Chicago's Jay Davis is a DJ for Bears games at Soldier Field. View Full Caption Jay Davis

CHICAGO — Jay Davis' first DJ gig was as an 18-year-old when he snuck into University of Illinois-Chicago's dorms and played for 30 to 40 students crammed into a room.

The now 34-year-old's latest job is as the Chicago Bears' official sideline DJ, where he mixes music from the north end zone of Soldier Field during pregame warmups.

"It's still very surreal," said Davis, known as DJ Jay iLLa. "It's hard to put into words. There's not a brand bigger in Chicago than the Chicago Bears."

Shortly after graduating from Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, Davis, who grew up in Chatham and Hyde Park, started working as a professional DJ. He initially got paid when friends he knew who also served as student security guards that manned the dorm doors at UIC would let him in with his turntables and one big speaker.

DJ Jay Davis - Jay iLLa - performs at Soldier Field. View Full Caption Facebook/Jay Davis

He said security guards would shine their flashlights under the dorm room doors as the party rocked, but they never shut him down. The guards just thought it was a student listening to really loud music.

Since then, the Beverly resident has built his career playing all over the world — he's been flown to France and the Dominican Republic — for weddings and other gigs. He's also performed in front of celebrities like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Jay Z and Kanye West, and DJ'ed at Chicago Gourmet and other high-profile city events, according to Davis and his manager, 2wo Langley. He works full-time during the day in the Chicago Public Schools' office of safety and security, then spends three to four nights a week DJ'ing.

"I sleep when I can," he said.

Two years ago, Davis was performing inside The Promontory in Hyde Park when a Bears employee heard him and said he'd be a perfect fit for the franchise. The Bears, who declined to comment for this story, have never had a pregame DJ prior to this season. Davis said he has a 10-game contract — two preseason and eight regular-season games — and said if the team needs him for other events, "we'll take it case by case."

Davis mixed about 40 songs in 45 minutes in his first game, Aug. 11 when the Bears hosted the Broncos. His next performance at Soldier Field is Saturday against Kansas City. Davis said he'll be playing a variety of music, from Chance The Rapper to AC/DC and The Doors.

"My sole purpose is to support the team, whatever they need," Davis said. "It's not about me. It's about them."

He said playing a giant outdoor stadium for an NFL franchise is tricky because of the sound feedback and the audience. He said he'll be careful about what songs he plays, referencing a Cubs DJ who was fired for playing an "irresponsible" song, "Smack My B---- Up," which revived discussion on pitcher Aroldis Chapman's history of domestic violence.

"The [DJ] didn't give it enough thought because you're in a billion dollar league, and it wasn't a smart business move," Davis said. "[Playing for the Bears] is just totally different and the stakes are higher. You really can't afford to mess up."

Davis' influencers include DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mick and D-Nice, but his favorite is the late Timothy Jones, the Chicago DJ known as Timbuck2. Jones, a one-time roommate of Davis', died last year near Christmas from kidney cancer.

If Jones was alive now and he saw Davis mixing at Soldier Field, Davis said "he would tell me he's proud of me."

"He was an inspiration to me," Davis said.

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