martin johnson house

Rachael and Curtis’ Dance Party (with a St. Louis flair) - Martin Johnson House Wedding

Rachael and Curtis get married at the Martin Johnson House in La Jolla, California.

Rachael and Curtis get married at the Martin Johnson House in La Jolla, California.

September 28, 2019 was a popular wedding date. I had multiple inquiries for the date, and for various reasons was not getting booked.

Then Rachael and Curtis came along …. And it was a perfect match.

Rachael attended college at Saint Louis University (and DJ Kanoya is from St. Louis), so it was fitting to ensure music (and jerseys) representing the Lou were at the wedding.

Rachael attended college at Saint Louis University (and DJ Kanoya is from St. Louis), so it was fitting to ensure music (and jerseys) representing the Lou were at the wedding.

Every so often a client comes along that has ties to my hometown of St. Louis. And Rachael spent her college years there at St. Louis University.

During our planning call for the wedding, Rachael mentioned she attended SLU and "we need to get in at least one Nelly song." I was as excited as her to make this happen. ⁠

But I wanted to make it more memorable. ⁠

In more normal prep for a wedding, I grabbed my laptop, loaded up speakers, packed the cables and also snagged a couple of St. Louis Cardinals jerseys and a SLU Billikens jersey.⁠

As the dance floor unfolded, what I did not know is that Rachael is from Wisconsin and a handful of her friends and family were visiting from there. ⁠

And when Wisconsin Badger fans are in attendance, House of Pain’s Jump Around gets played as a nod to that football tradition.⁠

As we honored one college tradition, it was natural to ⁠transition to another, and that's when Nelly’s Country Grammar started.⁠

It was the perfect way to kick off the dance floor. There’s something about the Martin Johnson House that always is the scene of a beautiful wedding and a fun-filled dance party.

Here’s a look at the rest of the “non-Nelly” songs from the evening.

First Dance
J. Views feat. Wild Cub - Into the Light

djkanoya_martin-johnson-house-RC_sign.jpg

Dinner
Solange - Cranes In The Sky
LP - Lost On You (Radio Edit)
HAIM - Want You Back
Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet
The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing (Select Mix Remix)
Taylor Swift - You Need To Calm Down (Clean Bandit Remix)
Toto - Africa
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
Christina Aguilera x Avicii ft Aloe Blacc - Genie In A Bottle x SOS (Simo Blend)
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime (Mayeda Remix)
TLC - No Scrubs (DJ Kerry Glass Remix)
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much (Hot Classics Remix)
Diana Ross - Upside Down (Mr. M!X Remix)
Eve - Who's That Girl (Stavros Martina Moombahton)
Dagny - More, More, More
PANG! feat. Sergio Sylvestre - Under the Bridge
Jubel ft. Neimy - Dancing In The Moonlight
Dan Shay - Tequila (R3hab Remix)
A-Ha - Take On Me (Kygo Remix)
Lauv - I Like Me Better (Select Mix Remix)
Khalid - Talk (Come And Talk To Me Blend)

Open Dancing
Kanye West ft. Ray Charles - Gold Digger (Richastic Remix)
Lizzo - Good As Hell
Taylor Swift ft Brendon Urie - ME! (Dance Pop Remix)
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (DJ Smerk 24k Magic Blend)
Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me On
House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
Nelly - Country Grammar
Frankie Yankovich - Beer Barrel Polka
Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
Sister Sledge - We Are Family
The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye - Ain"t No Mountain High Enough
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Select Mix Remix)
Lizzo - Juice
Kesha - Tik Tok
Miami Sound Machine - Conga (Select Mix Remix)
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Spice Girls - Wannabe
Outkast - Hey Ya
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Panic! At The Disco & WILDLYF - High Hopes (DJ Scene Bootleg)
Lizzo - Truth Hurts (Spryte Hype Edit)
Tom Petty - Free Fallin’
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
The Temptations - My Girl
The Rolling Stones - Beast Of Burden (Select Mix Remix)
ABBA - Dancing Queen (Select Mix Remix)
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - December 1963 (Oh What A Night)
Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music (Hot Classics Remix)
Bee Gees - Night Fever
The Jacksons - Blame It On The Boogie
Prince - 1999 (Select Mix Quick Trax)
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (Select Mix Remix)
Bon Jovi - Livin On A Prayer
The Outfield - Your Love (Chachi Remix)
Icona Pop f./Charli XCX - I Love It
Kaskade & Brohug & Mr. Tape & Madge vs The White Stripes - Seven Nation Fun
Salt-N-Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
NSYNC vs Salt-N-Pepa - Tearin Up My Heart x Push It (Scooter Blend)
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
Vengaboys - We Like To Party (The Vengabus)
Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)
DJ Kanoya - Hey Baby Clap Chant
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Jennifer Warnes - I've Had The Time of My Life
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, 2pac - Next Episode To California Love
2pac - California Love
Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop (Scooter Twerk Remix) (Acapella Out)
Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA
Britney Spears - Baby One More Quickie (Acapella In)
Wilson Phillips - Hold On

Last Dance
Kygo & Whitney Houston - Higher Love

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies:
Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Coordinator: Signature Events
Catering: Abbey Catering and Event Design
Venue: Martin Johnson House

The dinnertime backdrop for a Martin Johnson House wedding is one of the best in San Diego.

The dinnertime backdrop for a Martin Johnson House wedding is one of the best in San Diego.

Sam and Nicolette’s Dance Party - Martin Johnson House Wedding

A picture perfect wedding setting, overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Martin Johnson house.

A picture perfect wedding setting, overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Martin Johnson house.

Sam, the groom at this wedding, is someone I met waaaaaayyyy back in 2001 when I volunteered at the San Diego Asian Film Festival. We've stayed in touch all these years, primarily because we are both still invovled in from fashion with Pacific Arts Movement and the SDAFF. And 15 years later I find myself DJing his wedding.

I'm pretty sure this is the longest I've known a groom/client. It's always nice DJing a wedding for a friend, because it also means a lot of other friends are on the guest list. And most of the friends made up the dance floor that night.

Since Sam and Nicollette's wedding was during the holiday season, December 3, 2016, they decided to run with the Christmas theme. From the decor to the music, there was a hint of #kissmas in the air all evening.

Here's a look at the setlist:

Cocktail Hour and Dinner

  • Sara Bareilles - Sitting On The Dock of the Bay
  • Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Winter Wonderland
  • Harry Connick, Jr. - Sleigh Ride
  • Beyonce - Halo
  • Chuck Berry - Run, Rudolph Run
  • Ella Fitzgerald - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Sleigh Ride
  • Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Jingle Bells
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Sleigh Ride
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Blue Christmas
  • Ella Fitzgerald - Winter Wonderland
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
  • Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
  • Michael Buble - Home
  • Nat King Cole - Christmas Song
  • Diana Krall - Dream a Little Dream of Me
  • Rascall Flatts - Bless the Broken Road
  • Harry Connick, Jr. - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
  • Lionel Hampton - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
  • Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Winter Wonderland
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Feliz Navidad
  • Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
  • Louis Armstrong - Winter Wonderland
  • Chuck Berry - Run, Rudolph Run
  • Ella Fitzgerald - Sleigh Ride
  • Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World
  • Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews - Baby, It's Cold Outside
  • Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
  • Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till Get You Get Enough (Hot Classics Remix)
  • - All My Love
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Winter Wonderland
  • Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet (8b Intro Clean) (DJ Joey C Edit)
  • Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Intro)
  • Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (Select Mix Remix)
  • Terence Trent D'arby - Wishing Well (Select Mix Remix)
  • Prince  - Kiss
  • Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You (Select Mix Remix)
  • Charming Horses feat. Grace Grundy - Higher Love (Original Mix)
  • Ellie Goulding - On My Mind
  • Colbie Caillat - Fallin For You
  • Jason Derulo - Kiss The Sky
  • Mindi Abair - The Joint

First Dance
Led Zepplin - All Of My Love

Bride/Brother Dance
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight

Open Dancing

  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  • Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
  • Emotions - Best Of My Love
  • Rose Royce - Car Wash
  • The Whispers - Rock Steady
  • Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
  • Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
  • Mariah Carey - Honey
  • Jack Black - Let's Get It On
  • Led Zepplin - Black Dog
  • Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
  • Cher - Shoop Shoop Song
  • Prince - Diamonds and Pearls
  • Janet Jackson - Let's Wait Awhile  
  • Rihanna ft Drake - Work (Lost Kings Remix)  
  • Brooks & Dunn - Boot Scootin' Boogie
  • Earth, Wind & Fire - September
  • Chaka Khan - I Feel For You (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Michael Jackson - P.Y.T.
  • Commodores - Brickhouse
  • Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
  • Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
  • K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight
  • Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
  • B-52's - Love Shack
  • Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
  • Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
  • Lionel Ritchie - You Are
  • Sia f./Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills
  • The Weeknd ft Daft Punk - Starboy (Kygo Remix)  
  • Daya - Sit Still Look Pretty (R!OT Remix)  
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)  
  • Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Kiiara - Gold (J Farell Remix)  
  • Hailee Steinfeld & Grey f./Zedd - Starving (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Montel Jordan - This Is How We Do It
  • Nicki Minaj ft Drake - Truffle Butter (Jester Remix)  
  • Palm Trees - Casanova (Intro Clean)
  • Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
  • Blackstreet - No Diggity (Bondax Edit)  
  • The Chainsmokers ft Halsey - Closer (Not So Typical Remix)  
  • New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
  • Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines
  • Kungs vs Cookin On 3 Burners - This Girl  
  • Corona ft AObeats - Rhythm Of the Night (Hotel Garuda Remix)  
  • Chainsmokers ft ROZES - Roses (Adam Foster Remix)  
  • Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Kanye West - Good Life
  • Naughty By Nature - Feel Me Flow (Intro Clean)
  • LL Cool J ft Boyz II Men - Hey Lover (Intro Clean)
  • Babyface - For The Cool In You (Intro Clean)
  • Tupac - California Love (Select Mix Remix)

    Last Dance
  • Beyonce - Love On Top




Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: DJ Kanoya Productions
Caterer: Continental Catering
Venue: Martin Johnson House
Coodinator:Hannah Smith Events

Weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya at the Martin Johnson House

Monique and Emily’s Dance Party - Martin Johnson House Wedding

Emily and Monique wed on the picturesque cliff at the Martin Johnson House. 

These two were married after 25 years of partnership ... so wonderful!

Monique and Emily met more than two decades ago when attending the University of California - San Diego. It was only fitting that they returned to La Jolla (they currently reside in Georgia) to marry one another at the Martin Johnson House on October 13, 2016.

This perfect evening (weather, food, ambience) was shared with many family and friends, including Monique and Emily’s two amazing kids who definitely got many of the guests dancing. Their ceremony and reception all took place at the Martin Johnson House, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Scripps Pier. It was a magical night.

Here’s their setlist:

Dinner

  • Beyonce - XO
  • Craig David - Officially Yours
  • Echosmith - Bright
  • Mindi Abair - The Joint
  • Frank Sinatra - I Get A Kick Out Of You
  • Little Big Town - Girl Crush
  • Levi Hart - My Kind Of Night
  • Crystal Bowersox - Midnight Train to Georgia
  • Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea
  • Magic! - No Way No
  • Jessie J - Flashlight (From Pitch Perfect 2)
  • Pentatonix - Can't Sleep Love
  • Charlie Puth - One Call Away
  • Daya - Hide Away
  • The Delfonics - La-La Means I Love You (Remastered)
  • Martin Page - In The House of Stone and Light
  • Michael Jackson - Human Nature
  • Al Green - I'm Still In Love With You
  • Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour
  • Allen Stone - Bed I Made
  • Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
  • Ray Charles - Ain't That Love
  • Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight
  • Jack Johnson - Never Know

First Dance
Brad Paisley - Then

Open Dancing - First Set

  • Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
  • Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
  • Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
  • Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Earth Wind & Fire - September Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
  • DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (Riddler Remix)
  • Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
  • Flo Rida - Low
  • Michael Jackson - P.Y.T.
  • James Taylor - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
  • Sade - By Your Side
  • Kenny Chesney - You Had Me From Hello
  • Rachel Platten - Stand By You
  • Major Lazer f./Justin Bieber & MO - Cold Water
  • Babyface - For The Cool In You

Anniversary Dance
Alan Jackson - Remember When

Open Dancing - Second Set

  • Silento - Watch Me
  • Pink - Get This Party Started
  • Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)
  • B-52's - Love Shack
  • Outkast - Hey Ya
  • Kungs & Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
  • Battle Beats - Scratch Sample Two
  • OMI - Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Radio Edit)
  • Sia f./Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills
  • The Chainsmokers, Halsey - Closer (Select Mix Remix)
  • Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (DJDX The Fix Blend)
  • Mary Chapin  Carpenter - Down At The Twist & Shout
  • Meghan Trainor f./John Legend - Like I'm Gonna Lose You
  • Natalie Cole - This Will Be an Everlasting Love

Last Dance
Isley Brothers - This Old Heart of Mine

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue: Martin Johnson House
Cake: Sweet Cheeks Baking Company
Caterer: Waters Fine Catering
Officiant: Ceremonies By Bethel
Photographer: La Vida Creations
Florals: Green Fresh Florals

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya at the Martin Johnson House