Norman Jay
Encyclopedia
Norman Jay MBE is an innovative and pioneering British DJ
. He first came to prominence playing unlicensed or 'warehouse' parties in the early 1980s, such as Shake 'n' Fingerpop. His diverse and deep musical knowledge and his refusal to be restricted to playing from any single genre distinguishes him from his peers. He is commonly attributed to coining the phrase 'rare groove'.
Born in Notting Hill
, London
, Jay established himself through the London pirate radio station Kiss FM
, on which he presented shows alongside founders Gordon Mac and George Power. Kiss 100
was launched legally in September 1990 and Norman hosted the first of what became his legendary 'Musiquarium' shows. Shortly after he joined Gilles Peterson
at his newly created and highly influential label Talkin' Loud
.
After a long involvement with Kiss, Norman joined BBC London
in April 1997, where his 'Giant 45' show gained a loyal following across the globe up until February 2008.
His Good Times Sound System, which he started with his brother Joey, is a major attraction to many music fans who attend the two day August bank holiday Notting Hill Carnival
. Good Times now attracts an estimated 3,000 revellers a day during the carnival. Good Times has also extended into a series of compilation CDs.
Jay describes himself as a primarily house music
DJ, but the Good Times sound includes classic 70s and 80s funk
, soul
and jazz-funk
, previous carnival tracks have typically included Estelle's
1980; and tracks featured in recent radio shows have included Billy Griffin
's Hold Me Tighter In The Rain and more contemporary tracks in the form of Heavy's track Wonderlove.
On BBC Radio 2
, he presents the Funk Factory which goes out every 6 weeks of the year. In addition to this, Norman was one of 20 DJs who played one track each at the 2005 BBC Worldwide Awards which produced three specials for BBC Radio 1
over Christmas and New Year, hosted by Gilles Peterson
.
He is an established regular at the Big Chill festival
, where his Sunday afternoon slot on the main stage is widely regarded as one of the highlights of the weekend.
Norman Jay is also a dedicated Tottenham Hotspur football supporter and was awarded the MBE
for services to music in 2002.
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
. He first came to prominence playing unlicensed or 'warehouse' parties in the early 1980s, such as Shake 'n' Fingerpop. His diverse and deep musical knowledge and his refusal to be restricted to playing from any single genre distinguishes him from his peers. He is commonly attributed to coining the phrase 'rare groove'.
Born in Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Jay established himself through the London pirate radio station Kiss FM
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
, on which he presented shows alongside founders Gordon Mac and George Power. Kiss 100
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
was launched legally in September 1990 and Norman hosted the first of what became his legendary 'Musiquarium' shows. Shortly after he joined Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson , is a DJ, record collector and record label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz, Talkin' Loud, and latterly Brownswood Recordings, he has been associated with the careers of well-known artists of the 1990s such as Erykah Badu, Roni Size and Jamiroquai...
at his newly created and highly influential label Talkin' Loud
Talkin' Loud
Talkin' Loud is a record label started by Gilles Peterson at Phonogram in 1990 after he left Acid Jazz Records. The label name is based on Peterson's club night "Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Something", itself a reference to James Brown and Bobby Byrd's "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing".The first...
.
After a long involvement with Kiss, Norman joined BBC London
BBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...
in April 1997, where his 'Giant 45' show gained a loyal following across the globe up until February 2008.
His Good Times Sound System, which he started with his brother Joey, is a major attraction to many music fans who attend the two day August bank holiday Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days...
. Good Times now attracts an estimated 3,000 revellers a day during the carnival. Good Times has also extended into a series of compilation CDs.
Jay describes himself as a primarily house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
DJ, but the Good Times sound includes classic 70s and 80s funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and jazz-funk
Jazz-funk
Jazz-funk is a sub-genre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat , electrified sounds, and often, the presence of the first electronic analog synthesizers...
, previous carnival tracks have typically included Estelle's
Estelle (singer)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
1980; and tracks featured in recent radio shows have included Billy Griffin
Billy Griffin
Billy Griffin is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for replacing Smokey Robinson as lead singer of The Miracles in 1972.-Biography:...
's Hold Me Tighter In The Rain and more contemporary tracks in the form of Heavy's track Wonderlove.
On BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, he presents the Funk Factory which goes out every 6 weeks of the year. In addition to this, Norman was one of 20 DJs who played one track each at the 2005 BBC Worldwide Awards which produced three specials for BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
over Christmas and New Year, hosted by Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson , is a DJ, record collector and record label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz, Talkin' Loud, and latterly Brownswood Recordings, he has been associated with the careers of well-known artists of the 1990s such as Erykah Badu, Roni Size and Jamiroquai...
.
He is an established regular at the Big Chill festival
The Big Chill (music festival)
The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August...
, where his Sunday afternoon slot on the main stage is widely regarded as one of the highlights of the weekend.
Norman Jay is also a dedicated Tottenham Hotspur football supporter and was awarded the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to music in 2002.