Colin Curtis (DJ)
Colin Curtis |
|---|
Colin Curtis (real name Colin Dimond) is a British DJ who is closely associated with the 1970s Northern soul scene. He was born in 1952 in Madeley in Staffordshire, UK [1].
As a teenager in the 1960s, Colin developed a passion for music through listening to Pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline and through a friend’s sister who would listen to Tamla Motown records at their house[2]. He then became interested in collecting black American music through attending Northern soul all-nighters at clubs such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester and the Golden Torch in Tunstall, Stoke and began DJ-ing in the late 1960s at the Crystal Ballroom in Newcastle-under-Lyme [3].
In 1974, after the closure of the Golden Torch, Colin began a residency at the Blackpool Mecca’s Highland Room soul nights with fellow DJ and collector Ian Levine which lasted until 1978. Hitherto, the Northern soul scene had been a revivalist movement built around obscure US recordings from the 1960s which conformed to a certain rhythmic and vocal template. However, the Curtis/Levine duo are noted for successfully introducing contemporary styles of African-American music such as Disco and Jazz Funk onto their Highland Room playlists and, as a result, the creation of a split in the Northern soul movement which led to the parallel Modern soul sub-genre [4].
Notes
- ^ Colin Curtis: DJHistory.com Interview with Colin Curtis by Bill Brewster on DJHistory.com
- ^ Mark Cotgrove, From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz: The History of the UK Jazz Dance Scene, Section 2 "The Interviews", page 86
- ^ Colin Curtis: DJHistory.com Interview with Colin Curtis by Bill Brewster on DJHistory.com
- ^ Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Chapter four, page 106, Fighting for the soul of soul
Bibliography
- Neil Rushton (2009). Northern Soul Stories: Angst and Acetates. Soulvation. ISBN 978-0-9564569-1-5.
- Mark Cotgrove (2009). From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz: The History of the UK Jazz Dance Scene. Chaser Publications. ISBN 978-1-4389-7360-9.
- David Nowell (2001). Too Darn Soulful: The Story of Northern Soul. Robson Books. ISBN 1-86105-431-9.
External links
- Colin Curtis Connection Colin Curtis' regularly updated blog
- Discogs: Mecca Magic Blackpool Mecca compilation LP compiled by Colin Curtis and Ady Croadsell
 | This British biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |