I’ve been playing music for over half my life now and actually enjoy it more now than I did years ago. Years ago it was about being noticed and getting DJ work, now it’s strictly for the love of music. I have nobody to impress.
Began trying to DJ at around 1987, playing Hip Hop to Breakdance to. So as you can imagine, it was a lot of scratching and no mixing at all. I was very fortunate to have a number of DJ influences around me. So I received some valuable guidance from some bloody good people. A few local lads and very good friends of mine, had already started to do house parties (Blues Parties) around our area and I joined the sound that was called “Solar Force”. We definitely rammed out some houses and the Labour hall in Ilford with some special party nights. Back then we were playing Hip Hop, Soul, Reggae and Rare groove. It was mid 1988 when we all together discovered the evolving rave scene and the House music movement. As for many, we were totally blown away by the movement and are musical direction changed. Now it was about mixing and blending and we had to adapt our delivery. Now, I can’t scratch my ass, let alone a record. Lol.

 
As the rave scene exploded, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work in a couple of independent record shops. Music Power records in Haringey was the first and it was there that I was exposed to a lot of other now famous DJ’s and producers. Any good record shop back then, was the place where all the networking was done. I had already played on Pirate radio (Rave Fm) and was very soon after, playing on the newly started Pulse Fm. I was definitely in the right place at the right time, as I was starting to get DJ work at various parties around the capital. I was definitely not a big name DJ, but was doing my bit for the scene at a lower level. As the music split into different sub genres, I found myself going down the Jungle / Drum n Bass route. I suppose it was my love for Hip Hop beats that took me that way.
The second record shop was run by myself (Bassline records, Seven Kings). As I had already made contacts through the scene, this was just a continuation of what had happened previously at Music Power. It was at this stage that I began to play both House and Drum n Bass. Not at the same time, obviously. I played House under the name of “Roger C” and Drum n Bass as “Buzby”. After all, House is the foundation of it all.

After around 18 months to 2 years myself and the owner of Bassline fell out, so I left. Now it was time to make the decision of full time work or part time DJ work. Full time work won, as I needed regular money. (Bills to pay and all that).
All though I was still playing on Pirate radio (London underground, now House FM) it was beginning to be difficult, as I had a full time job that wouldn’t allow me to play on a Pirate radio. (Government work) Wouldn’t look good if my superiors found out. I then had to make the decision to leave it alone.
Here I am today, still doing Government work and playing on Fuzionlive.com and I can, because it’s not illegal, so I don’t need to worry about the DTI crashing through the studio door.
My weekly show on Thursday night is called “The House Foundation Show” and as I said earlier House is the foundation of it all.

One love Buz.