LEGEND PROFILE: The Master J
Posted by Radiocafé on 02 Nov 2009 at 5:12 pm |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds
There are few individuals out there who can match the knowledge and appreciation of quality soul music of The Master J. Along with Greg Edwards, MJ continues to fly the flag for the very best in music and deserves his place alongside the greatest. His weekly Soul AM show on Unknown FM has entertained and educated lovers of soul music for (at the time of writing, Jan ‘10) nearly eight years - quite an achievement. If you want the very best in soul music, then at home with your radio is the only place to be between 10am and midday every Sunday. If you are out with the kids, at church of playing for your local five-a-side team on Sunday mornings, you can still hear the show on the fantastic soulAM.co.uk website, where many other great things can be found too.
What sets MJ apart from other soul DJs is his obvious passion for music, knowledge of the genre, and appreciation of what his audience wants to hear. His shows provide a weekly delve into a vast collection of original gems (not a CD in sight) which is an education in 70s and 80s soul and jazz funk. Each week, MJ serves up a perfect mix of those definitive tunes that filled the dance floors, together with some of the lesser known tracks that make you wonder why these do not continue to fill our clubs today.
In short, MJ serves up what is probably the best soul show on radio.. ever. His Dance Decade series focused on soul tracks from a different year each week, and we were treated to the very best that the years of 1979 to 1989 had to offer. A recent series focusing on album tracks, which was topped off with a show dedicated to the incredible 1980s StreetSounds compilations, demonstrated the originality and understanding that this experienced and talented broadcaster continually provides. Don’t be surprised to hear Greg Edwards himself contact the show either, as the two pioneers of soul go back a long way.
Regulars such as Dynasty, Change, Dayton, Kashif, Melba Moore, Luther and many other classic soul artists feature every week. But you will also hear lesser known artists, such as the likes of Status IV, Sentiment and TS Monk, which have become cult classics for the many devoted, worldwide listeners to his weekly session. No other show plays tunes such as these. No other presenter is doing this much for the good soul music cause.
If you are keen to learn about soul music, then we urge you to take a listen to Soul AM this coming Sunday to get a flavour of just how good things were in the 80s. For added effect, park your XR3i outside the house, put on your Sergio Tacchini tracksuit and Nike Bruins, and pop a TDK AD90 in the deck so you can listen to the show again during the week, which we guarantee you will want to do.
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(6 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Master J is an absolute legend and one of the greatest DJs I have ever listened to, following in the footsteps of some of my early radio inspirations such as Robbie Vincent and Gregg Edwards, the shows always dig up some real gems which just prove how little you know about the music after all these years
The love and respect for the music shines through both on the shows and playing live when he always manages to steal the show and keep the music lovers on the dancefloor
Keep going!
Thanks David - yes, we totally agree. Yesterday’s show (Sun 13 Jan) was quite simply amazing, featuring all those incredible StreetSounds compilations. We are looking forward to more of the same next Sunday, in a show that is an education in soul music.
Thanks for your support and do keep in touch!
Paul @ Radiocafe
i have had the pleasure to play onlong side mj.his passion,love and knowledge for soul music shines through every time.a true soul boy/man. his soul am show on a sunday is simply fantastic you can feel the passion this man has for the music he loves so dearly. every sunday its a sunny day, im 15 again washing my dads ford cortina listening to soul music played the way it should be. a true proffesional a true dj which makes playing along side him an honour. peace..
Thanks for your comment, Chris - great to see another great name of radio here. Hope all is going well.
I too have had the pleasure of knowing and working with the Master J. Until I met up with him in the early 90’s I had given up hope, hope that anyone could bring back some of those sensations that I experienced in the 80’s, at venues like the Goldmine, Stage 3, Zero 6, and of course the early Caister, he did.
His only anxiety is not knowing enough about each and every vinyl he plays and not seeking perfection on his sets. I find his ceaseless enthusiasm for Soul music
extraordinary. I am indebted to you wayne, many thanks. His show on Sunday must not be missed.
Thanks for the credit in your biography MJ, I am flattered that you consider my mixing an influence on your life! It is good to know you are still out there doing it! I also worked with the legend that is Greg Edwards - every Tuesday at “The Dun Cow” in the Old Kent Road - remember that gig? Maybe you were there?
I am still playing soul on Solar Radio! Now to be found at CH-0129 on Sky Digital to the UK and Europe and on the Internet at www.solarradio.com My show goes out Every Saturday night at 8-10 pm. Maybe you fancy coming along to do a guest spot to play some tunes and talk about “the good old days?”.
Keep the faith.
Les “Mixdoctor” Adams.
Master J.
I have known this man for 6 years. During this time, he has made me realise that the eighties was the place to be from “average white band” to “Zapp” !! He supplies the lot. from the pirates of Horrizon, Solar, JFM, Radio London to the Caister soul weekends.
The memories come flooding back. Always and forever Stevie K!!!
“Sir” Les Adams… thanks so much for your input! I often play a George Benson mastermix of yours, which I have from an old Solar FM recording. It’s great to know you are still out there, on the excellent Solar Radio. A number of my friends often mention your mastermixes, copies of which are much sought after these days. If you’d care to send over some further details and a piccie, we’d be pleased to add you to our Legends pages as you are more than worthy of an entry. In the meantime, welcome to the Radiocafe family.
Stevie - well said - Master J follows in the footsteps of Les, and the man serves up the finest mix of soul and jazz funk in the true 80s style (or “stylee” as we would have called it back then). Thanks for your contribution and do keep in touch!
Paul
Thank you for your kind words Paul. I would be flattered to be added to the “legends” page and I will send you my biog and a current picture - once I’ve had it air-brushed!
Seriously though, to be referred to as a “legend” now seems strange as back then I was, like any other DJ, just doing what I loved to do… play great music in the best way I could. My gift from God was that I could listen to two beats simultaneously, one in each ear, and match them together! I was taught the basics of BPM, beat and bar structure in 1978 by an American DJ who had just moved to London, his name was Greg James. He was a the first DJ to bring beat mixing to the UK and was a good friend and understudy of Richie Kaczor, the resident “spinner” at the infamous New York club “Studio 54″. At the time I didn’t know that what Greg taught me was different or new, I thought it was what all dj’s did and I just hadn’t learned it yet! Matching beats and bars just seemed like a good way of getting seamlessly from one record to another. So, I guess without knowing at the time, I became one of the first in the UK to do it properly. I will leave the rest for the biog!
Master J, maybe we ought to get together and do a mix?
Really looking forward to receiving the biog and pic and putting a page together for you, Les.
I don’t think people appreciate enough what a skill - in fact, an art - good deejaying is, and you really made the most of that gift! We think it’s so important for people to appreciate what an enormous contrubution individuals like you made to British music. You helped shape the radio that we hear today, and many of today’s deejays owe much to what you did back then.
And to hear all this from your point of view is fascinating. I doubt you could have learned your craft from anyone (or anywhere - Studio 54!) better. There’s so much we’d love to hear about those days back in the 80s, all those mastermixes, Solar FM and where it all led to… hope we can extract some more of your pearls of wisdom!
The daughter of Neil Charles, another LWR jock from back in the day, recently contacted us. She is putting together a documentary on 80s pirate radio, some of which we hope to feature here soon. This is the sort of history lesson we want!
We’re hoping Radiocafe will become the happy home of 80s soul radio, and other good radio memories, not just for those who lived through it and loved it but hopefully also a whole new generation who deserve more than they are currently offered.
To have people like Master J and you on board, who put so much into this genre, really made such a contribution, and continue to do so, is fantastic.
Thanks once again and yes, we’d love to hear you and Master J join forces for a mix!
Paul
This is the man who i truly believe deserves the upmost respect, who 5 years ago dropped circle city band ‘magic’ over the airwaves after i requested this rare little gem, and to hear it that sunday morning absolutely blew me away & i knew i had stumbled on to very special dj. Mj will not only play the finest soul & funk but he also plays what his listeners want to hear. Through the love of soul music he’s become not only a fantastic dj but a great friend too!
Keep it real MJ
nothing better than waking up to master j on sunday morning
since i discovered him it changed my sundays and brought all my memories flooding back.
thanks mj
We’re honoured to have The Master J celebrating his 6th Year on Soul AM (Unknown FM) at our night forthcoming on:
Friday 4th April 2008.
Strut @ Corks, 28 Binney St, London W1K 5BW. (2 mins from Bond St Tube)
£3 Before 9pm £5 after…All drinks 2 for 1 before 9pm.
Its going to be a huge party for Master J….dont’ miss this opportunity to catch him ‘live’ behind the decks for a night of pure 100% 70’s & 80’s Soul n Boogie…
We also have Soul Boy Chris Box from Wales (Jazz Syndicate Radio) playing nothing but the best in early 80’s Boogie…
Strut Hosts: Paul Leney & Retro Russ..
So don’t miss out on this night to see the one and only Master J….
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Upcoming DJ’s at Strut: Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson, Bobby & Steve (Garage City), Jerome (JazzCotech/Messin Around) & more!!
EVERY FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.
100% 70’s & 80’s FUNK SOUL DISCO BOOGIE & JAZZFUNK.
Master J reminds us what good music is every Sunday morning- great memories. Deafens the neighbours! What a lovely personable guy he is too, brightens my day, luv him. x
hi mate looking good as ever. can you still summons the blood up lol you know what i mean. i hope. mail back w xxx
hi mate looking good as ever. can you still summons the blood up lol you know what i mean. i hope. mail back w xxx
Master J did a guest for me a while back!
hope he can make it along for a legends night on 27th November! @ East Village.
GEORGE POWER (CRACKERS), PAUL ANDERSON, SNOWBOY, PERRY LOUIS AND GARY DENNIS!
Would like to see MJ out on the circuit!!!
Could someone out there help me identify a track I heard Master J play ages ago ………… Its a Funky kind of late 80’s New York type urban tune, female vocals, medium paced beat with a very very cool base line,
I remember words from the track include “radio” “AM\FM”, “some people have rhythm”, “and the beat goes on”
Master J would know but I dont know his email address.
Thanks anyone
Hi Koonseng the tune your after is Natasha King AM-FM from 1983
cheers check out my videos here http://www.youtube.com/user/boogiel01
personal message to the mj, wazzzzzzzzuuuuup! keep kickin it geezer, started listening to the turntable GOD years ago n lost track, after searchin for over a year i’ve finally found you. Git mi dow!
Remember Old Trafford???
shout back….. BARNY B.