Making music, playing drums / conga’s and funky flute, cooking, travel.

At the age of 12 years old a friend of mine would play his brothers Northern Soul records to me that was back in 1979. That led me into a world of Northern Soul (or mostly rare soul music) and I started collecting records and travelling up and down the country to attend Northern soul all dayers / all nighters, where we would dance our behinds off! About 6 year’s later after listening to nothing but northern soul I started to like the emerging electro / hip hop sound in the early 80’s and became a break dancing B Boy! We would travel up to Birmingham’s “Powerhouse” all dayer with its two room of great music. The main room playing electro / hip-hop / soul and the other smaller room named the ‘Taj Mahal’ would play Latin  / Jazz, Samba and Fusion. And the dancing in that room was fantastic! On hearing all that Latin / Jazz stuff I got into because I liked the Latin soul records that got played o the Northern soul scene. Moving on about 10 years ago some friends and myself started hearing and listening to what was called ‘Acid Jazz’ which was a music scene where they would play Funk-soul, Rare Groove, then Funkier James Brown stuff and rarer records from the ‘ Funk era 67-74 roughly. Well naturally I started collecting these 7” records and started Djing at the “Monks Bar” below The Fleece hotel in Gloucester. My DJ set’s consists of mostly Funk, Funky-disco / Boogie and Latin music and I also play / record my own funky music and used to play with a local soul and funk band “Missfusion” on flute and congas

Appearing on Channel 4’s dance music series ‘Solid Soul’ during the mid 80’s. Also appearing on Channel 4’s 15 - 1 General Knowledge quiz show. Completing my HND in graphic design. Being a member and playing gigs with local Soul / Funk band ‘ Missfusion ’ as their Conga’s player  / Flutist. Having my own show on GFM after being a guest DJ on various GFM shows since the station began. Having a DJ feature  / profile in the EGG musical publication issue 3, whilst spearheading the Funk / Soul scene in Gloucester. Being asked to DJ for the day for ‘ Black History Week ‘ at Guildhall.

Djing and playing / recording music is something I intend to do as long as I still enjoy doing so. To have some of my own ‘funky grooves’ released on 7’ vinyl eventually would be nice, not only for the recognition but also to contribute to the world of music and to have produced records that DJ’s may want to collect and play.

The A1 Foster Band – Night of the Wolf.

First heard this on the northern souls scene, we would stomp or do the shuffle dance to it. It’s a beautiful soulful /funky disco tune with lots of flute and inspired me to take up the flute some years ago. The night of the wolf is also big tune on the deep funk scene and is my all time favourite records.

James Brown – The Funky Drummer.

This has the most sampled, and I think best funky drum solo in the world. The drummer is ‘Clyde Stubblefield’ who still sounds awesome today as I witnessed back in May 2006 at London’s jazz café where I heard and met him !Legendary!

Sorry can’t decide!

To keep on supporting GFM and each other and help to create a stronger and more diverse music scene for our community and to try and have an open mind to the different styles and era’s of music past, present and future.