Riz Rollins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Riz Rollins
Born	1953-54
Occupation	Disc jockey
Years active	1980–present
Known for	Expansions show on KEXP-FM

Riz Rollins, also known as DJ Riz, is a well-known disc jockey and radio personality from Seattle. He is famous for his radio show called "Expansions" on KEXP-FM.

Riz is a respected public figure in Seattle. He is known for playing music at various venues, including Pony and Cuff Complex.

Early Life and Music

Riz Rollins grew up in Chicago. His mother took him to his first music concert. Performers like Dionne Warwick, Gene Chandler, and The Temptations greatly influenced him.

He also sang in the Operation Breadbasket choir. There, he often heard Reverend Jesse Jackson speak. When he heard the James Brown song, "Cold Sweat", he felt it described his life. He lived in Chicago until he was 25 years old. He studied religion and psychology in college.

A Voice on the Radio

In 1992, a reviewer wrote about radio shows on KCMU-FM. This station is now known as KEXP-FM. The reviewer said that Riz Rollins was one of the people who helped define the station's unique style.

Riz is still a popular radio personality on KEXP-FM. His show, "Expansions," is very well-known.

DJing in Seattle

Riz Rollins started working as a DJ in Seattle in the 1990s. He played music by many popular artists. These included Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, The Pharcyde, and De La Soul.

In 2018, the Seattle Art Museum featured Riz Rollins. He mentioned that artist Kerry James Marshall was a big inspiration to him. Riz has also said that the black arts scene in Seattle is very lively. He thinks more people should know about it. Riz also enjoys coffee from Espresso Vivace.