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Simon's career
in the music industry began in 1982; deciding he wasn't having much
luck with the ladies and discovering his record collection was growing
to rather large proportions, he did what any self respecting vinyl
junky and industry blagger would do: started DJing - playing for
his friends and promoting soul and funk nights at his local bar
in West London.
From there
he began promoting nights around London and spinning rare soul records
up and down the country. He has since managed to DJ from the legendary
Southport (has played there for the past 15 years), first played
in Ibiza in 1985 (when it was good etc, etc…), plays all over
the world, and has DJed alongside Roger Sanchez, Norman Jay, Bob
Jones and Gilles Peterson…amongst many others.
However DJing
and promoting is not Simon's only musical interest, few (quite a
large 'few') may be aware, that he now holds the position of Defected's
Managing and A&R Director and has done so since 1999. How then,
did he progress from being a promoter come DJ, with a pint of lager
in one hand and a few rare soul tunes in the other - to acquire
the respected position he holds today?
From 87 to
89 Simon worked behind the counter at the Record and Disco Centre
in Rayners Lane (London), whilst producing a fanzine: The London
Soul Circular, which was basically a couple of pages of photocopied,
cut and paste reviews and charts! As a result he began writing a
monthly column for Blues and Soul and caused such a stir that a
death threat was sent to the offices because he suggested that CeCe
Rogers' 'Someday' could be a soul record and should be played as
such on the scene.
He joined Cooltempo
records in December 89 and during the five years there promoted
Adeva, Innocence, Arrested Development, Gangstar and Shara Nelson...
He also signed Juliet Roberts, Masters at Work produced Love and
Happiness (with India on vocals) and remixed tracks under the guise
Touchdown - working with Steve Mac (not the Rhythm Masters one but
the one that now produces Boyzone / Westlife etc) and Gerald Elms
of Guitara G fame.
In 95 Simon
Moved to AM:PM, signing Ultra Nate, Mousse T, Alcatraz and Farley
and Heller, whilst also being responsible for the remixes of A&M's
main roster - Janet Jackson, Sting and the Police and the Sounds
of Blackness.
In 1999, Simon
left AM:PM to start his own Label: Defected Records. Since his first
release: Soulsearcher's Can't Get Enough - reaching number eight
in the national charts. He has signed such artists as: Junior Jack,
Paul Johnson, OnePhatDeeva, King Unique, Astrotrax, Ministers De
La Funk, Soulsearcher, Bob Sinclar, ATFC, Johnny Corporate, Loleatta
Holloway, Junior Jack, Dajae, Dubtribe Soundsystem, Kings of Tomorrow,
Kathy Brown, Banda Sonora, Shakedown and of course Roger Sanchez
- the artist with which Simon scored his first ever number one signing
- Another Chance. Other than Defected, Simon also has oversees -
Fluential, the darker sister label to Defected, whilst also partnering
Roger Sanchez in his newly launched Stealth label.
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Guest
DJ
