Most Influential Dj?

[Guest jish]

Which DJ has had the biggest impact on you and helped shape your interest in the music the most?

Myself, I'm gonna go for Adam (Buchanan) at the Leicester Oddfellows allnighters in the early 80s. Adam was on his own for a long time at the venue as a Modern DJ and I think he took a lot of stick for it! There was some pretty famous 6os record collections goin' on behind the decks in Leicester at the time... but Adam dared to do something different... he certainly showed me (and many others) the light and the diversity of this music of ours.

Edited June 29, 2005 by jish

[Garethx]

I think quite a few people will agree with you.

[Pete S]

Sounds like he has a lot to answer for :angry:

[Guest]

Which DJ has had the biggest impact on you and helped shape your interest in the music the most?

Has to be Richard Searling for me. Since starting at Morecambe Pier, then following him on the countless radio stations and his numerous compilation albums the man has put me on to so much good music... Thanks!

[Guest Soultown andy]

Richard Searling for me, met him in 76 was a great help to me first time round and again when i got back on the scene a few years ago,and as a dj head and shoulders above the rest,imho.

[Guest in town Mikey]

Sounds like he has a lot to answer for  :angry:

link

I think where Adam, and Robin Salter were playing modern tunes, in a 60s environment, it meant they were focussed on quality. And it also helped that there werent that many other's so they didnt have to avoid playing 'another DJs record' so much. Despite not particulalry being a modern fan, I thought that most of the tunes these guys were playing were great, and I enjoyed their spots.

Many of the tracks played at crossover nights now, were the kind of tunes getting turned up by Adam and Robin in the early 80s.

And J Blackfoot, popular at the Oddfellows is probably still my fave modern track (despite it being 20 years old).

Edited June 29, 2005 by in town Mikey

[John May]

Soul Sam........ Always one step ahead of the rest.......

[Guest]

I'd have to agree Searling has to be the man.

Derek

[Little-stevie]

I would turn up at most places if i saw Roger banks was playing in the mid 80s onwards..He really got me into 60s newies...Was always good to see him on the dancefloor too,with the Roger Banks style...I still have some of the tapes that Roger used to sell, i will try and dig one out and post the playlist..was and still is really good to see Jumpin Joan on the decks and dance floor,now that girl knows how to have a good time...She makes me smile everytime

Edited September 4, 2005 by little-stevie

[Garethx]

Of course, Searling's got to be way up there. His playlists from late Wigan gave the scene something to aim for in the 80s, and showed there could be life after the period of mass popularity had ended.

Into the 80s I think Dave Thorley and (briefly) Dave Withers were hugely influential in different ways. Ady C must take a great many plaudits for unearthing things like Torture, The Magic Touch etc. Into the late 80s Gilly and Rob Marriot carried the torch for new northern soul discoveries. In the last decade, Butch has been practically out on his own in terms of playing a consistent raft of high class new 60s discoveries.

I haven't named anyone from the scene's 1970s golden age, a) because I wasn't around then and I think it was easier to be a northern deejay then. There were no rules as to what constituted a good northern record, and finding fresh sounds to play was like shooting fish in a barrell.

I must also namecheck Soul Sam and Arthur Fenn for their enthusiasm in consistently seeking new sounds in a more modern vein.

[Garethx]

As an addition to the above I must add that the Kent lps have probably been more influential than anything else in spreading knowlege of rare soul both to an international audience and to people under 40.

If records like the Maxine Brown and Melba Moore mentioned above had remained covered-up, unreleased acetates since 1984 I very much doubt there would be a scene left to play them on. Perhaps current newies deejays could take note.

[John May]

As an addition to the above I must add that the Kent lps have probably been more influential than anything else in spreading knowlege of rare soul both to an international audience and to people under 40.

If records like the Maxine Brown and Melba Moore mentioned above had remained covered-up, unreleased acetates since 1984 I very much doubt there would be a scene left to play them on. Perhaps current newies deejays could take note.

link

I've never really understood the mentatilty of Covering a record up.......

[Dayo]

I have to say Levine and Curtis in the 70's. Yes, it was easier then, but you asked the question!

[Headsy]

I would turn up at most places if i saw Roger banks was playing in the mid 80s onwards..He really got me into 60s newies...Was always good to see him on the dancefloor too,with the Roger Banks style...I still have some of the tapes that Roger used to sell, i will try and dig one out and post the playlist..was and still is really good to see Jumpin Joan on the dance floor,now that girl knows how to have a good time...She makes me smile everytime

link

and she plays some damn fine Northern records as well !!!

[Pete S]

There were no rules as to what constituted a good northern record, and finding fresh sounds to play was like shooting fish in a barrell.

link

No, there were no soul police around to investigate whether the artist was black or white or whether the record was recorded in Detroit or London. A good record is a good record. I'd take our 70's scene over your 80's and 90's any day of the week. Plus you can't spell barrel.

[Pete S]

Anyway if you are asking the question which one dj has had the most influence on ME, the honest answer is the bloke who used to dj at our youth club, Tim Nightingale, (1973-75) he played motown, reggae, pop and chart music but he introduced practically everyone of my age at our school to northern soul.

[Little-stevie]

and she plays some damn fine Northern records as well !!! 

link

Yes Joan is an all rounder...People like Joan really do make the scene for me.. ..

Have to watch it now,its not the soul police but Pete Smith and the spelling police ..that are on our backs...Its been a while since some left school ..

[Guest]

Anyway if you are asking the question which one dj has had the most influence on ME, the honest answer is the bloke who used to dj at our youth club, Tim Nightingale, (1973-75) he played motown, reggae, pop and chart music but he introduced practically everyone of my age at our school to northern soul.

link

Got to say mine was Tony Dellar, if it hadn't been for him at the Howard Mallett a lot of East Anglian soulies wouldn't be around today as we would never have got introduced the music we love.

[Guest James Trouble]

Janine.

[Pete S]

Janine.

link

Yeah I like him as well

[Guest]

Yes Joan is an all rounder...People like Joan really do make the scene for me..    ..

Have to watch it now,its not the soul police but Pete Smith and the spelling police ..that are on our backs...Its been a while since some left school   ..

link

Left school? The way many people on here spell it seems more likely they never went to no school in the first place. Soul Police? Was there ever any? If there is one it's not doing it's job very well I must say. It would be great if there was a soul police!

[Soulfool]

I'd have to agree Searling has to be the man.

Derek

link

I totally agree as I did very much the same, I still have around 25-35 sales tapes of his from the mid-late 90's all have some great tunes, some went on to be biggies whilst many remain underrated, top DJ and nice bloke too.

[Soulfool]

Left school? The way many people on here spell it seems more likely they never went to no school in the first place. Soul Police? Was there ever any? If there is one it's not doing it's job very well I must say. It would be great if there was a soul police!

link

[/quote

oops, replied to the wrong one, I meant Roger Banks - ofcourse!!

[Ged Parker]

Yes Joan is an all rounder...People like Joan really do make the scene for me..    ..

Have to watch it now,its not the soul police but Pete Smith and the spelling police ..that are on our backs...Its been a while since some left school   ..

link

I guess for most of us the DJs that got us into the scene must be the most influential if it wasn't for them then how would we have encountered any other DJs. That's a flipant answer I suppose on a more serious note for length of time at the top, shining the light for real soul in the 76-79 period at Wigan his finds with John Anderson in the 78-82 period Searling has to be included as many have said already. Pat Brady in the late 70's was finding some real crackers and always pushing the boundaries. Keb and Guy had a competative duel that has yet to be matched IMHO. In terms of his impact on the scene Levine takes some beating though I should say since the mid 70's I have reasons for having a deep dislike for him as a person. If I could emulate the reputation of any current DJ for quality it would have to be Butch.

For me then many influences at different times the impact of some on the scene as a whole has been bigger than others but all have influenced my love of the music and in a small way how I DJ.

If I had to pick one it'd have to be Richard Searling can't think of a reason why I shouldn't pick him but find myself looking for a reason all the same

[Little-stevie]

Nice one Dave..Yes Roger is a real good guy..I would love some copies of his tapes,i have lost most in moving house..I don't mind paying or i can post you some tapes and stamped address envelope...That would be really nice...Me and a bunch of mates would always look out for gigs with Roger on

[Pete S]

Soul Police? Was there ever any? If there is one it's not doing it's job very well I must say. It would be great if there was a soul police!

link

Thank you Inspector

[Guest in town Mikey]

I agree with Ged, but for me it was a mate, Conway Jones who was most influential in getting me into Northern Soul. And once I had taken the bait, I'd say just about everybody who ever DJ'd at an event that I have been to in the last 25 years or so has in some way influenced my tastes.

It doesnt matter whether they were mad up front newies only like Keb and Guy, or played a mixture of era's like Dave Thorley or Sam (Richard has enough plaudits on here ), or oldies unlimited like Dave Evison or Keith Minshull, or moddun nuts like Adam. All played the type of sounds I wanted and want to hear.

Included in this are all the guys who dont command gigs all over the country, guys like Adrain Mathews, Des Parker (Although Des is getting more gigs at last) Vince Ayers etc.

Maybe if I had to pick one though, it would be Ady Croasdell, just because of the weekenders. This experience has been one of the most enjoyable parts of my return to the scene. It was Ady who convinced myself, my brother and our mates that we would enjoy a weekend in soggy Cleethorpes and he was more than right.

[Garethx]

Pete, I wasn't saying that the absence of rules as to what constituted a good northern record was a bad thing: far from it, in fact. A maverick element seems to have been lost.

I've wondered before on here whether some cherished classics would ever have a chance of becoming popular today. In many ways the remit of what can and cannot be played is seemingly narrower now than at any time in the scene's history, and that's a shame.

Edited June 29, 2005 by garethx

[Pete S]

Pete, I wasn't saying that the absence of rules as to what constituted a good northern record was a bad thing: far from it, in fact. A maverick element seems to have been lost.

I've wondered before on here whether some cherished classics would ever have a chance of becoming popular today. In many ways the remit of what can and cannot be played is seemingly narrower now than at any time in the scene's history, and that's a shame.

link

Okay, consider the Wombat: that is, "I'm getting on life" by Wombat. Can anyone honestly say that this would be a big sound if discovered today? But back in 1974 it was ENORMOUS, as big as any record has ever been on the scene. And I say...what's wrong with that? OK so it isn't much of a soul record but as a NORTHERN SOUL record, it's perfect. And that's the difference between yesterday and today as far as I know...a small minority of peole think that they run the quality control department..."don't let that one through, it's not soulful enough". Where did all the fun go?

[Guest jish]

Okay, consider the Wombat: that is, "I'm getting on life" by Wombat.  Can anyone honestly say that this would be a big sound if discovered today?  But back in 1974 it was ENORMOUS, as big as any record has ever been on the scene.  And I say...what's wrong with that?  OK so it isn't much of a soul record but as a NORTHERN SOUL record, it's perfect.  And that's the difference between yesterday and today as far as I know...a small minority of peole think that they run the quality control department..."don't let that one through, it's not soulful enough".  Where did all the fun go?

link

Pete...We park our cars in the same garage.

[Little-stevie]

You can't say stuff like that in Manchester The pink pound rules here...

Good point made though....

[Guest Stuart T]

Left school? The way many people on here spell it seems more likely they never went to no school in the first place.   Soul Police? Was there ever any? If there is one it's not doing it's job very well I must say. It would be great if there was a soul police!

link

Stop picking on Kenny!

Anyhow, shouldn't this read "Soul Police? Were there ever any?" or "Soul Police? Was there ever one?"? I think you get it right the second time.

"It's" is not correct in the first context used either.

Also I think that you left the definitive article out of your first sentence (which follows your initial non-sentence interrogative).

[Guest Stuart T]

Janine.

link

Yes, thats what people who've heard you DJ say.

[Guest]

Stop picking on Kenny!

Anyhow, shouldn't this read "Soul Police?  Were there ever any?" or "Soul Police?  Was there ever one?"?  I think you get it right the second time. 

"It's" is not correct in the first context used either. 

Also I think that you left the definitive article out of your first sentence (which follows your initial non-sentence interrogative).

 

link

I admit it, I am sloppy too sometimes and don't bother to go back and fix the mistakes. At least I spelled the individual words right.

[Guest]

Seems a popular choice so far, but for me Richard Searling was the fellow that influenced my musical tastes at a young (er) age.

Pete Smith makes a very valid point....let's not lose the fun.

[Guest]

Okay, consider the Wombat: that is, "I'm getting on life" by Wombat.  Can anyone honestly say that this would be a big sound if discovered today?  But back in 1974 it was ENORMOUS, as big as any record has ever been on the scene.  And I say...what's wrong with that?  OK so it isn't much of a soul record but as a NORTHERN SOUL record, it's perfect.  And that's the difference between yesterday and today as far as I know...a small minority of peole think that they run the quality control department..."don't let that one through, it's not soulful enough".  Where did all the fun go?

link

I ask once more, what quality control department? The same quality control department that let Joey Delorenzo, Dean Barlow, Helen Troy, and their ilk slip through? It seems to me there is not more quality control today than before, perhaps even less today. A lot of the things played today would surely have been rejected in the 70's (and rightly so in many cases) don't you think?

[Guest Stuart T]

I admit it, I am sloppy too sometimes and don't bother to go back and fix the mistakes. At least I spelled the individual words right.  

link

You should see my Swedish grammar.

[Rbman]

You should see my Swedish grammar.

link

Is this topic "Most Influential DJ" or "Most goodest Engilsh teacher"...?

[chrissie]

Is this topic "Most Influential DJ" or "Most goodest Engilsh teacher"...?

link

Shouldn't that read "Bestest English Teacher"

QoF

XX

[Rbman]

Shouldn't that read "Bestest English Teacher"

QoF

XX

link

errr....Bester I think

[Simon T]

Blair Hadden or whatever Poke's real name is, circa 1982. Followed by one of the DJ's ( Mick S or Ady?) who played the Dramatics - Inky Winky Wang Dang and the Spinners - I'll be around, at the 100 club in 1981, that started me really buying Northern.

[Guest jish]

You should see my Swedish grammar.

link

That would be "Svensk gramatik"...locally like.

[chrissie]

Which DJ has had the biggest impact on you and helped shape your interest in the music the most?

Myself, I'm gonna go for Adam (Buchanan) at the Leicester Oddfellows allnighters in the early 80s. Adam was on his own for a long time at the venue as a Modern DJ and I think he took a lot of stick for it! There was some pretty famous 6os record collections goin' on behind the decks in Leicester at the time... but Adam dared to do something different... he certainly showed me (and many others) the light and the diversity of this music of ours.

link

Undoubtedly Gary Beattie (now known as Gay Beattie according to "winsford soul" on the events calander for August all nighter)

QoF

XX

[Guest jish]

Sounds like he has a lot to answer for  :angry:

link

???

[Guest]

Which DJ has had the biggest impact on you and helped shape your interest in the music the most?

Myself, I'm gonna go for Adam (Buchanan) at the Leicester Oddfellows allnighters in the early 80s. Adam was on his own for a long time at the venue as a Modern DJ and I think he took a lot of stick for it! There was some pretty famous 6os record collections goin' on behind the decks in Leicester at the time... but Adam dared to do something different... he certainly showed me (and many others) the light and the diversity of this music of ours.

link

Robbie Vincent has had the biggest impact on me and helped shape my interest in soul music from 70's & 80's, maybe not a northern soul d.j but he certainly played a diverse mixture of music 20+ years ago.

[Mormar44]

Which DJ has had the biggest impact on you and helped shape your interest in the music the most?

Myself, I'm gonna go for Adam (Buchanan) at the Leicester Oddfellows allnighters in the early 80s. Adam was on his own for a long time at the venue as a Modern DJ and I think he took a lot of stick for it! There was some pretty famous 6os record collections goin' on behind the decks in Leicester at the time... but Adam dared to do something different... he certainly showed me (and many others) the light and the diversity of this music of ours.

link

Started in 73 but by the time I got married in the early eighties was starting to get fed up with some of the garbage being played. I stopped going away and just did the occasional local oldies do. Around 1993 I got talked into going to a Friday night at Bretby and it was like a brand new beginning. The quality of music being played by Chris Anderton (how could someone so young be so knowledgeable), Steve Smith, and others was fantastic. They were so open minded, anything went as long as the quality was good. Had some good nights since but I'll never forget those Bretby Friday nights.

[chrissie]

Undoubtedly Gary Beattie (now known as Gay Beattie according to "winsford soul" on the events calander for August all nighter)

QoF

XX

link

That was in about 72/73 but more recently the DJ that got me back on track was Jeff Ware and "A Another"

QoF

XX

[Spanner]

Which DJ has had the biggest impact on you and helped shape your interest in the music the most?

Myself, I'm gonna go for Adam (Buchanan) at the Leicester Oddfellows allnighters in the early 80s. Adam was on his own for a long time at the venue as a Modern DJ and I think he took a lot of stick for it! There was some pretty famous 6os record collections goin' on behind the decks in Leicester at the time... but Adam dared to do something different... he certainly showed me (and many others) the light and the diversity of this music of ours.

link

had to be j manship and poke for me at the stonehouse club on the A1 in the early 70s

span

[Mattbolton]

Personally, I'd have to pick 3.

Firstly Richard S, because it was his shows on Radio and at local do's at home in Lancashire which really got me into Northern sounds. His influence is MASSIVE. Top man.

Secondly Ady C, probably for his ear as much as anything. Luther Ingram, San Franciscan TKO's, Nancy Wilcox. Need I say more? Although he has the magic key to a million unreleased records, the ones he choses to pull to play are always top notch. Great taste. And not afraid of spinning cheapies next to unissued stuff and keeps the rubbish in the bin where it belongs.

Lastly, Gareth was right in citing Butch as the foremost digger around. Gets paid nowt, but instead uses his contacts and his extensive knowledge to bag the greatest set of QUALITY rarities any DJ could wish to play. The only man who can turn Tim Brown greeen. Martha Jean Love, The Saints, Chase Is On..... as goes the list. If he isn't one of most DJ's more inspirational spinners at the moment, I'll shoot myself in the foot. Quality choices from a truckload of rarities and one-offs...

Sam and Arthur might sound like a Yorkshire double act, but their stubborness and faith to play tunes no-one else is spinning, and make them massive, is commendable in the extreme.

[Guest Baz]

Ok i could say any major Dj on the sceen now days has influenced me, i could mention all of the above. They all in there own rights have a place on this thread All tho my major influence and passion for soul music has to be one of my closest frinds. ok he is not a big name Dj, just plays localy round our parts, but what he has done for me as in guidence,mentor, introducing me to lots of people and passing on knowllage to me. I cant argue with that.