A.J. DeVito rolls back the clock every night he goes to work, and his fans love him for it. The mobile disc jockey’s popularity is exploding, with gigs every weekend at local establishments and a new radio show that will debut on Sunday, May 22, at 9 a.m. on 1490 WGCH-AM.

“I was on 'The Marianne Show' a few weeks ago and was asked if I’d like my own show,’’ A.J. the DJ said. “I was overwhelmed by the response. People starting offering congratulations and offering sponsorships.”

DeVito, 57, stormed onto the Stamford nightlife scene in the 1970s when he owned Three D’s, a popular entertainment spot on West Broad Street, with his brothers Billy and Mickey. He also ran another nightspot, AJ’s Downstairs, a popular nightclub on Stamford’s West Side, for four years in the 1980s. He returned to Three D’s and co-owned it with his sister, Susan, and also branched out to the mobile DJ business.

Over the past two years, DeVito has developed relationships with several establishments. Many of his former Three D’s customers have been quick to follow him. Fans can check DeVito’s schedule through his page. This weekend, he will be at Bobby Valentine’s Sports Gallery on Thursday and Minetto’s Restaurant on Friday.

“I did very well until the economy tanked,’’ DeVito said. “I had three years where the business was slow. The economy doesn’t discriminate. This year, the sky is the limit. Things keep happening one step at a time.”

DeVito, who has been dubbed “Stamford’s Oldest Teenager,” plays music mostly from the 1970s and 1980s. Several factors, however, distinguish DeVito from other DJs.

“He has a knack for being able to read the crowd,’’ says his business partner, Jo-Ann Mori. “He’s very talented that way. He can see what they want.” He’s also not afraid to join the crowd on the dance floor. “The people like that,’’ Mori said. “He’s right in there with them to make sure everyone has a good time. Not too many people do that.”

DeVito says his experience at Three D’s helped him develop his entertainment skills. “At first we just had a jukebox, so I started making my own cassettes,’’ he said. “Some people were complaining about the jukebox, and we couldn’t let them ruin the atmosphere of the place. We had to control the tempo. That’s when I realized I could read the crowd and offer them something that they liked.”

The fun times at Three D’s resonate with many of DeVito’s followers. “Anytime I went out for the last 25 years, people would tell me, ‘I remember Three D’s,'’’ DeVito said. “All the people that used to go there have been able to follow me through Facebook, and we’ve been able to reconnect.”

DeVito graduated from Rippowam High School in 1972 and lacked a true career plan. “My plan,’’ he said, “was to get out of high school.” As the years have passed, however, he has found his calling.

“People have told me if you love what you do, you’ll never have to work another day in your life,’’ DeVito said. “It’s true. I wouldn’t trade this lifestyle for anything. I like being up at night and going to the beach during the day.”

People interested in booking DeVito can reach him at 9.

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