Information about the owner, John Williford 

John R.Williford, Jr is the owner of Carolina Productions & Entertainment.  John's background in Music and Radio broadcasting is rich with experience in the industry.  John was raised on his family farm in Person County about 10 miles from Roxboro, NC.  He grew up working on the farm and in the Tobacco fields but loved to listen to music. 

2013 marks the 35th anniversary as a Disc Jockey for John Williford .  In 1978, at the age of only 13, John started providing the music for friends parties with his home stereo system while still in Middle School in his home town of Roxboro, NC.  This continued until one weekend, John just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  The new Disco in town needed a DJ at the last minute to fill in since the regular DJ did not show up.  John just happened to stop by to visit a friend who was working the bar for Teen Night and took over the DJ booth.

John spent a lot of time hanging out with older neighbors who played in a band.  John was invited to come and sit in on a few practices with the band and check out the sound system and bring along his trumpet to add some spice to some of the Beach Music songs they played.  He learned the sound system inside and out and was hired as the sound man for the band and played Trumpet and sang on stage as well. 

It was not long that the band had an offer to play a Christmas Party but was not able to except due to the work schedule of some of the band members.  They asked John if he could take the band sound system and DJ the party.  It turned out to be one of the best parties ever and John continued to play this annual event for the next 12 years until it they stopped having the party.  He continued to DJ when the band was not playing and even would be asked to DJ in between the band sets at most events the band played.  During this time John purchased his first professional sound system of his own.  The band broke up just before John Graduated High School but he continued to DJ for weddings, private parties, school functions and in night clubs through out the rest of high school and in college under the name Williford's Music Service.  John became one of the first Mobile DJ's in the area and quickly became known for his great music, loud sound system, lots of flashing lights and keeping a dance floor full all night long. 

When MTV hit the air in 1981, John had the idea of playing the music videos while DJing at his functions.  A few years later he added Music Videos to his DJ show with twin 9' video screens to each side of this system. 

Some of the associations that John made through working with the band,  lead him to many different opportunities.  John was hired on a regular basis to provide his lighting system for special concert shows at a night club called the Flaming Star.  John got to work lights for such professional country artist in the 1980's such as Merle Haggard, Gene Watson, Ronnie McDowell, Johnny Paycheck, Vern Gosdin, Mel McDaniel, John Anderson and many others.

Right before High School Graduation, John went to work part time at a small AM Radio station in Yanceyville, NC.  WYNC was where he did the Sunday afternoon shift playing lots of Beach Music and Top 40.  It was specially fun after a long night of DJing a big party and he would receive lots of phone request from the guest of the party the night before.  John majored in Radio/TV Broadcasting in college and after graduation went on to a 12 year full time radio broadcast career.  All along he continued to DJ for all types of events every weekend to help make ends meet. 

John worked for several radio stations in North Carolina and Virginia including WKML 95.7 in Fayetteville, NC and his last station was WPCM 101.1 out of Burlington, NC.  John was known as Jack Daniels on the air and worked the mid- day air shift daily.  He was also Production Manager where he wrote and produced the commercials on the air.  John was the morning show talent for several stations and also hosted al Beach Music show on the weekends.

John's broadcasting Career took him in many directions.  He worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry in many ways during his broadcast days.  He was emcee for many concerts including shows at The Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh for such artist as Travis Tritt, Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire and Faith Hill.    He once emceed a concert at a local small town county fair where a new and upcoming artist was set to perform.  John hit the stage and introduced this new artist as Garth Brooks.  John also emceed shows at the North Carolina State Fair for Allison Krauss, Rickey Van Shelton and others.  One of his biggest moments was when he was invited to sit in on a live national radio broadcast in Nashville, TN one night with the Great Wolf Man Jack. 

In broadcasting John recorded sit down interviews many different celebrities and artist.   Some of his biggest included the most wonderful interview with Minnie Pearl in Nashville, TN.  Others included Randy Owen and Jeff Cook with Alabama, Hank Williams, Jr., Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Oprah Winfrey, Kenny Rogers, Alan Jackson, Marie Osmond, Chubby Checker, Delbert McClinton, Larry Gatlin, Trisha Yearwood, and the list goes on.  One of his live on air interviews was an in studio visit by the group Shenandoah.  John allowed lead singer Marty Raybon to come in and take over the studio and play all of his favorite songs and tell why he liked them.  On of the best was when Mr. T dropped by. 

In the Mid 1980's, John's college education included TV broadcasting.  John purchased a video camera and started shooting video as an add on to the DJ services for the weddings.  This became a popular addition with every wedding.   He also is a volunteer studio camera operator and Floor Manger for UNC-TV and supports Public Broadcasting.

 In 1995 John left WPCM and started running the DJ business full time.  In 2002 Williford's Music Service changed it's name to Carolina Productions and Entertainment.  This name change was a better fit for the business and the quality services that are offered.  Today Carolina Productions not only offers the finest experienced DJ's but also Professional Videography.  John Continues to do voice over work for Radio and TV commercials and other projects and is the voice on the Promotional announcements for the Dorton Arena Entertainment played at the NC State Fair for the NC Mountain State Fair held each Year in Ashville, NC.  He also continues to work freelance as on air talent or on commercials for several area radio stations and also produces and host a Syndicated weekly radio show called "Classic Soul Saturday Night" playing classic soul hits from the 60's, 70's and 80's as well as Beach and Shag Music.  John is a music reporter for Beachmusic45.com where his monthly Beach and Shag Music Top 40 Chart is used to compile the Monthly Hot 100 chart.  This chart is also published nationally in Cash Box Magazine.

In 2010 John produced a weekly TV show for USAR Pro Cup Racing that aired on 18 different national sports networks across the country.  His video crew filmed all of the races across the country and he edited and produced the TV show.  John has also produced video content for the Montel Williams Show, CBS Sunday Morning show and in 2012 started production on a new TV show for UNC TV called Painting with George Buchanan. 

John is married to wife Tammy and has three children, Jonathan, Brittany and Sarah and they make their home on Hyco Lake in Roxboro, NC.  His son Jonathan is now helping with the DJ business and has played several events on his own.  When not working John still looks after the farm and live stock they still raise.

The Carolina Productions and Entertainment office and Studios are located on Hyco Lake in Roxboro, NC.