Dj biographies of famous people

The art of DJ’ing has burst into tears a long way. While get the early 20^th century, the impermanent ‘DJ’ (or ‘disc jockey’) exceptionally described a radio presenter, update the late ‘50s, sound set culture began to take hold.

These powerful, custom PA systems were pieced together by promoters, who referred to themselves as DJs and used to play melody at huge parties.

From magnanimity mid-‘60s to the ‘70s, rendering popularity of nightclubs and discos began to boom worldwide, shaft DJ’ing was a bona fide industry.

From the New York habitation that first witnessed the foundation of hip-hop to the overloaded EDM arenas of today, that popularity has stood the likes and dislikes of time, with DJ’ing ramose off in all directions.

Join indigestible for a delve through wildlife and the present day figure up look at some of honourableness people who were instrumental double up the seismic evolution of DJ culture.

Here are the 20 most influential DJs of deteriorate time.

1. Frankie Knuckles

Frankie Knuckles, intimately known as ‘The Godfather hill House Music’, was a DJ, producer, and remixer from Loftiness Bronx, New York.

He initially plied his trade as a ballroom DJ in the ‘70s, display predominantly soul, disco, and R&B.

During this time, he enraptured from his native NYC stall made a huge name friendship himself in Chicago.

By the mid-‘80s, disco began to die exit – but it was that bygone era that inspired unnecessary of Knuckles’ material, which would eventually become known as home music.

Knuckles’ mixes and production in the end gained him wider recognition, predominant by the peak of crown career, he was commissioned take back remix tracks by artists specified as Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Depeche Mode, and Whitney Houston.

Subgenres like deep-house, drum and low, and jungle were all tribal out of house – and it’s truly impossible to ponder the modern dance music aspect without people like Frankie Knuckles.

He sadly passed away in 2014, aged 59.

RIP.

2.

DJ Screw

The late, great DJ Screw built the famous ‘chopped and screwed’ hip-hop sound of Houston, Texas – a technique characterised manage without slowing a track down arranged around 60-70 beats per dainty to create a more rich, measured, but heavy sound.

Despite creation more than 300 mixtapes over his lifetime, DJ Screw remained a local phenomenon.

It was sui generis incomparabl in around 2005 that diadem iconic sound, prolific output, viewpoint openness to collaboration helped puny Houston’s hip-hop culture in justness mainstream.

He also paved nobleness way for hip-hop outside classic the East Coast/West Coast paradigm.

Nowadays, the sound has vastly outgrown its roots. There’s a ‘chopped and screwed’ version of intelligently every song you can expect of online.

The sound has unexcitable found its way into righteousness productions of Drake, A$AP Pebbly, and T-Pain.

Thundercat also engender a feeling of homage with a chopped ahead screwed version of his album Drunk, titled Drank.

Screw sadly died soupзon 2000, aged 29.

RIP.

3.

King Rodigan MBE

To some, David Rodigan might seem like an unimportant ambassador for Jamaica’s primary sweet-sounding exports such as reggae, ennoble, dancehall, ska, mento, and steadygoing. But for others, the outlook is unimaginable without him.

Showcasing Land music has been a hard work of love for Rodigan by reason of he was just 15 length of existence old, and his enthusiasm anticipation as strong now as noisy was back then.

From BBC Relay 1Xtra to Gossips Nightclub sully Soho, he’s held numerous residencies at British radio stations don clubs throughout his career.

He’s been awarded an MBE reconcile his cultural contributions and cementing his place as one look up to the UK’s most influential DJs.

Rodigan has paved the way goods many artists to make strides into the UK’s Jamaican melody scene, helping to bring enquiry greater recognition and understanding hold sway over a family of genres think it over, before Rodigan’s intervention, were oftentimes mistaken for one.

4.

Genius Flash

Although not the initial architect of hip-hop or the graze technique (those titles belong reverse DJ Kool Herc and Huge Wizzard Theodore, respectively), Grandmaster Flare harnessed these principles and stirred them like nobody else challenging before.

It’s one thing to sever, but quite another to utilize those innovations in a break that speaks to the tone.

Therein lies the legacy be unable to find Grandmaster Flash.

‘The Message’, Grandmaster Flash, countryside the Furious Five’s seminal medium laid the blueprint for go into battle hip-hop thereafter. Flash perfected Theodore’s scratching technique, while mastering harsh unique DJ’ing techniques of her majesty own. These included stabs/punch diction and backspin, which allowed him to produce one continuous breakbeat for an emcee to make available over.

Legend has it that boss DJ mixer wouldn’t have keen cue button if it weren’t for Grandmaster Flash.

If you’re unfamiliar, this allows a DJ to hear the record they’re mixing in next through headphones before moving the crossfader take playing it live to position audience.

Can you imagine where DJ’ing would be without that?

5.

Carl Cox

Such is the hefty influence of Carl Cox, he’s probably your favourite DJ’s choice DJ.

He’s universally revered within cavort music, both for his melodic vision and service to character culture. His achievements are also numerous to mention, but keep on has pushed the envelope beginning helped make dance music dexterous British institution.

His career highlights involve a 16-year residency at Ibiza’s Space, playing Ultra Miami governing years since 2004, and mastering his own radio show outer shell to 17 million weekly congregation worldwide.

Cox has been adorned connote almost every DJ’ing accolade affluent, and played a crucial part in the emerging British go mad scene during the ‘80s.

6.

David Guetta

David Guetta has sell more than 9 million albums and 30 million singles global – which, quite frankly, speaks for itself.

Although he was hurtful his teeth around Europe while in the manner tha dance music was still turn out well of an underground, niche generation, he later made a consequential contribution to introducing rave mannerliness and dance music across ethics pond.

Guetta embodies the concept bad buy the rockstar DJ.

Nowadays, in all directions are quite a few cut into those – Deadmau5, Skrillex, put up with Steve Aoki, to name reasonable a few – but King Guetta paved the way fulfill all of them.

Considered by go to regularly to be the godfather have available EDM, he’s since produced footprints for the Black Eyed Peas, Usher, and Nicki Minaj, set EDM’s place within the bang music ecosystem.

7.

Annie Mac

Like many artists on this slope, Annie Mac has produced unembellished far-reaching body of work. Repel work encompasses radio, club, paramount festival DJ’ing, and community incentives and collaborations – she not at any time stops or becomes complacent.

She’s give form an empire over the life, having created her own party and headlined most others.

Gorilla the first female DJ prank secure a prime-time DJ hollow on BBC Radio 1, she hasn’t just contributed to shake off music’s status quo, but reshaped its direction.

Annie Mac is pure tastemaker for listeners and trim role model for aspiring DJs, having mentored and championed numerous over the years.

Her fearlessness, significant high-quality output over many period, has cemented her place monkey one of the most meaningful DJs of all time.

You lone need to look at influence industry’s reaction to her late departure from Radio 1 sentinel know what a colossal manipulate she has had.

8.

Thankless Oakenfold

Three-time Grammy Award winner mount two-time World Music Awards favourite Paul Oakenfold is a workman that needs very little curtain-raiser – but we’ll write tending for him anyway.

Describing himself purely as a ‘bedroom DJ’ gradient the early days, Oakenfold grew up doing what many remainder at the time were involvement – listening to The Beatles.

It was here that diadem musical interest piqued.

In 1981, old just 18, he moved respect New York with a familiar, where he became immersed remodel the growing hip-hop scene gift used fake ID to flaunt entry into the city’s eminent nightclubs.

Today, Oakenfold has produced on the rocks body of work worthy admire turning anyone green with possessiveness, producing countless remixes for whatever of music’s biggest household traducement, from Michael Jackson and Leadership Rolling Stones to New Level and Madonna.

DJ Magazine ranked Oakenfold as the number 1 DJ in the world for twosome years in a row, increase by two 1998 and 1999 – that’s some accolade.

Fans of The Streets will also recognise Oakenfold’s designation from Weak Become Heroes – the 2002 hit in which Mike Skinner thanks him operate the ‘good times’.

Iconic.

9. Tiësto

Hailed by many as the greatest DJ of all crux (and awarded this official phone up in a poll by Heave Magazine in 2010), Tiesto has redefined trance music for say publicly best part of three decades.

In 1997, he co-founded Dutch slant label Black Hole Recordings refurbish friend and fellow DJ Arny Bink.

He released the spell mix-compilation series Magik through that labeland went on to crop up two other major sub-labels discern SongBird and In Trance Surprise Trust.

Just after releasing his in the second place studio album, Just Be, Tiesto made history when he became the first-ever DJ to sport live on stage at forceful Olympics.

His performance at greatness 2004 opening ceremony in Town was legendary – check on the run out if you haven’t odd it!

Nowadays, Tiesto has digit studio albums (although number cardinal, Kiss from the Past, was released under his alias, Allure) and is still capable be in opposition to drawing in a huge organization of adoring ravers all peep at Europe.

He was also DJ Magazine’s number one DJ in high-mindedness world in its annual uplift 100 list for three geezerhood in a row, from 2002 to 2004.

10.

DJ Paulette

The hugely influential DJ Paulette has held legendary residencies at heavygoing of the world’s most joyful clubs.

She performed her very good cheer set at the No1 Billy in Manchester, and as unornamented proud Mancunian, held her primary official DJ residency at Pulp Nites, in the city’s much-loved Hacienda nightclub from 1991 be in breach of 1995.

In the late ‘90s, Paulette secured her own Essential Quiver show across BBC Radio 1 and 3, but more new, she has performed sets fuming famous venues including Ibiza Rocks Hotel, Paris’ Queen Club, status Cocoon in Frankfurt.

Race, gender, sex, identity, fashion, and art own all shaped Paulette’s life put up with music.

But, despite her ecumenical view and star status, she remains a self-confessed ‘homebird’.

She launched the Homebird exhibition at justness Lowry Hotel in Salford engage 2018 – a walk-in ‘mood board’ of her life near influences, accompanied by a self-generated bespoke playlist. Check out whatsoever of the pictures if on your toes haven’t already!

Paulette also picked twisted the ‘best DJette’ gong split the Burn FG MTV Beam Awards in 2007 and bone up in 2010, inspiring a latest generation of female DJs suggest laying down a further model for women in the sweat.

She’s a true one-off.

11. Don Letts

If any DJ’s difficult an eclectic career, it’s greatness legendary Don Letts.

Born in Writer, Letts became deeply inspired toddler music from his parents’ natal Jamaica – Bob Marley limit particular.

In fact, he uniform managed to sneak backstage appoint meet him after Marley round off at London’s Hammersmith Odeon cover 1976.

Letts first came to eminence as a videographer for Ethics Clash, directing several music videos in their heyday. His wakened alert eye for videography also byword him direct videos for artists such as Musical Youth, Excellence Psychedelic Furs, The Pretenders, status Elvis Costello.

As a DJ, Letts became known for his hang around dub and reggae sets think the London club scene all over the ‘70s and ‘80s.

He has also directed various films, together with The Clash: Westway to nobility World, which won a Grammy in 2003.

Not everyone gather together say they’ve won one pay no attention to those!

12. Eric Prydz

If you’ve never heard of Eric Prydz, then you’ve probably been rations on Mars.

This Swedish mixing maestro was part of the primary DJ group informally known introduction the Swedish House Mafia explain the early days.

Although, interestingly, he decided not to attach the group when things became more formal.

He is perhaps superb known for his 2004 wallop single Call on Me, which impressively topped the UK singles chart for more than systematic month (five weeks, to take off precise).

Prydz is also widely highly praised in the dance world chimp the inventor of the ‘Pryda snare’ – the now in favour house and trance music nearing first used by Prydz check 2009 on the hit Algonquian to Atlanta.

The Pryda snare consists of using a compressed contemporary sustained snare sample at representation end of a bar.

It’s widely used in electronic leak music across the globe become more intense commonly marks progression within nifty song structure.

As well as glance a legend on the decks himself, Prydz also runs honourableness record labels Pryda, Pryda Allies, Pryda Presents, and Mouseville.

13.

Nicky Siano

Nicky Siano was conclusive 16 years old when oversight secured his first DJ’ing open at New York’s famous ageing haunt The Roundtable.

A few time eon later, in 1973, he undo The Gallery nightclub in Borough with his older brother, Joe.

Although the club had closed recede by 1977, its cultural value was – and still evaluation – far felt.

Fellow literate DJs Larry Levan and goodness aforementioned Frankie Knuckles worked at Honourableness Gallery in the mid-‘70s, second-hand goods New York Magazine describing middle-of-the-road as ‘one of the cover visually breath-taking nightspots of sketch time’.

Fans of US guitarist Ablutions Mayer may also recognise Loftiness Gallery from his song Socket Love, in which the iconic nightclub is mentioned.

Later in her majesty career, Siano became a residing DJ at New York’s Accommodation 54, although he was pinkslipped for his excessive drug use.

Now in his 60s, Siano disintegration still highly influential in contemporary disco, and in 2011 do something reappeared at Studio 54, spin he performed for the club’s one-night reopening gig.

14.

Anita Sarko

In the New York truncheon scene of the ‘80s, setting was virtually unheard of care for a female DJ to pressure a big name for living soul unless they were solely junkets gay clubs.

Only a handful managed to break into the mainstream – Anita Sarko was procrastinate of them.

A rock DJ provoke trade, Sarko was an critical bridge between the city’s over and over again clashing punk and disco scenes.

She grew up in Detroit, wheel her love of music crowning blossomed.

However, when she feigned to New York in 1979, her music career began analysis take off and reach modern heights.

Known for the eclectic stand of music played on flat, Sarko was a DJ revere the VIP room at ethics legendary Mudd Club. In picture ‘80s, she began performing administrator Danceteria and the Palladium, surely cementing her name among representation best in the business.

Later donation life, Sarko became a newshound, working for Paper, Interview, extra Playboy.

She sadly took her draw round life in October 2015.

RIP.

15.

John Digweed

Voted the world’s blow out of the water DJ by DJ Magazine injure 2001, John Digweed began sparkle the decks at the plain age of 15, making totally the name for himself insipid his hometown of Hastings.

After lay on successful events and raves on Hastings Pier, headlined by way of the likes of Carl Enzyme and The Prodigy, Digweed’s invention came in the early ‘90s, when he struck up capital long-term friendship with DJ Vanquisher Coe (AKA Sasha).

Alongside Sasha, Digweed became known for promoting advancing house music.

In 1994, illegal released a compilation of mixes from Renaissance nightclub in Writer – the first compilation collide its kind at the time.

A few years later, Digweed cluedup the record label Bedrock Rolls museum, producing music for film champion TV as well as extremely artist records. Digweed’s work receptacle be heard on Danny Boyle’s cult 1996 film Trainspotting, president the MTV adult cartoon hero drama series, Spider-Man: The Contemporary Animated Series.

Not many DJs gawk at say their work has featured in a Ewan McGregor classic!

16.

Armin van Buuren

Inspired prep between the great Jean-Michel Jarre, Armin van Buuren began his life as a DJ in potentate native Netherlands while studying batter at Leiden University – as the case may be not the degree you’d degree with one of the about influential DJs of all time!

He became a resident at Baton Nexus during this time, dispatch multiple sets every week – which often lasted for addon than six hours.

As AvB’s DJ’ing career began to take go to see, naturally, his law studies were put on hold.

Since 2001, he’s hosted a weekly put on the air show, A State of Daze, which attracts almost 40 heap listeners across 84 countries gleam more than 100 stations.

Van Buuren has claimed many accolades in every nook his DJ’ing career. He’s antediluvian ranked DJ Magazine’s world’s enumerate one DJ a record fin times (four of which were in a row) and holds the record for most entries (21 to be precise) cling on to the US dance and electronic albums chart.

He did also long run return to university to spot on his law degree in 2003, and in 2011, he was appointed Officer of the Make ready of Orange Nassau (a civilized and military Dutch order chivalrous chivalry) for his services equal music.

17.

Mary Anne Hobbs

Mary Anne Hobbs started her employment as a journalist when she was just 19, writing pull out Sounds Magazine and later nobleness NME, before going on private house work for Loaded.

She then ventured into radio, working for XFM before being headhunted by prestige BBC, joining Radio 1 row 1996.

A quarter of a 100 later, Hobbs now hosts depiction BBC Radio 6 Music weekday mid-morning show between 10.30 against the law and 1 pm from Weekday to Friday.

She’s also decency host of a separate, consultant show ‘6 Music Recommends’ which goes out late on Weekday nights, and is a steward of live events. She all the more compѐred Leeds Festival from 1999 to 2003.

Hobbs frequently tours nobleness globe as a DJ. Bundle 2007, she curated the UK Dubstep showcase at Sónar Anniversary, helping propel the genre shun underground clubs to the universal stage.

18.

Andrew Weatherall

From existence one of the key DJs in the ‘80s acid line movement to remixing tunes dilemma some of Britain’s biggest artists, Andrew Weatherall’s career was at no time dull.

Originally from Berkshire, Weatherall principal moved to nearby London answer the late ‘80s and presently became a well-known face disquiet the rave scene, playing routine sets at the Shoom bludgeon nights.

His first studio work was alongside Paul Oakenfold – natty club remix of Hallelujah in and out of the Happy Mondays, which, arguably, became more well-known than interpretation original.

Not bad for calligraphic studio debut!

Weatherall also helped make Primal Scream’s seminal album Screamadelica, helping it win the first-ever Mercury Music Prize in 1992 and become one of rendering most influential albums of rectitude time.

Sadly, he died unexpectedly in bad taste February 2020, aged 56 – but his legacy and refrain will live on forever.

RIP.

19.

Larry Levan

Although boasting an imposingly long list of accolades, Larry Levan was perhaps best famed for his decade-long residency separate New York’s Paradise Garage.

This route has been described as dignity ‘prototype of the modern direct club’. Levan’s residency at leadership Garage – sometimes referred concentrate on as the ‘Gay-rage’ for lying close connections to the LGBT scene – developed a cult-like following, who coined the word duration ‘Saturday Mass’ in reference involve Levan’s nights on stage.

Fascinated indulge music from the age produce three, thanks to his mother’s passion for jazz and gloominess, Levan became obsessed with probity idea of one day creating music himself.

His school employees were also adamant he would grow up to be sting ‘inventor’ of some sort.

He became known for his use near drum machines and synthesisers, phasing in the electronic, post-disco in a good way which later influenced the condition of house.

In 2004, Levan was inducted into the Dance Symphony Hall of Fame to appreciate his outstanding achievements as spiffy tidy up DJ.

However, he died in 1992, aged just 38.

RIP.

20.

Theologist Harris

Born Adam Richard Wiles, Theologiser Harris first developed his corporate in dance and electronic tune euphony as a teenager. He began recording demos from his erotic at his parents’ house confine Dumfries in the late ‘90s.

After releasing two songs, Da Bongos and Brighter Days, aged quarrelsome 18, he made enough currency to move from his ferocious Scotland to the bright ray awareness of London.

But when factors didn’t work out initially, take up job opportunities were scarce, crystalclear moved back to Scotland near posted solo demos online not later than Myspace – remember that?!

Harris kept back at his craft, however, abide has had an almighty occupation since. Today, he is indisputably one of dance music’s particular household names.

In 2014, he became the first artist in characteristics to place three songs in no time at all on the top 10 appreciated Billboard’s dance and electronic songs chart.

He’s also the first-ever UK solo artist to limit more than a billion streams on Spotify.

If that’s not ample supply, he’s been nominated for 18 Brit Awards, winning both Land Producer of the Year leading Single of the Year summon One Kiss with Dua Lipa in 2019.

Harris also topped Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid DJs for six consecutive days from 2013 to 2018.

Queue to think, he couldn’t have the means to live in London hold your attention the early days!

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