Undercover Don, who hosts The Mix and Blend Show every Friday from 3 – 6 pm, was born in Edmonton and raised in Wood Green, both located in North London,UK. His first memory of music was his dad playing blue beat records back in the mid-sixties and also playing classical music such as Beethoven and Bach on the school gramophone during assembly at school when he was 9 or 10. Eventually he started deejaying at the school parties from age 12 to 14. During this time his elder brothers bought records that he loved to listen and dance to. Also during this time one of his brother’s good friends Johnny Johnson (aka JJ) was Deejaying for a sound called Duke Roy and JJ along with his father and eldest two brothers were big influences on him musically. JJ played the best soul, ska, rocksteady, and early reggae of the day. By the age of 11 Don was buying soul and reggae records of the day and starting playing at friends birthday parties from around age 12/13.
Don followed a reggae sound system called Fatman Hi-Fi from the Tottenham area of North London who at the time, was one of the top sound systems in England. He started to get involved with Fatman Hi-Fi aged 14/15 as they could see his love for the music and they took him under their wing. Fatman Hi-Fi also had a record shop in Tottenham that he worked in selling records thus further developing his love for music.
Don lists Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Michael Jackson and James Brown as his favorite male singers as well as groups like The Temptations, Four Tops, Isley Brothers and female singers Diana Ross, Mary Wells, Dionne Warwick and Whitney Houston as major influences.
As far as his favorite reggae artists, Don lists the king of reggae music, (Robert) Bob Marley, the crown prince, Dennis Brown, the cool ruler Gregory Isaacs as well as John Holt, Johnny Clarke, Sugar Minott and groups such as The Heptones, The Clarendonians and The Techniques. Check out his website at http://c3347235.myzen.co.uk/influences/
Favorite Artist: Bob Marley
