The Groove Came First: A Life Behind the Decks
Were you a regular clubber before you became a DJ? Which clubs did you go to?
I always wanted to be a DJ. For me, it was never about dancing—it was always about the music.
I’ve never really felt comfortable on a dance floor, but put me behind a pair of turntables and I’d come alive. I could never stand still. I was always animated behind the decks, pulling faces, cracking jokes and entertaining the crowd. I wanted people to enjoy watching the DJ as much as listening to the music.
My obsession with music began around 1963 when my dad bought me a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Every Sunday I’d record Pick of the Pops with Alan Freeman, placing the microphone right next to the radio. Afterwards I’d painstakingly edit out Alan’s voice to create my own homemade “mixes.” The whole house had to stay completely silent while I was recording. My Mother even wrote down song lyrics for me in shorthand so I wouldn’t miss a word!
As for clubbing, I was a regular, although I was always studying the DJs rather than the dancers. In the early 1960s there weren’t many clubs around Plymouth. I spent plenty of evenings at the under-18s nights at the Majestic Ballroom, which later became Top Rank and Monroe’s.
Another favourite was The Experience, later known as Snobs, above the bowling alley that eventually became Fiesta, Ritzy and today’s Karma.
Northern Soul was just beginning to take off and everyone added their own little flourish to the dancing. One of my all-time favourites was “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations. To me they’re still one of the greatest vocal groups ever.
Even then, though, I always saw myself behind the DJ booth rather than out on the dance floor.
So how did you become a DJ? Where was your first gig?
Around 1967 I spent a lot of time at the Trelawney Youth Centre, always hovering around what we called the “jock box.”
One evening the resident DJ asked if I could take over for an hour because he’d met a girl.
That was all the invitation I needed.
The booth was hidden behind Perspex screens and had just one turntable. My first record was “I Feel Love Comin’ On” by Felice Taylor. Unfortunately, I accidentally played the instrumental B-side!
Thinking quickly, I grabbed the microphone and confidently announced it was “the build-up” before dropping the proper version.
About twenty people got up and danced, and despite being terrified, it felt completely natural.
Funny enough, I still get nervous before every gig today. The difference is I’ve learnt to hide it by keeping things lively and having a laugh. I’ve never believed in shouting over records or trying to be the star of the show. I simply wanted the audience to have something entertaining to watch while the music played.
For my very first DJ set I was paid with a hot dog and a Slush Puppie.
Not exactly millionaire wages—but I was hooked.
Which Plymouth venues did you play?
Like many DJs, I started with mobile discos.
My first booking was upstairs at the Joshua Reynolds pub in Plympton in 1974. There was a blazing log fire directly behind the tiny stage and I remember sweating buckets all night.
At the time I worked as a Co-op milkman, so I transported all my disco equipment on my electric milk float! Shhhh! 😉
My first proper club residency came at the legendary Disco 150, above the Majestic/Top Rank. It was one of Plymouth’s coolest venues and I loved playing James Brown alongside one of my favourite funk records, “Tom the Peeper” by Act One.
In 1975 I moved to Norway for several months. I DJ’d in clubs and even outside shoe shops in the snow. It taught me to slow down, pronounce every word clearly on the microphone and adapt to completely different audiences.
One unforgettable memory still makes me smile. Outside a café in Oslo I joined a woman making snow angels. We were laughing away together until someone later told me the lady I’d been rolling around in the snow with was Princess Sonja—now Queen Sonja of Norway.
Back in Britain I became resident DJ at Top Rank before moving to West Yorkshire for a while, where I even worked alongside the legendary Afro-rock band Osibisa.
Eventually my Plymouth CV included:
- Disco 150
- Commodore Club / Images
- Fiesta (1978–1982) — undoubtedly my busiest and craziest years
- Barbarella’s
- Monroe’s
- Quay Club (This was when I decided I really needed to get away from crowds and noise!)
- The Academy
- The Roxy
Working at The Roxy was particularly satisfying. I was a soul and disco boy through and through, but I’d always wanted to DJ in a punk club.
In 1995 my wife and I moved to California. She’s originally from Detroit—the home of Motown—so music was already part of our lives.
I launched Get Ritzy DJ Company in the San Francisco Bay Area, specialising in high-end weddings and corporate events. By then I’d become teetotal, and my professional approach proved incredibly popular. I was regularly earning between $1,000 and $3,000 per event.
I also spent time as MC at an exclusive gentlemen’s club on Broadway in San Francisco. Boys Toys! The dancers appreciated that I treated everyone with respect and professionalism. They tipped me so generously I’d often head home with hundreds of sweaty one-dollar bills, spending the next day ironing them flat!
Where did DJs buy their records?
Pete Russell’s record shop on Market Avenue was the place every DJ headed.
The staff were laid-back hippies but looked after us brilliantly. We’d queue outside on release days hoping to grab the latest imports and new releases.
We all carried our brief cases plastered with promotional stickers—it looked cool, even if it was mostly for show.
Later, Virgin Records opened on Cornwall Street, while Rumbelows, where McDonald’s now stands, became another favourite stop.
One of the real perks back then was receiving promotional copies directly from record companies.
When did Soul and Disco music really take off in Plymouth?
Soul music has always had a huge following in Plymouth.
During the early 1970s venues like Disco 150, Snobs and The Roxy built loyal crowds.
At Fiesta we had a different musical theme almost every night. Mondays could feature U2 or Motörhead, while Sundays catered for ballroom dancers.
We also hosted some fantastic live soul and reggae artists, including The Real Thing.
Fiesta was easily one of the busiest venues in Plymouth during those years, and looking back, we must have been doing something right.
Do you remember beat-mixing arriving in Plymouth?
I always believed music should flow without dead air.
I wasn’t a “shouty” DJ. I preferred smooth voice-overs and seamless transitions.
When Tony Prince launched the Disco Mix Club (DMC), everything changed. It opened DJs’ eyes to proper beat-mixing techniques.
Before Technics SL-1200s became the industry standard, I even made my own slipmat from snooker table cloth to help records start instantly.
Today’s digital systems make mixing far easier than it was back then. In California I switched to OTS AV software, which I still use today for my soul nights.
Which club brings back the happiest memories?
Every venue played a part in my journey, but if I had to choose just one, it would be The Fiesta.
Those four years were unforgettable.
The crowds, the music, the atmosphere and the friendships made it a magical time—and some of the happiest years of my DJ career.
Leave a Reply