dee-jays 2010

Favorite present DJ’s : Sam Evans, Shaun Chapman, Mark Whiteley, Carl Willingham

Loves : To see a full dance floor when Djing, Young people coming onto the scene. Hearing people applause at the end of your set, because it’s the people that pay to come through the doors, that makes the Soul Night’s as well as the DJ’s.

Hates : Chin strokers. DJ’s who play to themselves instead of the dance floor, and people that think that records should have a £1.000 + price tag to be a good record.

Biggest Moments. : Marrying Joy and having our beautiful daughter Holly. DJing at Bridlington Prestatyn and Skegness weekenders. Dropping my trolley’s and going Alfresco at the end of a good soul night.

The Future : Looking forward to coming to Hunstanton Weekender and playing to a different crowd, I have heard so many good things about it and I am really up for a good time and also hope the northern soul scene which I honestly believe is a gift from God can progress and be there for others to enjoy as much as I have for years to come.

I'M PROMOTER AND DJ OF SOUL PURPOSE (HINCKLEY ) AND HINCKLEY NORTHERN SOUL , I AM ALSO RESIDENT DEEJAY AT A1 SOUL GRANTHAM ,I HAVE HEARD HOW GOOD THE HUNSTANTON WEEKENDER IS AND AM VERY PLEASED AND HONOURED TO BE ASKED BY JAMIE TO DEEJAY THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. I'VE HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE TO DEEJAY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH SOME OF THE TOP DEEJAYS AND ARTISTES AT SOME OF THE TOP VENUES AND WEEKENDERS AND ALL I ASK IS.... PLEASE LEAVE A SPACE ON THE DANCE FLOOR FOR ME WHILE I'M DEEJAYING BECAUSE I DO LOVE TO DANCE AT THE SAME TIME. I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING ALL THE PEOPLE AT HUNSTANTON WHO SHARE OUR LOVE OF GREAT SOUL MUSIC. SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER, SAM ;-)

LISTENING TO SOUL MUSIC FROM THE MID 60'S AND HOOKED WITH MY FIRST SOUL TUNE PURCHASE CIRCA 1968.
AS A DJ , FOR NEARLY 38 YEARS, FROM RUNNING MOBILE DISCOS TO DJING AND MANAGING NIGHTCLUBS, BOOKING AND WORKING ALONGSIDE GREAT SOUL ARTISTES, CELEBS AND DJ'S, THROUGHOUT THE 70'S TO THE EARLY NOUGHTIES.
DURING THESE YEARS I WAS CONTINUALLY FEEDING MY SOUL BY COLLECTING AND PLAYING THESE PLATTERS OF NECTAR AT VARIOUS GREAT VENUES UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY INCLUDING ST. IVES; FLEET, WIRRINA & CRESSETT PETERBOROUGH, 100 CLUB, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, WOLVERHAMPTON, NOTTS PALAIS, LEICESTER NIGHTERS ETC.
RUNNING "UPTOWN PROMOTIONS" PROVIDING ENTERTAINMENT TO PUBLIC/ LEISURE SECTORS AND PRESENTLY PROMOTING 'SIMPLY SOUL' NIGHTS WITH MY GOOD PAL KARL BODDINGTON.
LOVING ALL ASPECTS OF SOUL FROM DEEP TO JAZZ-FUNK, NORTHERN TO RHYTHM AND BLUES.

INFO ON MY SOUL WEB SITE www.freewebs.com/uptown_marco

Two years ago year, when I was first approached about being involved in a Soul Week- Ender at Hunstanton in November, Jamie then asked me for my initial thoughts as to how I envisaged a soulful week-ender in “Sunny Hunny”, would it take off?

“A good venue, plus the right blend of D.J.’s from in and around the area, delivering the goods to the dance floor, and I can see an event of this kind being an absolute cracker” was my reply.

Within weeks, this exact formula had been put into place, and very quickly the “buzz” word has been, are you going to “Sunny Hunny” week ender this November?

In to Soul/Northern since 1968, first Dj'd in 1970 upstairs Red Lion Chesterfield. Big lover of Motown. Out and out lover of Oldies. No time for modern, RnB Crossover etc and absolutely no time for Dj's who think 'we should move on' and continue playing to an empty floor. Dj's are played to fill dance floors and if they dont, they should seriously look at what they are playing instead of blaming the paying guests as many do.

Been involved with the highly successful oldies venue Kingsway Hall for the past 11 years. A venue with no pretence, it does exactly what it says on the flyer.

Northern Soul has always been underground but the recent commercialism has for my mind had a negative effect on the scene. Whilst we should embrace new faces coming into the scene we should remember that the people who have been part of it from when it first began know what its all about and how to behave.

Sometimes the new faces bring with them a sort of nightclub attitude and their behaviour can be at times a bit alarming. Behaviour that none of us are used to and should not have to put up with. I know I am not on my own when I say that when we go to some venues now we feel on edge and its just not right.

The Northern Soul scene is full of wonderful people who have travelled thousands of miles over the years to listen to the music they love and long may it stay that way.

Smudge has been around a lot longer than his full head of hair would have one believe. One of the first dee-jays at the original St Ives all-nighters run by the East Anglian Soul Club he has a track record longer than the venue itself.

Concentrating on quality 60s northern soul is his forte but he's just as easy playing a few quality 70s and 'modern' tunes.

Smudge's record collection boasts a positive host of tasty original tunes that are equaled in their expense by their soulfulness.

Smudge is also renowned as one of the top smokers on the scene and can often be found outside a venue having a quick drag if he can't be found inside it!

Martin started dee-jaying in Surrey in the Late 1960s with his own mobile disco (playing soul music of course).

After that Martin got into Northern Soul but, as with many others, marriage and other responsibilities changed his life style and although he 'dropped off' the scene for a while he never lost his love or passion for the music.

When Martin moved to Peterborough in 1997 he searched far and wide for a soul club and eventually came across a flyer for the Soul Ole. The promoters gave him a chance to dee-jay and the rest, as they say, is history.

Martin is delighted and honoured to be asked to dee-jay at the East Anglian Soul Weekender last year and we're delighted he accepted the invitation and is returning for his second stint at Sunny Hunny.

Got into Soul in around 1976 while still at school through a friends older brother. Started attending All-dayers at the Central Hall in Kettering, Soul nights @ The Windmill club Kettering, then onto St.Ives / The Fleet in Peterboro' @ many other venues, & Scooter rallies.
Got married to Dot in 1983, left the Soul scene & we had 2 wonderful children, Liam, now 25yrs & Lindsay 21yrs of age.
Like many others, kept playing my records & never lost the passion & feel that the music gave me.
Substituted Soul for Football & became a season ticket holder @ Glasgow Celtic ( The other love of my life!! )
After numerous years of travelling up & down to Glasgow for the football, i was told of a Northern Soul night that Karl Boddington was holding at the K.L.V. in Kettering, so i attended, not knowing what to expect, thinking that it might be full of youngsters, or wondering what the dress sense was like now & millions of other questions rolling around in my head!!
I was pleasantly surprised to say the least & saw many "old faces" from back in the day, & at that moment, it felt like i'd never been away!!
After returning to the scene, i realised that i'd always been a "Newies" type of guy, hence my treading of the path that is 70's /X-over / Modern ( or whatever genre it's being called now!)
Never claimed to be a Dj, just do so when asked & have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

What do i like about the scene:

1. The fact that you can still do all this @ our age
2. The great people that you may not have met otherwise.
3. The fact that there are still "new sounds" being heard.

My dislikes :

1. Venues that play the same old tunes time & again. ( No need, so much out there )
2. Events that don't cater for other genres ( Surely there's room for us all ?)
3. The politics / elitism of it all.

Favourite tunes:
Too many to list, but here's a few :

1. Gwen Owens - Wanted & Needed
2. The Pioneers - My good friend James
3. James Walsh - Cuz it's you Girl.
4. Jermaine Jackson - Good for the gander
5. Larry Clinton - Wanted in Three States

My introduction to soul was when my brother Steve gave me soul master by Edwin Star & a Sam Cooke double album, both I still have and play.

Got taken to the Howard Mallett by my sister when I was 13 in 1976 and the bug started, Tony Dellar and then Max Rees had a great influence on me and I started dj’ing at 15.

At 15 years old The Fleet in 1978 was my first all-nighter as my Mum would not let me go to St Ives as I was too young!

I have followed all aspects of soul/dance music since then and got back into dj’ing in 2006, started the Cambridge soul collective in 2007 putting soul nights on with guest from around the UK, Evolution @ St Ives in 2008 and also run the St Ives Reunions

Have enjoyed most soul weekenders around the uk including the first northern soul one at Yarmouth in the 80’s, Prestatyn, Southport, caister, Cleethorpes and many more but the atmosphere at sunny hunny is very special, maybe it’s all the old faces that come along but the title friendly weekender is spot on .

Join me 2^nd Wednesday of the month on www.radiomk.co.uk 8-10pm with my old Mallett mate Austin King.

Started dj'ing back in 74 playing funky tunes such as peoples choice, fatback band, james brown etc,
Followed all aspects of soul/dance for 34 years Northern, Funk, Disco, Jazz/Funk, Hip Hop, Modern Soul, Soulfull Garage/House etc etc
important residence's included "fish and Duck" Stretham, Ely, with guest dj's Chris Hill, Froggy, Martin Collins etc (1980).
The Tudor Oaks (A1) alongside dj's such as Norman Jay, Lenny Fontanna, Judge Jules etc (1990).
Various Richards Parties since 1988 onwards,
The Real Deal (Cambridge) with Max Reese, Guests richard searling, Bob Cosby, Alex Lowes etc etc (early 90's)
Resident CAISTER SOUL Weekend DJ LATE 80's and early 90's,
AND hosted own soul and dance show in East Anglia since 1989 (Hereward FM, CNFM, KLFM, etc etc) interviewing such artists as MELVIN FRANKLIN, AFRICA BAMBARTA, RONNY JORDON, NOEL McCOY etc,
Currently hosts a SOUL AND DANCE show on STAR107.9FM (Cambridge and Ely) every SAT 5 till 9pm.
Still out DJ'ing all the time

Dj since 1984...
The Bull @ Royston
Co promote soul-essence.co.uk and Soul 4 Real ( Bilbao )
Loves Soul and Jazz
Best gig played at Sam Dees at Essence and the Dells at Stoke
Only Gig I wished I had played at was the last supper.
Favourite male artist Bobby Womack
Favourite Female - Gladys Knight
Favourite Group Maze
Dj'd on various radio stations best being Soul 24/7
Looking forward very much to joining the team - I am sure we will have a lots fun.

my old mate tony fernandez will joining the dj team to headline the jazz funk /modern room at this years weekend !!!

Tony started visiting his local Soul Club, The Royalty, in Southgate North London, in 1979 at the age of 15 and fell in love with the vibrant soul scene. Upon starting work in 1980 he began buying the records and soon built an extensive collection. In 1982 he persuaded the manager of The Alma, in Enfield into letting him do a Thursday night soul gig, and other bars were also soon booking him.

His break came in 1984 when playing at 'Blues' Wine Bar in Waltham Cross, Herts when he was offered a spot in 'Rifes' at Enfield. Tony spent 10 years there as resident, and booked Martin Collins, Kenny Thomas and other DJ’s and artists to appear with him, and in 1987 he was approached by Showstoppers and invited onto the Caister Soul Weekend.

Other residencies followed, including Charlie Chans in Waltamstow where he spent six years. Tony continued to play in the North London area and for Richard Routledge, in Yarmouth,jenyns arms,denver,norfolk and was booked on the Soul Village Weekender. As well as playing on Solar radio he

also appears at other gigs in London and the home counties.

Karl Boddington: Kettering

How I first got on to the soul scene.

A friend of mine from the village of Broughton got me
in to the soul scene in 1975. I used to go to the Central hall all
dayers and St.Ives, Peterborough, cleethorpes and yate all nighters and lots of other venues

Glenn Bellamy really got me in to record collecting and DJing in 1976.
I used to DJ soul nights at the Windmill Club in Kettering, the North
park and the corn market hall and many other venues in the area.

Marco and myself have been soul friends for around about 30 years and I
first started promoting with Glenn Bellamy in 1995 at the Kettering
Leisure Village and Glenn stepped down from promoting after a couple of
years to concentrate on his record business, so Marco came on board to
help Me carry on with the KLV.

From there we went to the Ritz at
Desborough and I promoted smaller venues over the last 15 years.
One of my favourite records is Bobby Hutton- Lend a hand.

I also DJ at Norwich City football club, Sharnbrook Hotel, Rockingham Forest Hotel and the first time at the Hunstanton soul and motown weekender 2008. Now we have a new soul night at Wickstead park, St Georges Suite where Marco and myself are promoting this new venue.

Ian Gray presents the ‘Soul Show’ on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire every Tuesday at 6pm, on 95.7FM and 96.0FM, as well as on-line via www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire. Featuring a cross-section of 60’s/70’s soul, Northern and Motown, as well as news of local soul gigs, interviews (eg Eddie Floyd, Candi Staton, Geno Washington, Tommy Hunt, etc) and the like, Ian is really returning to his roots in this popular programme.

He started DJing at local youth clubs and pubs across the Peterborough area way back in his schooldays, seeing it as a way of hearing the music he liked, getting a few free drinks and – hopefully – a few ‘free’ girls as well. Never did he think that 30+ years later, he’d still be twiddling the knobs, now working professionally at corporate and social events across Cambridgeshire and beyond. Although the demands of work dictate that he caters for across-the-board musical tastes, he’s never happier than when featuring soul and Motown, or guesting at various soul events. Whatever the musical genre, Ian believes strongly that a DJ’s role is to keep the dance floor busy, with a combination of the ‘expected’ and the unexpected, yet well-received tracks.

His radio career started with Peterborough’s Lite FM almost 10 years ago, moving on to the BBC when approached specifically to set up the soul show, which now has on-line listeners across the UK and even Australia, the USA and Europe.

Ian readily admits his own musical favourites vary dependant on mood and circumstances, ranging from just-great-dancers to a mellower blend of soul.

My 'career' in music began over 20 years ago, when I was encouraged by my other half, to apply as resident D.J for the Social club for a local printing firm, where she worked.

I have always had a fairly good knowledge on music, and Elaine thought I would should use this to my advantage, and spread a little happiness. Fortunately I took to the decks like a duck to water, and the social club became my second home for many years.

When the club was forced to close on New Year's Eve 1998, I was given the opportunity to join a work colleague with a mobile disco. This was a great success, and after two years, decided to buy the mobile disco, and go it alone. Of course, with mobile disco's the norm is weddings, birthdays, family gatherings etc, but on the odd occasion I have had the pleasure of playing my first love - Soul music - to the masses.. I have also had the privilege of working alongside some great names, such as Jimmy James, Tommy Hunt, Russ Winstanley, and many tribute bands.

Ten years ago, myself, John Eyes, and the late Jimmy Mitchell formed 'Boston Soul Survivors', as we realised there was a huge gap in Boston for Northern Soul & Motown. We hold 3 events a year, and fortunately, these have always been well attended. We try to please everyone, with across the board soul.

My first love was always Soul music, and it always will be. I consider myself versatile to listen to other streams of music, but it is soul music where my roots are.

After D.J'ing at the Braza in March, I was asked by Jamie Trundle to work at Hunstanton, at last year's soul weekend, and what a great weekend it was! I am sure this year's weekender will be a cracking time. So if you come and listen to my 'spot' come and say hello. Look forward to seeing you there.

Stuart Skipworth. aka Skip Stuart. Has gained a great deal of experience in the field of DJing from 1970 until the present day, from local youth clubs to larger corporate event's.

His passion for playing music started quite by accident when attending his local youth club, A Dj failed to appear so skip took his place for the evening and was bitten by the Dj bug.

Skip soon gained a good reputation and was approached by entertainment agencies who gave him regular bookings. This allowed Skip to fine tune his Dj skills. Although Skip's musical tastes are wide and varied his first love lay's with Soul, RnB,& Motown from the 60ts/70ts,not excluding anything Soulful up to the present day.

Skip has also presented on Hospital Radio, also presented on Lite FM during it's inauguration period before joining Nevis Radio.Djing has allowed Skip the honour of supporting such soul icon's as Edwin Starr, J.J.Barnes, Major Lance, Jimmy James,& The Velvelettes to name a few.

Skip can be heard on F.M. or on-line every Saturday Evening between 7.00/9.00 (Feel the passion).

Coops just loves his Northern, Modern and Crossover soul music, either dancing to it, photographing others dancing to it, playing it at venues or on his radio show..... 'nuff said.