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	House progressive house electro house deep house downtempo lo-fi
Occupation(s)	DJ music producer remixer
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Om Ultra mau5trap Ministry of Sound Warner Bros. Monstercat
Signature

Ryan Gary Raddon (born February 25, 1971), known as Kaskade, is an American DJ, music producer, and remixer. He creates electronic dance music, especially house music. DJ Times magazine named Kaskade "America's Best DJ" in both 2011 and 2013. He is known for his energetic live shows and popular songs.

Early Life and Beginnings

Ryan Raddon was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in a nearby town called Northbrook. As a teenager, he loved buying music records in Chicago. His brother, Rich Raddon, later became a successful entrepreneur and film producer.

Ryan went to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah for a year. During this time, he started practicing his DJ skills in his dorm room. At age 19, he spent two years in Japan on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his mission, he studied at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he earned a degree in communications. While in college, Kaskade and his friend Jodi Call ran a record store called Mechanized.

Music Career

Starting Out (1995–2000)

In 1995, Ryan Raddon began DJing at a club called Club Manhattan. This extra money helped him buy equipment to make music. In May 2000, he moved to San Francisco with his wife. He got a job at Om Records, a record label focused on house music.

San Francisco was a growing place for a new style of music called deep house. While at Om Records, he kept DJing and making his own music. Soon after, he created his stage name, Kaskade. He chose the name from a nature book. He saw a picture of a waterfall and liked the word "cascade." He changed the spelling slightly to Kaskade.

After mixing a music series for Om Records, Kaskade was offered a deal to release three albums. His first full album was It's You It's Me. It was well-received and helped him become known in the dance music world. He began to develop his own unique sound.

First Hit Songs (2001–2006)

Kaskade released his first single, "What I Say," in 2001. His album In the Moment featured his first top 10 song, "Steppin' Out." This song reached number 5 on Billboard Magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart. Another song from the album, "Everything," even reached number 1 on the same chart.

In September 2006, Kaskade released his fourth album, Love Mysterious. The first song from this album, "Be Still," reached number 4 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Another song, "Sorry," was also a big hit. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008 for Best Remixed Recording.

Working with Ultra Records and deadmau5 (2006–2009)

In late 2006, Kaskade joined a new record label called Ultra Records. He began working with other famous artists.

He collaborated with another DJ, deadmau5, on a song called "I Remember." This song became a big hit in the UK. It also reached number one on the Billboard dance chart in the US. Another song, "Angel on My Shoulder," also did very well on the dance charts.

Headlining Festivals and Grammy Nominations (2010–2015)

In 2010, Kaskade had another number one hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart with "Dynasty," featuring Haley Gibby. In March 2012, Kaskade was a main performer at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami. He also played at the Coachella Festival in Indio, California, and the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas in 2012.

In June 2012, he started his "Freaks of Nature" summer tour to support his album Fire & Ice. In December 2013, Kaskade received two Grammy Award nominations. His song "Atmosphere" was nominated for Best Dance Recording, and his album Atmosphere was nominated for Best Dance/Electronica Album. In 2014, Forbes magazine listed Kaskade as one of the highest-paid DJs in the world.

In 2015, Kaskade performed at Coachella again, drawing some of the largest crowds the festival had ever seen.

Recent Music and Kx5 (2015–Present)

On September 25, 2015, Kaskade released his album Automatic, which included songs with other artists like CID and Galantis. In November 2017, he released a Christmas-themed album called "Kaskade Christmas."

In 2022, Kaskade and Deadmau5 announced a new project together called Kx5. This was their fourth time working together. Their first song as Kx5, "Escape," came out on March 11, 2022. The self-titled Kx5 album was released on March 17, 2023.

Kaskade released his second Christmas album, "Kaskade Christmas Volume 2," on November 17, 2023. A big moment for him happened on February 11, 2024, when he performed at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. He was the first DJ to perform throughout the Super Bowl event.

Other Projects

Since May 2010, Kaskade has been a resident DJ for daytime pool parties at the Encore Beach Club in Las Vegas, known as "Kaskade Sundays." On March 26, 2021, he held a special virtual concert event inside the popular video game Fortnite.

Personal Life

Ryan Raddon has three children. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was married to Naomi Raddon for 28 years; they are now divorced.

Discography

• It's You, It's Me (2003)
• In the Moment (2004)
• The Calm (2006)
• Love Mysterious (2006)
• Dynasty (2010)
• Fire & Ice (2011)
• Atmosphere (2013)
• Automatic (2015)
• Kaskade Christmas (2017)
• Kaskade Christmas II (2023)
• Kx5 (with deadmau5) (2023)

Official Tours

• Urban Tour (2011)
• Freaks of Nature Tour (2012)
• United States Formula 1 Grand Prix Weekend (2012)
• It's You, It's Me Redux Tour (2013)
• Atmosphere Tour (2013)
• Redux Tour 001 (2014)
• Automatic Tour (2015)
• Redux 002 (2017)
• Redux 003 (2019)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

America's Best DJ Award

See also

In Spanish: Kaskade para niños

• Om Records
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance airplay chart