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Chris Hill started
DJ-ing in the late 60's, having been around the Soho R&B scene
with his heroes Georgie Fame, Geno Washington and Chris Farlowe.
It was in Essex however that Chris established himself as the supremo
Soul Jock. Firstly in a small club in Orsett and then at the Goldmine,
Canvey Island.
Throughout the 70's the club as a catalyst for the growing underground
soul scene, and music fans from all over the country flocked to
the legendary Saturday nights, dancing to the latest American imports.
Many of those Goldminers went on to become stars in their own right:
Sade, Spandau Ballet rubbing shoulders with Incognito, Light of
the World. The Clash, Depeche Mode, Culture Club, Alison Moyet and
Soul II Soul, whilst many visiting American soul and jazz artist
would make a point of checking out the hottest soul spot in Europe.
At the height of its fame, Chris, who also by then had hit the British
Top Ten Charts himself with two comedy records of his own, decided
to move closer to London and began his now legendary residency at
Ilford s Lacy Lady. On its original site in Seven Kings, fashion,
style and music clashed in a spectacular shock wave that filled
the tabloids and fashion magazines, and later had echoes in the
punk and new romantic scenes, as well as laying the foundation for
today s current dance scene.
It seems everybody that went to The Lacy Lady in 1977 went on to
make records, form bands, produce films or make a name for themselves
in the world of TV, media or fashion. At The Lacy they were fed
a diet of the best music black America had to offer; hard driving
jazz funk, fusion and the hottest soul. It was here too, the jazz
scene was formed, with dance floors packed for the most uncompromising
bebop as well as the latest soul and disco from New York and Philadelphia.
It was during this period that along with DJ's Chris
Brown, Tom Holland and later
with Robbie Vincent, Greg Edwards and Sean
French that Hilly kicked off
the first soul Alldayers at the Reading Top Rank Suite, and then
later the massive Purley and Alexandra Palace affairs. The FUNK
MAFIA had been born, and in March 1979,
it launched its most ambitious project, the Caister Soul Weekender!
The original site at Caister, a few miles from Yarmouth on the Norfolk
coast, played host to the largest gathering of soul and jazz fans
there had ever been, for a whole weekend of music, mayhem and madness.
The British Soul Scene would never be the same again!
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