CHAD JACKSON - BIOGRAPHY
Chad Jackson started behind the decks before it was even trendy to be a DJ, and today can be credited as one of the people that popularised the art of DJ Mixing and remixing around the world. He was one of the first ever globally known superstar DJs.
Back in the late 80s, a flyer with his name on it meant queues outside clubs like Legends in Manchester and the infamous Wigan Pier - which he inherited from his great friend and inspiration at the time Greg Wilson. Along with Greg, Chad was one of the first British DJs to start DJ mixing in the early 80s. His regular live and recorded mixes on Manchesters Piccadilly/Key 103 radio station had the whole of the North West of Britain with their fingers on the tape-deck record button. The original cassettes are highly prized today, with people inundating Chads website for copies of these famous mixes.
This soon led to Chad being headhunted by Manchesters legendary Hacienda club, who asked Chad to become resident. Chad was one of the architects of the scene that followed, introducing the crowds, including many who would go on to create the Madchester scene, to the newly emerging house music sound and creative DJ mixing techniques.
While at the Hacienda he started producing remixes exclusively for use on the legendary DMC DJ-only collections showcasing his eclectic taste, including Grace Jones, Prince, Public Enemy, Deelite and Fatboy Slim, many of which are highly collectable on sites such as Ebay today.
In 1987 he proved his mixing abilities by becoming the Technics/DMC World DJ Mixing Champion at the Royal Albert Hall in London, having secured the UK title a year before. This success led to him being one of the first DJs to undertake a world tour, including stop-offs in New York to become the first European competitor in the Battle For World Supremacy at New Yorks New Music Seminar (in which he unfortunately messed up due to nerves and a bad set of needles - you win some, you lose some), Russia, Japan, Brazil, the Cannes Film Festival and an MTV Christmas Party!
By 1990 Chads focus had turned to studio production, with the creation of his Inner World Audio recording studio, in which numerous productions and remixes took place - remixing the likes of De La Soul, Norman Cook's Beats International, Kirsty McColl, Bizzare Inc, Run DMC, and Mantronix.
His first solo work followed and Chad Jacksons Hear The Drummer Get Wicked went straight to the top of charts around the world, No 1 in the UK Dance Charts, No.2 in the UK National Chart.
When MP3 arrived, Chad saw the possibility of a long-lingering death for his beloved vinyl. Ministry Of Sound also saw that possibility, and together they toured the major UK Universities, performing perhaps the first ever computer MP3 DJ mixing demonstrations, in workshops designed to promote the arrival of digital mixing.
This gave Chad a taste for the rewards of education, which has led to his current senior lecturing position as a Tutor of Music Production, MIT & Music Culture at the acclaimed Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford. Many of his past students are currently having great success in many areas of the industry.
Recent original production projects include Brake and Rock on the Acetate label, Nova Symphony by Feedback (No 1 Update Buzz Chart) and Drumscape Peptide Bass and Transmission.
He is currently producing a new project, Group Therapy, with old friend DJ Dave Seaman (founder of Brothers In Rhythm and writer/producer for artists like Kylie Minogue). The first two releases in the bag My Own Worst Enemy and Faith Again have received widespread DJ acclaim and heavy chart action. 2005 saw a No1 Music Week Club Chart from Dave and Chad (under the Brothers In Rhythm guise), of Tears For Fears new single Closest Thing To Heaven.
Chads recent releases include Energise on Fabric Live - Plump DJs, Do You Do Voodoo on Audio Therapy and Get Your Boogie On with Cut La Roc's Rocstar label. He is currently producing new singles and mix albums for Renaissance, Dave Seaman, Anthony Pappa and a new release of his own, including a new updated version of 'Hear The Drummer".
More information can be found at the official Chad Jackson website:
www.chadjackson.co.uk
Richard Searling
First off, just a little bit about me…..born back in June 1952, I m a geminian, married (to Judith) and have one daughter, Carolyn April.
Educated at Stand Grammar in Whitefield near Manchester I left to pursue a career in teaching which petered out when it became clear I was happier rooting through junk shops for obscure records thanI was studying! Then, after a fairly disastrous spell working for the DHS in Salford I was lucky enough to get a warehouseman’s job at Global Records in Manchester, the very first importer of American vinyl – where one of the perks was being flown to Philadelphia 3 times in 1973 to look for rare soul records – a tough job but somebody had to do it! From Global I moved onto a record retailing venture (Tracks) with W H Smiths in Bolton, before in 1975 I was appointed shop manager ar Russ’s Records in Wigan. Russ ran the shop and hired me after we met at the legendary Wigan Casino where he was the resident DJ. In 1976 shortly after compiling my first LP for RCA, “Jumpin at the Go Go” ,they offered me a position as North West promotions manager working with my dear (now sadly-departed) friend and svengali, Derek Brandwood . From RCA I progressed to become a music buyer at Makro in 1981 and then onto to Lifetime Entertainment in Warrington and Morrisons supermarkets in a similar capacity, up until my “retirement” earlier this year.
Running parallel with all this was a DJ-ing career which started in 1971 via a contact at Ralph’s Records in Manchester and eventually enabled me to play great venues like Va-Vas in Bolton, The Pendelum in Manchester and the Wigan Casino. Between 1976-80 I played just about every major city in the UK , until in 1981 I moved into radio broadcasting. Firstly at Radio Hallam in Sheffield and Red Rose in Preston, before I helped set up the first independent community station in Manchester (Sunset Radio) in 1989. In 1995 I moved to the newly formed Jazz FM in Salford where I remained until my departure in September 2009. Among my activities at present are promotions organized at the Hilton hotels in Birmingham and Blackpool, as well as events at The Tower Ballroom in Blackpool and The King Georges Hall in Blackburn.
My hobbies include spending quality time with my family, collecting soul music, following Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, making money and mowing the lawn. My favourite places to visit include the Lake District , and Florida USA where I have a home close to the attractions.
