On November 11, 1966 in Shreveport, Louisiana, a life that would leave a lasting impact on those graced with her presence was brought into this world. To her proud parents, Ray and Hellen Warren, she was Pam Warren, their beautiful baby girl. However, as she blossomed into a woman and carved her niche in the world, not only would she be known as a loving and devoted daughter, she would also become known as a sister, a friend, and and inspiration.
After leaving Shreveport at the age of three, Pam relocated to Foster City, California where she attended St. Matthews Elementary School and St. Catherine's Junior High. Well before graduating from Burlingame High School, Pam was aware of what her future held, and she quickly pursued two of her greatest passions: Music and Culinary. While simultaneously working alongside her mother and Godmother at what would subsequently become her own, Piccadilly Deli & Catering, in pursuit of her dream, Pam attended and earned a degree in Broadcast Communications from Columbus Broadcasting School in San Francisco. It would be chance encounter with a gentleman with the moniker of "Boots Riley" in 1993, which would become the pivotal point in her music career. Pam Warren was now "Dj Pam the Funkstress: Turntable Queen," and was now a member of the Oakland-Based politically conscious hip-hop group, The Coup.
This opportunity would become segue to what would ultimately contribute to Pam's fame and notoriety. While continuing operations at her catering business, Pam successfully branded herself and became the Dj in demand, ultimately securing a position as resident Dj at San Francisco's top Urban Adult Contemporary radio station, KBLX. In 2016, while on his "Piano & Microphone Tour, " Pam caught the attention of the late legendary music icon, Prince, who personally selected Pam to go on the road with him on what would become his last tour, where she would adopt the epithet "Purple Pam" which she proudly and humbly accepted.
After Prince's untimely demise, Pam used this platform to catapult herself to the head of her game, and found herself spinning for some of the most notable names in music and comedy, while still finding time to donate her talents and other contributions to several organizations, including The National Cancer Society. After a sudden and brief illness, Pam succumbed to organ failure, at the age 51, on December 22, 2017, causing a wave of emotion and disbelief among her family, friends, colleagues/music industry and fans.
To those who knew Pam away from the turntables and once the music stopped playing, it was not only he way she could seamlessly transition songs, or how effortlessly she could "scratch" any beat given to her that made her loved. It was her warm smile and the child-like twinkle in her eyes; It was her infections laugh and welcoming hug; It was her words of encouragement and her gift of understanding. To her family and friends, it was simply, Pam.
Pam leaves to mourn: Her mother, Helen Warren; one sister, Rayna Warren; one brother, Jeremey Warren; two aunts, LaDonna Mills & Paula Sutgrey; two uncles, Archie Smith (Linda) and Henry Bryant, and a host nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.
Pam is preceded in death by her grandparents, Clayton and Delois Smith and Either Warren, and her father, Ray Warren.
After leaving Shreveport at the age of three, Pam relocated to Foster City, California where she attended St. Matthews Elementary School and St. Catherine's Junior High. Well before graduating from Burlingame High School, Pam was aware of what her future held, and she quickly pursued two of her greatest passions: Music and Culinary. While simultaneously working alongside her mother and Godmother at what would subsequently become her own, Piccadilly Deli & Catering, in pursuit of her dream, Pam attended and earned a degree in Broadcast Communications from Columbus Broadcasting School in San Francisco. It would be chance encounter with a gentleman with the moniker of "Boots Riley" in 1993, which would become the pivotal point in her music career. Pam Warren was now "Dj Pam the Funkstress: Turntable Queen," and was now a member of the Oakland-Based politically conscious hip-hop group, The Coup.
This opportunity would become segue to what would ultimately contribute to Pam's fame and notoriety. While continuing operations at her catering business, Pam successfully branded herself and became the Dj in demand, ultimately securing a position as resident Dj at San Francisco's top Urban Adult Contemporary radio station, KBLX. In 2016, while on his "Piano & Microphone Tour, " Pam caught the attention of the late legendary music icon, Prince, who personally selected Pam to go on the road with him on what would become his last tour, where she would adopt the epithet "Purple Pam" which she proudly and humbly accepted.
After Prince's untimely demise, Pam used this platform to catapult herself to the head of her game, and found herself spinning for some of the most notable names in music and comedy, while still finding time to donate her talents and other contributions to several organizations, including The National Cancer Society. After a sudden and brief illness, Pam succumbed to organ failure, at the age 51, on December 22, 2017, causing a wave of emotion and disbelief among her family, friends, colleagues/music industry and fans.
To those who knew Pam away from the turntables and once the music stopped playing, it was not only he way she could seamlessly transition songs, or how effortlessly she could "scratch" any beat given to her that made her loved. It was her warm smile and the child-like twinkle in her eyes; It was her infections laugh and welcoming hug; It was her words of encouragement and her gift of understanding. To her family and friends, it was simply, Pam.
Pam leaves to mourn: Her mother, Helen Warren; one sister, Rayna Warren; one brother, Jeremey Warren; two aunts, LaDonna Mills & Paula Sutgrey; two uncles, Archie Smith (Linda) and Henry Bryant, and a host nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.
Pam is preceded in death by her grandparents, Clayton and Delois Smith and Either Warren, and her father, Ray Warren.