After 25 years in the business you would expect legendary Funk Mafia DJ Froggy to be slowing things down a touch, but at the grand old age of fifty-something he has got three weekly radio shows, a Friday-night residency at one of Londons top clubs, and we're also currently negotiating with major record company's for release of some of his classic mixes. Yes, it seems there is life in the old Frogg yet, and when you consider his infamous sound system is also about to take to the road once more, then it is apparent that this particular 25th anniversary should certainly have a silver lining. It was in the late 70's at the Regency Suite in Chadwell Heath near his Goodmayes, Essex home that Froggy would start to wow loyal crowds and fellow jocks like Pete Tong with a new-found technique of mixing.
Yes, strange as it may sound these days, but back in those days, people neither had the equipment, nor ability to mix. It was only when Froggy and co. returned from a seminar in New York with the knowledge and the inspiration that mixing the different beats of two records over the top of each other really became possible in the UK. In the same three day trip Froggy visited the legendary Studio 54 and Paradise Garage clubs, plus a seminar which taught him how to mix on specially customised mixing units. It was an experience what would change his life forever.
He remembers, "It was simply amazing. On the one hand you had the mixing, which I had never seen before, and on the other there was this brand new club experience. The fact that the clubs didn' t get going until midnight combined with the sound systems being so awesome really blew my mind it was like a different culture". To come back with that experience plus tuition in how to mix really was something. So the legend was about to be born and he adds: "Back in England the mixing units did not have the capability of mixing two records together. There were no cross faders as such, but by the time I returned I had been taught how to customise my equipment. It sounds amazing,
but in those days there wasn' t even the facility to hear two records in your headphone at the same time".Froggy went on to become the first jock in the country to take two sets of Technics 1200 decks on the road, using a mixer he had designed himself with a UK-based company called Matamp Super Nova. At that stage he had already toured the country with Dave Lee Travis, DJ-ing at his Radio One Roadshows and had gone on to present a regular 25 minute soul/disco session on the DLT show.
Meeting New York innovators like Larry Levan took Froggy to a new level. Indeed it was the sound systems at Studio 54 and Paradise Garage, Larry was resident at both, that would prove the forerunner for the now legendary Froggy Sound System. Once the Frogg had experienced a sound so crisp, yet so powerful, he was determined to try and recreate that king of production in the UK.In 1980 and within months of his return from the Big Apple, the system was wowing more than 15,000 people at a soul all-dayer at Knebworth. Oasis were still at junior school but Froggy was already leaping about in true Gallagher style. He says: When I went to those clubs I just couldn't get over the sound and sheer extravagance. In Studio 54 in particular, the sound would get fatter and fatter as the night went on. That's how I tried to make mine operate, but no-one went home deaf though. It had a great woof to it, but nobody was ever bitten by its bark. The system would go on to be a regular attraction at the Caister Soul Weekenders, and has more recently been under the deft guidance of Froggy's co-pilot Paul P. It even entertained 2,000 hardcore fans when DJ Seduction played on it at a University gig in Colchester, Essex, two years ago. Due for another outing very soon and still available for hire, the system amazingly still boasts the same Technics 1200 decks from the Knebworth days and also the same Matamp Super Nova mixer that he helped design soon after his New York sabbatical.In to the mid 80s and Froggy's radio edits through his work at the BBC with producer Dave Atky, would become equally as influential as he started attracting the attention of many a major artist. He went on to produce the radio edits of tracks like The Real Thing's- You to Me Are Everything, Changes- Change of Heart, Duran Duran's- A View To A Kill, Cameo's - Back and Forth, Dougie Fresh's - The Show and Booker Newbury III's - Love Town. By 1990, Froggy, who had enjoyed previous stints at Radio One with Peter Powell had his own show on London's Capital Radio.Nine years on and he has three weekend shows on his own backyard on east London's very own Active FM. Alongside his club residencies each Friday, Froggy is clearly still in business. As for Caister, Froggy will be there for another two stints this year at this legendary event. He enthuses: It's going to be brilliant, I'll have all my family (including my grown-up children) there and I hope all the old regulars too. It's been a great 25 years and I'm now really enjoying looking back on all the old tunes on my Active FM shows it's just great to be working on radio locally. I know people must look at me and think when's that old bastard going to chuck it all in, but I've got my gold watch and I wouldn't mind another one.some of my productions i have done.http://www.discogs.com/artist/FroggyTHE FROGG'S LIFE STORY IS BEING COMPILED BY MAT TROLLOPE FROM IZIT DANCE INTERNATIONAL.AND IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED BY ALLEN MORIARTY
AKA.MOLE THE DIPPER. MANY THANKS TO THE FROGG FOR LETTING ME COMPILE HIS PAST FROM NAPPIES TO LONG TROUSERS...
LOLITS ONLY JUST BEGUN.THERES MORE!
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