Bob

Djing since I was 14 at my mums youth club in Ilford, Essex. I used to use the mic to tell the kid's their parents were here to collect them. They always hated everything I played as I used to spend all my pocket money going to a little shop in East Ham (East London)called "Moon Dogs" where they used to sell import Soul/Funk and Rock-a-Billy. I started clubbing when I was 16, Room at the Top Sunday nights, Ilford Town Hall on Monday's and the Lacy Lady every Friday, where I first saw Chris Hill playing. After seeing Chris play it changed my life, not only did I love the music but I knew from that moment on that I wanted to be a DJ. I got a lucky break warming-up for a great guy, Chris D Smith at a club called "The RIO" in Didcot which played host to all the main players at that time, Chris Hill, Robbie Vincent, Sean French, Chris Brown, Greg Edwards and Froggy. While trying to get my own gig's off the ground I had to do the Mobile Disco bit, weddings, birthdays, parties, even a funeral, but it gave me the money to keep buying the music I loved. I was very luck in the early eighties to meet a guy by the name of Chris Bangs. We were both playing in Bournemouth, we each had a small crowd so we decided to join forces, after that we never looked back. We went from 100 people to a twice a year event for over 1300 using an array of great dj's like Giles Peterson, Trevor Nelson, Bob Jones and Nicky Holloway to name but a few. We both went on to play at many great gig's after that including the Special Branch Ibiza trips, Corfu, DOO at the Zoo, Richard's Parties, Southport Weekenders and the Caister Soul Weekend. These gig's were instrumental in me being offered a position as Club Promotions Manager, first at Sleeping Bag Records and then A&M where I ended up as Head of the Radio Department and then on the be Head of Department for Sony/ Polydor and then Island Records. I'm still djing and still love every second of it. I alway's said that when I stop getting that buzz when I hear a tune that grabs me by the ball's, then I'll give up.......................it hasn't happened yet !