Trance DJ Christopher Lawrence was named the 2008 winner of the America's Best DJ contest on Tuesday, September 2, during a ceremony at Rouge at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Lawrence was presented with a gold medal and a gold-plated Pioneer DJM-800 mixer the only one in existence.
Turntablist legend DJ QBert took the silver, and DJ/rock star DJ Skribble took the bronze.
After the presentation of the awards by dance recording artist Kristine W, the three medalists, and No. 5 finisher DJ Scotty Boy played special sets for an enthusiastic Rouge crowd.
The ceremony was the culmination of a four-month contest and tour, presented by Pioneer Pro DJ and DJ Times magazine. Since June, the top 100 DJs in America as selected by the editors of DJ Times have solicited their fans to vote for them, both online at www.americasbestdj.net, and at 40 official ABDJ events at nightclubs and festivals nationwide. By the time the polls closed on August 16, over 35,000 had voted.
Lawrence is a DJ and producer specializing in progressive trance music, who has played for crowds of over 100,000 at festivals worldwide. His dedicated fans voted him into fourth place in U.K. magazine DJ's 2006 Top 100 international poll; and he was named Best DJ at the Dancestar US Awards, and Best American DJ at the International Dance Music Awards in 2005.
DJ Qbert (Richard Quitevis) is a multiple Disco Mix Club World (DMC) world champion and a member of the DJ Hall of Fame. DJ Skribble (Scott Ialacci) is best known for his MTV appearances on The Grind and Total Request Live, and has toured with rock guitarist Dave Navarro.
