Today we’d like to introduce you to Valdemar ‘DJ Chino’ Crame.
Hi DJ Chino, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in the Philippines, moved to Hawaii, and eventually landed in Orlando, Florida. Growing up in Orlando, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people who were into all different types of music. I actually started out as a breakdancer, going to parties and watching the local DJs. Eventually, I realized I didn’t just want to dance to the music — I wanted to be the one playing it. I wanted to play what I wanted to hear, and looking back, I think that became one of my greatest advantages as a DJ.
I started collecting records at a very young age and bought my first set of turntables when I was 16 from the legendary Discount Music Center here in Orlando. From the beginning, I was extremely motivated, and one of my biggest goals was to become a radio DJ.
In the early 2000s, I started promoting my own parties around Mills Avenue. A Vietnamese restaurant called Wah-Lee’s gave me one of my first real opportunities to perform live in front of hundreds of people every week. From there, I wanted to go bigger. I started renting halls, ballrooms and convention spaces and slowly built a following.
This was before social media changed the way events were promoted, so building a name meant physically getting out there. I passed out flyers day and night — at clubs, malls, events, parking lots, wherever I could — trying to get my name and parties in front of people.
Then one day, I received a call that would change the direction of my career. Stevie Demann, the Program Director at 102 JAMZ, called and offered me a weekend slot from midnight to 4 a.m. At the time, 102 JAMZ was one of the biggest radio stations in Central Florida, so getting that call was one of the greatest opportunities of my life. Ricky Padilla became my co-host, and suddenly I was working alongside DJs I had looked up to, including Jimmy Jamz, DJ Magic Mike, DJ Nasty, DJ Prostyle and DJ Caesar.
Radio opened up an entirely new world for me. My mixes were being heard throughout Central Florida, and that exposure opened doors to some of Orlando’s biggest nightclubs and venues at the time, including Firestone, House of Blues, Tabu, Dragon Room, Cairo, Icon and Antigua. That was when I knew this wasn’t just something I loved doing — I wanted to make it my career.
In 2010, my wife and I started our own entertainment company, Chino Music Group, providing DJ services and other entertainment for nightclubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, resorts, theme parks, weddings and other private events. More than 15 years later, Chino Music Group is still going strong, providing entertainment services throughout Orlando and Central Florida. As the company grew, I began mentoring young and up-and-coming DJs. I’m able to share the knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the years, help develop the next generation of DJs, and give them opportunities to work with Chino Music Group and provide entertainment for our clients. It’s become a way for me to give back to the industry that has given me so much while continuing to provide businesses and individuals with quality entertainment services.
Through radio and performing, I’ve had the opportunity to meet incredible artists, help break records through my mix shows and even appear in several music videos. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to open for artists including Bruno Mars, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, Lil Jon, Jason Derulo, Jeremih, Lloyd, Steve Aoki, The Chainsmokers, Bebe Rexha, Duke Dumont, Cash Cash, Major Lazer, Valentino Khan, Flux Pavilion and so many others. My radio career also continued with Power 95.3 Orlando and Fly 103.1 Orlando. My mix shows eventually became syndicated on multiple radio stations throughout the U.S., as well as stations in the Philippines and Bermuda.
As my career evolved, I became interested in the other side of music and started getting into production. I formed the electronic DJ/production duo Breikthru with Sky Boller. We released music through labels including Hexagon, Brooklyn Fire, 3 Beat Records and Turnt Music, collaborated with DJs and producers from around the world, and created remixes for major artists including Harry Styles and Bob Marley. One of our most memorable opportunities was being booked by Insomniac to open for Morten at The Vanguard in Orlando.
That chapter also brought me to SiriusXM’s Diplo’s Revolution, as well as my own weekend show on LittLive, a worldwide internet radio platform.
But one thing about me is that I’m always looking for what’s next.
As Orlando and the way people experienced nightlife began changing, I saw an opportunity with daytime events. I started Sunday Brunch at Elixir, which grew into one of Orlando’s biggest and longest-running brunch parties and is still going today.
Then, for my birthday event in 2024, I launched House & Coffee at Qreate Coffee with owner Quay Hu. What started as an idea for a daytime event exploded into a community and became one of the biggest day parties in Central Florida.
Seeing how much people wanted these types of experiences led me to partner with Rupesh Patel, a hotelier, businessman and fellow DJ, to create Daylite — a brand focused on bringing people together through music and daytime experiences.
The Daylite community has grown beyond anything we initially imagined. What began with day parties has expanded into larger events and festivals at venues throughout Central Florida, including The Great Southern Box Company (SOBOX), À La Cart, City Food Hall and Elixir. On October 31, 2026, we’ll host our biggest Daylite event yet at The Great Southern Box Company (SOBOX).
After all these years, I’m still just as excited about music and what’s next as I was when I bought those first turntables at 16. Today, I’m also back on Orlando radio with XL106.7, which feels like another full-circle moment in my career.
I’ve watched Orlando’s music scene evolve tremendously over the years, and I’ve been fortunate enough to evolve along with it. From passing out flyers on the streets of Orlando to radio, nightclubs, music production, festivals and building my own brands and events, every chapter has led to another opportunity.
And I still feel like there’s a lot more to come.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’m blessed to say that, overall, my journey has been pretty smooth. Of course, there have been challenges along the way, but I’ve always looked at them as opportunities to adjust, evolve and figure out my next move.
I came up in this industry during a completely different time. There was no social media, streaming platforms or instant access to an audience. If you wanted people to know your name or show up to your event, you had to physically get out there and make it happen. We were passing out flyers day and night, building relationships face-to-face and earning a following one person at a time.
Over the years, I’ve watched the music industry change tremendously — from vinyl to digital, traditional radio to streaming, nightlife trends shifting, and social media completely changing the way DJs and events are marketed. Instead of fighting those changes, I’ve always tried to maneuver, adjust and evolve with them. When the industry changes, I change with it while still staying true to who I am and what I love about music.
I think coming up without all of the technology we have today actually helped me. It taught me how to trust my instincts, read a room, build real relationships and create opportunities instead of waiting for them.
And thankfully, I made it this far without needing AI to tell me what my next move should be. LOL. I’m still trusting my gut on that one.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At this point in my career, I wear a lot of hats — artist, producer, DJ, business owner and event coordinator. Entertainment has always been at the center of everything I do, but over the years I’ve learned how to approach it from many different sides.
I’m probably best known for being one of the longest-standing DJs in the Orlando music scene. I’ve been fortunate enough to build a career that has lasted through multiple generations of music, nightlife and entertainment. I’ve gone from playing vinyl and passing out flyers to radio, major clubs and venues, music production, creating events, building brands and now producing larger-scale experiences through Daylite.
What I’m most proud of is really the entire journey. There isn’t one accomplishment that defines my career. I’m proud that something I started doing because I genuinely loved music became my profession and has allowed me to create opportunities, work alongside incredible artists, build businesses and bring people together through music for so many years.
I think what sets me apart is my ability and willingness to evolve. The entertainment business never stays the same. Music changes, technology changes, crowds change and the way people want to experience events changes. I’ve never been afraid to recognize when things are shifting and adjust what I’m doing.
At the same time, I’ve never lost the foundation of why I started. I still love music, I still love entertaining people, and I still get excited about creating something that brings a crowd together.
For me, longevity in this business isn’t about doing the same thing for a long time. It’s about knowing when to evolve, knowing when to take a chance on something new, and continuing to find ways to stay relevant without losing who you are.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Outside of music and events, I’m a huge dog lover. We have four dogs at home — two French Bulldogs and two Shih Tzus — and they’re definitely part of the family.
With my schedule, I’m not always home as much as I’d like to be, so I’m lucky to have my wife and daughter helping take care of them. When I do get some downtime, being home with my family is one of the things I enjoy most.
And when I’m not DJing, producing music, planning events or taking care of the dogs, I also have another unofficial job — part-time real estate assistant to my wife. LOL. Somehow she always manages to put me to work!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.djchino.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DJCHINO/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DJChino.407/
- Twitter: https://x.com/DJCHINO
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBNz9E923pNg_s9VuHeKSPA
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djchino407
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@djchino407
