ABOUT US
BIOGRAPHY AND STATION PROFILE
BIOGRAPHY
From 2002 to 2022, Vern Shird operated DJGREYHOUND DJ SERVICES with a company mission of setting the highest standard of excellence in wedding entertainment in the greater Baltimore/DC metro region. This standard was recognized as Vern was a 14-time recipient of WeddingWire's Couple's Choice Award from 2009 to 2022. The DJGreyhound brand reflects Vern's passion for music and for greyhound rescue efforts. This passion for music can be traced back to his childhood as he collected music, listened to American Top 40's weekly countdown, and followed changes in the music industry. As a teenager, Vern began his wedding DJ career and gained valuable experience which allowed him to perfect his craft. Vern went on to earn his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and financed his college education by performing at numerous weddings and events each year.
After retiring his wedding DJ business at the end of 2022, Vern decided to fulfill a childhood dream of operating a radio station. Vern worked diligently to build his station platform and joined the Live365 family of stations in the spring of 2023.
Vern's work ethic and solid reputation is not just limited to the music industry. He is also well-known for his charitable work with greyhound/canine organizations. In addition to running DJGreyhound Radio, Vern also works full-time as a procurement manager and resides in Maryland with his wife, greyhound, and three headstrong felines.
STATION PROFILE
DJGREYHOUND RADIO plays Billboard Top 40 pop hits of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Although we have a top 40 format, we pride ourselves on creating a diverse playlist by also including hits that are rarely played anymore on terrestrial radio stations. We play music 24/7 and also have special programming segments designed to create a fun nostalgic atmosphere for our Radio Friends ("listeners").
Our special segments include:
"THE MOTOWN MONDAY LUNCH HOUR": Every Monday during the lunch hour, we feature an hour long block of top 40 hits from Motown and its subsidiary labels. [Mondays 12noon-1pm Eastern]
"THE DJGREYHOUND RADIO GROOVE": Every Saturday evening during the summer, we feature a 2-hour block of top 40 hits in the genres of classic soul, disco, funk, and high energy dance. These tracks, covering the late 60's through the late 90's, will certainly bring back dance party memories from back in the day! [Saturdays (Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend) 8pm-10pm Eastern]
"THE TOTALLY 80s POWER LUNCH HOUR": Every Friday during the lunch hour, we feature an hour long block of top 40 hits from the 1980s. [Fridays 12noon-1pm Eastern]
"THE RETRO OLDIES BRUNCH": This segment is the cornerstone of DJGreyhound Radio. Up to two Saturdays a month, Vern hosts a morning show that incorporates music info nuggets and music trivia. We include top 40 hits from the featured year, music/artist anecdotes, and news/entertainment briefs. During each showcase, we include the music trivia game "Three Of A Kind" in which we play three top 40 songs in a row that have a common connection. We also play a forgotten top 40 hit from the "DJGreyhound Radio Vault" and we feature a "Long Distance Dedication" from one of our listeners.
Each month, we showcase "The Year That Was" from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s. On occasion, a month may have a second showcase added that is a "Special Music Feature". Each showcase will be announced on our Facebook and Linkedin pages monthly in advance. Each show airs on a select Saturday at 10am and is rebroadcast Sunday at 10am. [Saturdays/Sundays 10am Eastern - up to two weekends each month]
Start times may vary by a few minutes as the songs that precede the segments are played to completion. Retro Oldies Brunch show lengths vary from week to week, but each show generally runs 60 to 90 minutes.
DJGREYHOUND ORIGIN
Throughout his life, Vern has had a passion for music and animal rescue efforts. He rescued a greyhound from the track many years ago and decided to combine his passions for greyhounds and music and founded DJGreyhound DJ Services in 2002. This passion continues on with DJGreyhound Radio through our station's mascot, Bella the greyhound, a retired racer who was adopted in late 2022.
In addition to being a firm supporter of greyhound rescue, we also donate our time and services for the annual GPA-MD fundraiser and we make an annual donation to local greyhound rescue organizations. If you would like more information on greyhound rescue, please visit any one of the following websites below: