|
|
| DJ History
|
Last year, as a member of the LWP, we had just finished negotiations with MCPS/PRS for the ProDub licence and it was time for the Musicians Union's AGM. As I am a member, I went along on behalf of DJs, in an effort to gain a higher profile for our profession within the union. I had a very good reception and they thanked the LWP for the work we had done, which is obviously to their advantage also. As a result of that meeting, I had a phone call from SEDA asking if I would negotiate further with the MU in order to disperse the traditional animosity of musicians towards DJs. This got me thinking. When did it begin?
My first thought was that it probably started in the 50s or 60s. But I decided to research the history of the bad feeling and in doing so found that I actually researched the history of the DJ and how our profession started, which I thought would be perfect for a Pro Mobile article. So, here we go with a brief history of DJing.
Firstly, what is a DJ? The definition I found courtesy of Wikipedia was:-
"A disc jockey or disk jockey (also known as DJ or deejay) is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, disk referred to phonograph records, while disc refers to the Compact Disc, and has become the more common spelling.
There are several types of disc jockeys. Radio DJs introduce and play music that is broadcast on AM, FM, shortwave, digital, or internet radio stations. Club DJs select and play music in bars, nightclubs, discothèques, at raves, or even in stadiums. Hip-hop disc jockeys select and play music using multiple turntables, often to backup one or more MCs. In reggae, the disc jockey (deejay) is a vocalist who raps, "toasts", or chats over pre-recorded rhythm tracks while the individual choosing and playing them is referred to as a selector. Mobile disc jockeys travel with portable sound systems and work at a variety of events."
That explains our profession, but when did it begin. Obviously, it was after the inventors had discovered how to record sound onto a solid base, initially a wax cylinder, then later a flat Bakelite disc. At some point, somebody must have started playing music outside of family groups, to a wider audience.
Written By Robbie Earl |
|
The full article can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 38, Pages 28 - 30 |
|
|
|
Copyright EJ Media 2003 - 2010
|
|
