Chaz Millionaire, longtime Twin Cities radio DJ and KMOJ voice, dies at 61
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Chaz Millionaire, the longtime Twin Cities radio DJ and community voice whose real name was Charles Dillon, has died at 61.
For more than four decades, Millionaire shared music, conversation and local culture with Minneapolis, including through his work at KMOJ, “The People’s Station.”
His daughter, musician Marz Lovejoy, remembers her father as a passionate advocate for local artists and a person who made people feel seen and welcome.
“He always loved music,” Lovejoy said, recalling that her father began DJing at age 14. “He was so committed.”
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Lovejoy, says he eventually became a familiar voice on KMOJ, where his shows brought music, conversation and community together.
Millionaire used his radio shows to spotlight local musicians, filmmakers and other artists, documenting many of those conversations on cassette tapes. His generosity also extended beyond the airwaves, Lovejoy said, recalling how he would stop to talk with people who needed help and treat them with dignity.
He also worked with young people in media, photography and music – a part of his legacy his family hopes to continue through the Chaz Vision Media Legacy Fund.
In a statement shared on its website, KMOJ reflected on Millionaire’s lasting impact, writing, “For 40+ remarkable years, Chaz dedicated his voice, time, talent, and heart to 89.9 KMOJ—The People’s Station. He did more than play music; he created memories, preserved our culture, and kept the soulful sounds of jazz flowing through our homes, our community, and our hearts.”
