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1.For the not so clued up person in regards to the world of Soulful House and Garage music could you tell us how you got started in this game?

I started making edited mixed tapes when I was 12 years old. I started DJing at the age of 13.

1a. Who or what had the greatest influence on what you listen to today? My years in highschool opened my ears to experience many types of music. I now appreciate, and listen to many different types of music, and not just one particular style.

1(a) Was through listen to your parents (Did they have an artists or performer that they constantly kept going on about that influenced you)

Yes! My parents listened to artists like Ray Charles, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, The O Jays, Muddy Waters, and countless other Blues, Jazz, and R& B/Soul artists.

1(b) Was through listening at a early age to the Radio to a particular sound or artist.

Through radio I was exposed to everything from the Funk sounds of Parliament, to the disco sounds of Chic.

1(c) Was through going to the church (being part of a choir?)

Yes, I was in the youth choir at my church.

1(d) Or was it by being forced to take musical lessons that influenced your choice?

I never took formal lessons. I learned to play the piano by "ear".

2. Who was your first musical hero? Was it Artists from the.. Soul area, Hiphop scene, Rock/Heavy Metal scene, Motown area, The Sound of Philadelphia, Stax Records artists or various Jazz artists. Or just any particular artist?

George Clinton & Grand Master Flash

3. You are a DJ/Producer. What was the first club that you played that allow you to gain vital experience to that is invaluable now! Is it still there now; and have you gone back to play there from time to time?

The first club I ever played in was called the Primadonna in downtown Detroit. The DJ there said I had 10 minutes to show him and the crowd what I could do. So I had to come out swinging. If you didn't have skills back then, you wouldn't get put on (and you might get a beat down as a fight would start in the crowd).

4. I posed this question to quite a few Dj's across the world and now I'm going to pose it to you. Have been given the chance to play on those famous/infamous Pirate Radio Show's within your area of the world; any of them at all? Would or will you play on them if the answer is no? In short what do you think of the Pirate radio set-up within the London area?(Have you had the chance to listen to them before?). Do there serve a purpose, or have they out stayed their welcome? Is there such a set up where you are based now? What are the penalties for getting caught running such a station in your area of the world.

I have never played (live) on any of the Pirate stations in London. A couple of stations have aired my DJ mixes.

5.Still on being a DJ. What would you considered to being the music that you like playing the best. USA Garage, Deep House, Disco House, Jazz House or 2-STEP Garage, Soul, Rnb, Jazz, Reggae, Detriot Techno or Funk! Or all mentioned?

I don't like to classify my preferred tasted in the confines of a category. I'll simply say that I like GOOD MUSIC!

6. Are you a resident DJ some where, or do you work Freelance? (Only write down if its applies)

Resident DJ @ Motor Lounge every Tuesday - Detroit (Hamtramck), MI. USA
Resident DJ @ Rotation every 3 months/Saturdays - Iowa City,IA.USA
Resident DJ @ System Sound Bar every 3 months/Saturdays - Toronto, Canada
Resident DJ @ Dockland every 3 months/Saturdays - Muenster, Germany
Resident DJ @ Liquid 109 every month/Fridays - Kalamazoo, MI. USA
Resident DJ @ Dance Emporium on www.MOCRadio.com - Atlanta, GA. USA

7. Have you traveled abroad to work? ?(Only write down if its applies) Where did you play..what country? Was it a success?? What is your favourite country to DJ in, and the favourite club?

I have played in many places throughout the world. I don't have a favorite place because there are so many wonderful places I've traveled and shared music and vibes with amazing people.

I have performed as a DJ in the following cities & countries:

U.S.A. - Detroit, Ann Arbor, Pontiac, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Cincinnati, Toledo, Chicago, Buffalo, NYC, Albany, Rochester, Madison, Atlanta, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Nashville, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Memphis, Des Moines, Lexington, Seattle, Portland, St. Louis, Kansas City (MO), San Francisco, Birmingham (AL), Baton Rouge, Dallas, Austin, Bowling Green (KY), Lexington (KY), Los Angeles

Canada - Windsor, Toronto, Guelph, Hamilton, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria (Island), Halifax

England - London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Stoke-On-Trent, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Leeds

Scotland - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen

Germany -Frankfurt, Muenster, Bielefeld, Koln, Munich, Hamburg, Radolfzel, Duesseldorf, Dortmund, Darmstadt, Hannover, Konstanz, Stuttgart, Berlin, Essen, Kassel, Leipzig, Chemnitz, Dresden, Duisburg, Wueizburg, Greifsweld, Herford, Augsburg, Saarbruecken, Bremen, Jueterbog

Switzerland - Zurich

The Netherlands -Amsterdam

Belgium -Brussels

Spain -Palma de Mallorca

France -Paris

8. What are your thoughts on the music such as 2-Step Garage music that is busting out of London? The music has bulldozed its way into the Garage world. Its the newest hybrid of the music within the scene. Some people hate it. Some people love it. What are your views on the scene and the music culture? (Have you heard it?)

There are some "2-Step" tracks that I really like, but I don't know enough about it, or that scene to have an opinion about it.

9. There seems to be a love for GARAGE at the moment that resembles the early days of Hiphop within the USA. Labels are being sought after, the pirates are canning the music. Underground clubs via word of mouth are becoming " Sought after places to visit". Is the bubble going to burst soon though do you think? Can Soulful House and Garage remain Underground for long? Will the majors move in, in a big way to take their share of the profits? What are your thoughts?

Soulful house has been released on Major Labels as well as smaller independent labels for more than 10 years now, so I am not sure what you are referring to.

10. You worked with Mark Kinchen ( A fellow Detriotrian), who some House music critics claim that he could have been the greatest House producer of the lot if he had of taken his time with things, and not rushed in with release after release. Is this way off the mark? Or is there a little bit of truth in that statement .How did you first meet up with Mark Kinchen? Do you still get to see him anymore? Is he still making records?

I recorded and released my first record with Marc Kinchen & TrackMaster Lou Robinson (Scan 7) in 1988. Again, I am not sure where you are getting your facts from because Mark didn't release that many records as an artist. Most of his work was known through the countless remixes he did for many artists on labels throughout the world. Marc is currently working under Quincy Jones production company.

11.You have also worked under Kevin Sanderson ( A fellow Detriotrian)who owned a label which was called KMS. Are you glad of the experienced to have worked on KMS?

Yes. My experience with labels like KMS Records, Serious Grooves, 430 West and Simply Soul helped build my profile. I gained enough experience which also helped me launch my own label INTANGIBLE RECORDS & SOUNDWORKS.

12. Did Kevin's and Mark's Techno musical influence's have a major impact on your sound in later years. Or was there another influence that had a greater impact. Could this have been Hip Hop? Was Hiphop music, more of an influence on you than TECHNO?

I was influenced by many forms of music. But HIP HOP definitely had a huge influence on my style of DJing. I patterned my style after Grand Master Flash.

13. Detriot is now known the world over as the City that gave the world "Techno". Are you glad that it has now has that title instead of the one that used to be paraded about as the City that gave the world "Motown". Are you proud of your city legacy with Motown. Or more prouder of the Techno label.?

Again, I am not into labeling and categorizing. I simply love & represent DETROIT! I love Motown, and the home of Detroit Techno!

14. As Detriot Techno was such a major factor in Detriot towards the Late 1980's to early 1990's, what got you into House? What made you want to start making and playing Soulful House music?

I was into house ever since 1985. Early Detroit Techno and House was very similar in sound.

15. You had a huge hit with the track called the "Question" - Seven Grand Housing Authority in 1993 under just one of your number of names that you like to use. How did that come about? Did it take you long to write and compose?

That is one of my favorite tracks which I recorded one night back in 1992. I used a number of aliases in order to release a lot of music and build my reputation in the music business as a producer.

16. You have on occasions worked with Kenny Dixon Junior - Sometimes known to his fans as the "Moodyman". Is he easy to get on with? It seems as if musicians from Detriot love to work with each other. Is this the case?

Kenny Dixon Junior (Moodyman)is a very cool cat, and it is a pleasure to know and work with him. But I also respect him for wanting to do his own thing.

17. Were you lucky to go to this years Winter music conference - Miami 2001? Were you impressed? What did you think about it?

I did not attend this year's WMC.

18.Soulful House and Garage music seems to be championed by the cities of New Jersey, Chicago and New York(Usa). But of late we have seen that Baltimore, Washington D.C and San Francisco (Usa) mixing it up a bit with Naked Music records and Pan Handle records? Could I mention Detriot in this company?

Kenny Dixon Jr, Theo Parrish, Norma Jean Bell . . . . . YES!

19. BBC Radio 1 (England) seems to be championing the cause of dance music. But is this fools gold. Is this only a case of dance music being fashionable so the the BBC are panicking and getting pressurised in putting on these soul, drum and bass and garage shows in fear of getting left behind? What is the state in your country. Do you have a National Radio station for the whole of the Usa like we do in the Uk?

We do not have National Radio in America. We have many privately owned and public radio stations throughout the US.

21.If it were possible would you prefer the playing of the long, long sets that are given to American DJ's such as Danny Tenglia of what Uk/ European DJ's can only dream of at places like the "Tunnel" in New York, etc, etc. Then the customary 1 or 2 hours that is given out to most European DJ's?. What is the state of play where you play. How many Hours per set do they give you? Is this just a myth about these long American sets...???

I've have played 12 hour sets before here in Detroit. This is nothing new. It's just how we use to do it back in the day.

22.Dubbed the New Ibiza by music critics and fashion experts alike. Do you fear for the islands (Ayia Napia, Cyprus) beauty? Do you think that the island will attract all the wrong types of people? Watching the film called the "Beach" starring Leonardo Da Capiro. We all saw what could happen if rules are bent and relax to accommodate wealthy holiday makers. Do you think that Ayia Napia, as a holiday resort could be spoilt by the Brits? Have you visited Ayia Napa yet. What about Ibiza? Have you visited there before. And what are your thoughts about Ibiza as a party music island.

I do not know enough about Ayia Napa to have an opinion about it. Ibiza is cool, but I prefer Mallorca.

23.Do you still do your own stint of record shopping or hunting? Or do you leave it up to being supplied by labels, etc to keep you up to date? When you play out?(If you play out) A lot of DJ's nowadays survive by living of what given to them by Record labels of all shapes and sizes. What about you. Does this apply to you?

I go out and shop for records each week. I have particular tastes. Although I appreciate receiving free records, I'd much rather go out and purchase the music I really enjoy playing. Furthermore, I feel like the best way to support and artist is to buy their music.

24. As labels go..Have you a favourite. One that you always stop by as you flick through the piles of Records in your specialist record shop?

Not really.

25. Record mixing. Your technique when playing out (Djing). Do you use a style of blending when you playing out; or are you a person who like to jump straight in and out of a track without warning!!! What styles do you like to use?

Of course I can and do blend records together, but I have a unique way of presenting music to people. I often describe my style as a HIP HOP DJ playing House Music.

26. Are you running a label of anykind? And if so, who have you got signed to the label? Any important Releases that we should keep a look out for?

Intangible Records & Soundworks is my label which I've had for 8 years now.

27.Deep House maybe isn't your cup of tea. However, this form of House music is probably the most followed style in House music in the world. Are you a lover of the music? Do you listen to tunes from the labels such as Paper, Guidance, Glasgow Underground, Wave, Yellow, Panhandle, Naked Music, Red Melon, Track Mode at all....???

I own records from each of these labels.

29. Who do you rate as one to look out for in the future (DJ Wise?) Who should we keep an eye out for! From your own country? DJ/ music artist/s producer and from what you have heard or seen from abroad? DJ/ music artist/s producer.

The cat I think people need to watch out for is DJ Don Q from Detroit. He has amazing skills on the turntables.

30. What do you see the future for Soulful House and Garage music scene in your country? Is it healthy, and will continue to attract even more people to it? Or is the strangle hold of HipHop, Country and Western and Rock music to strong for the music to get a foot hold in people 's minds..within the Usa?

House music in general is slowing becoming more popular here in America.

31. Have you got any advice for any aspiring record label producer, DJ or club owner within the world of House and Garage. Any rules that he should adhere to!

When negotiating a deal for a booking or record contract, NEVER SPEND PROMISED MONEY. INSTEAD, WAIT UNTIL THE MONEY IS SAFE IN YOUR HANDS!

This is copyrighted. If you would like to use this or any of the images please contact Mr.Carl Brown(Ipswich, England) and Terrance Parker (Detriot, USA) to do so.