Member Since: 3/5/2007
Band Website: mentaltrackworx.com
Band Members:
Influences:WELCOME MESSAGE
Hi all. I was working on my "INFLUENCES" when I decided I'd rather say something else and post it here.
I've had so many great experiences DJing over the years... since that first gig in 1979 doing a youth centre dance in Jane & Finch, playing cassettes of disco that friends and I recorded off the radio. But what I'm proud of the most is the fact that I can now look back at all the incredibly talented people I have met over the years, through my various radio shows and residencies, knowing that I got to know many of these people just as they were about to embark on greatness in their own musical worlds.
I've always enjoyed listening to good DJs as much as I've loved DJing myself. I still do to this day. There have been so many phenomenal DJs that I have been honoured to have play on my shows and who I've invited to play alongside me at all the clubs I worked at over the years - many who have since gone on to achieve national or worldwide acclaim. As well, I've had the opportunity to meet countless musicians, singers and producers who have also risen to stardom throughout the globe.
Toronto greats that have one way or another come into my life via my old radio shows or residencies include: Dave Campbell, Nick Holder, Dennis Robertson, Marty Rotman, Paul Grace, Albert Assoon, Gene King, Hali, Martino, Matt "M1" DiMaria, Barry Harris, Jason "Deko" Steele, Mastermind, DJ X, Paul E Lopes, Nathan Barato, Peter & Tyrone of 83 West Records, John Acquaviva of Plus 8, Mark Falco, Trini & Rizla, JC, Tricky from FLOW, Paul "PJ" Jacobs, Nick Fiorucci from Hi-Bias, Greg Gow, Andy Roberts, Peter Bosco, Jeremy Beckman, Kenny Glasgow & Mike Sitchon of JMK, Scott Cairns, Greg & Paul from Stickman Records, Austin Bascom, Adam Nathan from Release, as well as Don "Dr. Trance" Berns, David Marsden and Hedley Jones (all three of which are radio legends who I grew up listening to, and now proudly call my friends)… and so many more that I'm sure I'll keep editing this section as I remember them all!
As well, I have been fortunate enough to have had many US and UK DJs guest on my shows over the years, including Roger Sanchez (who DJ'd live in the CHRY studios using their reel-to-reel players to premier "The Pressure" by Sounds Of Blackness, among many other unreleased-at-the-time gems), Farley Jackmaster Funk, Curtis Atchison from Midnight Society, Geoff Gains and Adam Freemer from Twisted Records, Jason Edwards from San Francisco, Neil Fearnley and Simon Concannon from London England… and so many many more. I've DJ'd events with Boris Dlugosch, Louie Vega & Kenny Dope, Tony Humphries (who I owe a great debt to), Angel Moraes, David Morales, Bobby Konders, Satoshi Tommiie and countless others. These were some of the most memorable experiences one could have as a DJ.
And I've had the opportunity to meet, interview and in some cases hang out with people like Ce Ce Rogers (one of the nicest people you'll ever meet), Barbara Tucker, Byron Stingily, Ultra Nate, India, Dajae, Marshall Jefferson, Strafe, Adonis, Tyree Cooper (who I took up the CN Tower), Fast Eddie, Larry Heard, Michael Watford, Frankie Knuckles, Candy J (Sweet Pussy Pauline), The Jungle Brothers (who informed me, back in '87, that they were working on a record with Todd Terry that would later become "I'll House You"), Daddy-O from Stetsasonic (a very intense and deep man), Kurtis Blow, Ice T, Will Smith (at the time still known as Fresh Prince) & Jazzy Jeff, Melle Mel from the Furious Five, Maestro, Michie Mee, The Dream Warriors, Main Source, Joe Smooth, Danny Tenaglia, Barry White, Colonel Abrams and Robert Owens (who sang live in the studios of CHRY over the instrumental of my vinyl copy of "Can U Feel It" - maybe I should find the cassette of that show and post it here!), to name just a bunch.
I guess my point is not so much to do all this name dropping, but to say that when I look back at everything I've been a part of - the DJ gigs, the radio shows, magazines, the so-so records I've had fun releasing - the thing that makes me proudest is that I got to meet such immensely talented people – people who've brought music into my life - and the fact that I was somehow a small part of so many of the Toronto people's early start. It gives me great joy to have been able to watch so many of them grow and evolve into stars!
Nick Holder on the cover of NOW or written about in Mixmag... Dave Campbell on Muchmusic and then finally producing some amazing tracks of his own while seeing him become one of the most loved DJs in the city... Curtis Atchison having his music charted on Billboard... Barry Harris, one of the few DJs I would go hear when I was starting out myself, giving me his first release (Kon Kan's "I Beg Your Pardon") and then years later being offered a chance to remix it when it was re-released, AND then years later watching Barry become a massive producer and DJ worldwide... Kenny Moran and his sister (as Oval Emotion) being nominated for Junos and performing all over the globe (including at The Black & Blue and Ministry Of Sound)... the Stickmen traveling all over Europe getting gigs… Greg Gow becoming a force in the techno world (even though he didn't play much techno on CHRY)... Nathan Barato reinventing himself and getting gigs most other DJs would kill for!... Kaje evolving into one of the best all-round producers you could find... man, I could go on forever!
I think we all tend to take each other for granted in some way because we all know each other and are used to dealing with the type of people we all are. But it really is a great thing to be surrounded by so many passionate people. Thank you EVERYONE for coming into my life, inspiring me, and making this whole thing worthwhile!
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