Jack Smooth
Encyclopedia
Jack Smooth, real name Ron Wells, born in London 1970.
Ron is often credited as the pioneer of Jungle techno. During his career Ron has produced over 200 dance music records, spanning many genres.
Ron began his musical life as a Pirate Radio DJ in 1987 on the Crystal, Medina & WLR stations in London.
During 1987 Ron met Chris Simmonds at Medina Radio and they went on to form Wax Factory Productions in 1989. Wax Factory were one of the first UK dance music labels to deal directly with record shops - not having a distribution deal. In years to come, Wax factory would earn cult status as an underground UK house and techno label. Many, to this day, believe that their productions were from the USA, due to their authentic Techno sound.
Around 1991 Ron formed Sound Entity Records as a solo project where he was introduced to Phil Wells of Basement Records by DJ Loftgroover. Ron and Phil quickly developed a powerful relationship where Ron went on to produce and co-write the majority of the first 30 releases on the label. The Basement Records label today is often credited as the most influential label that the Jungle Techno scene produced.
In 1992 Ron masterminded the hit single Trip to Trumpton project with Urban Hype, where he co-wrote and produced the single. The single reached no 6 in the National Charts and kept its top ten status for one month.
1993 saw Ron forming Fast Floor Productions (sub label of Basement Records) with Paul Clarke, where they produced many Jungle Techno anthems. Their music was highly regarded for its combination on musicality and dance floor presence by many DJs, in particular, Top Buzz
. In 1994 Fast Floor produced an LP called "On a Quest For Intelligence" which has gone on to demand crown jewels prices on the second-hand music market.
In 1995 Ron Wells and Paul Clarke formed Earl Grey. This was specifically a drum and bass / jazz crossover project. They signed to MCA music publishing and Carl Cox
's Worldwide Ultimatum label to release the LP "Purveyors of the New Groove".
During 1996 Ron and Paul could sense that a decline in the music industry was on the horizon. This lead them to take the decision to leave music behind for a while and concentrate on starting a commercial business. They changed their name to Fast Floor Multimedia Ltd in 1997 and embarked on building a marketing communications company, which still exists today.
Moving into business however has not meant the end of Ron and Paul's music careers. They both have a considerable number of works within the Sonoton
Music Library in Germany and they continue to write music to this day.
Ron is often credited as the pioneer of Jungle techno. During his career Ron has produced over 200 dance music records, spanning many genres.
Ron began his musical life as a Pirate Radio DJ in 1987 on the Crystal, Medina & WLR stations in London.
During 1987 Ron met Chris Simmonds at Medina Radio and they went on to form Wax Factory Productions in 1989. Wax Factory were one of the first UK dance music labels to deal directly with record shops - not having a distribution deal. In years to come, Wax factory would earn cult status as an underground UK house and techno label. Many, to this day, believe that their productions were from the USA, due to their authentic Techno sound.
Around 1991 Ron formed Sound Entity Records as a solo project where he was introduced to Phil Wells of Basement Records by DJ Loftgroover. Ron and Phil quickly developed a powerful relationship where Ron went on to produce and co-write the majority of the first 30 releases on the label. The Basement Records label today is often credited as the most influential label that the Jungle Techno scene produced.
In 1992 Ron masterminded the hit single Trip to Trumpton project with Urban Hype, where he co-wrote and produced the single. The single reached no 6 in the National Charts and kept its top ten status for one month.
1993 saw Ron forming Fast Floor Productions (sub label of Basement Records) with Paul Clarke, where they produced many Jungle Techno anthems. Their music was highly regarded for its combination on musicality and dance floor presence by many DJs, in particular, Top Buzz
Top Buzz
Top Buzz are a British DJ / MC team, which performed at rave events in the 1990s.Top Buzz was originally formed in 1988 by MC Patrick McPhee and DJ Mikee B, playing at house events, before being joined by DJ Jason Kyriakides several years later...
. In 1994 Fast Floor produced an LP called "On a Quest For Intelligence" which has gone on to demand crown jewels prices on the second-hand music market.
In 1995 Ron Wells and Paul Clarke formed Earl Grey. This was specifically a drum and bass / jazz crossover project. They signed to MCA music publishing and Carl Cox
Carl Cox
Carl Cox is a British techno and house music DJ.-Biography:Cox grew up in Oldham, Lancashire, before attending Glastonbury High Boys secondary modern school on Glastonbury Road in Morden. Cox began his career as a hardcore and rave DJ in the mid 1980s...
's Worldwide Ultimatum label to release the LP "Purveyors of the New Groove".
During 1996 Ron and Paul could sense that a decline in the music industry was on the horizon. This lead them to take the decision to leave music behind for a while and concentrate on starting a commercial business. They changed their name to Fast Floor Multimedia Ltd in 1997 and embarked on building a marketing communications company, which still exists today.
Moving into business however has not meant the end of Ron and Paul's music careers. They both have a considerable number of works within the Sonoton
Sonoton
Sonoton claims to be the world's largest independently owned Production Music Library. Formed 1965 by Rotheide and Gerhard Narholz in Munich , the company owns the copyrights of over 130.000 compositions and musical recordings of all genres...
Music Library in Germany and they continue to write music to this day.