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THE LIFE STORY OF THE LEGENDARY BRITISH DJ, NORMAN JAY MBE
‘Full of the heart and spirit Norman Jay brings to his music, but it also offers a salutary account of growing up as part of the Windrush generation in London’s Notting Hill, the violence and racism he faced, and his success’ Observer
Mister Good Times is the enthralling story of a black kid growing up in a (largely white) working class world; of vivid, often violent experiences on the football terraces; of the emerging club scene growing out of a melting pot of styles; of how Jay, with his contemporaries, took the music of Black America, gave it a distinctly London twist, and used the marriage of styles to forge a hugely successful career as a trailblazing DJ and broadcaster, becoming an inspiration to a whole generation of dance music fans, black and white, without ever compromising his integrity.
Along the way are tales of adventures across the country following Spurs; of Northern Soul nights, warehouse parties and illegal raves; of sound systems, the good and bad times of the Notting Hill carnival, the heady days of pirate radio, Rare Groove and the burgeoning British dance music scene.
Mister Good Times is the story of a man who has lived his life on his own terms, helping to define a new British culture.
‘Full of the heart and spirit Norman Jay brings to his music, but it also offers a salutary account of growing up as part of the Windrush generation in London’s Notting Hill, the violence and racism he faced, and his success’ Observer
Mister Good Times is the enthralling story of a black kid growing up in a (largely white) working class world; of vivid, often violent experiences on the football terraces; of the emerging club scene growing out of a melting pot of styles; of how Jay, with his contemporaries, took the music of Black America, gave it a distinctly London twist, and used the marriage of styles to forge a hugely successful career as a trailblazing DJ and broadcaster, becoming an inspiration to a whole generation of dance music fans, black and white, without ever compromising his integrity.
Along the way are tales of adventures across the country following Spurs; of Northern Soul nights, warehouse parties and illegal raves; of sound systems, the good and bad times of the Notting Hill carnival, the heady days of pirate radio, Rare Groove and the burgeoning British dance music scene.
Mister Good Times is the story of a man who has lived his life on his own terms, helping to define a new British culture.
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Reviews
Norman Jay MBE has lived a life fuller than most can imagine, having witnessed practically every pivotal moment in UK black culture over the past half century . . . Mister Good Times [is] the story of his life that also doubles up as a first-hand account of the growth of black music culture in the UK, thanks to the fact that it was Jay who was largely responsible for spearheading said growth. He is the pioneer, the author of the musical blueprint that black people in the industry will follow for years to come
Norman's contribution to club culture is immeasurable; his passion for music knows no bounds and it was as a result of his groundbreaking warehouse parties that people from all walks of life came together to enjoy the 'rare grooves' that he had spent his entire life collecting. He brought new life to undiscovered classics and in doing so turned on a whole new generation
If you've been to a music festival or a club in the past two decades, there's a good chance you've heard the joyful DJing of Norman Jay, whose contributions to dance in Britain are among the most significant by anyone alive today. His memoir is full of the heart and spirit he brings to his music, but it also offers a salutary account of growing up as part of the Windrush generation in London's Notting Hill, the violence and racism he faced, and his success. This book, to use his phrase, has its own "rare groove"
Who better to cheer you up than pioneering DJ Jay? . . . Covering everything from the Notting Hill Carnical and the trials of supporting Tottenham Hotspur to pirate radio and rare groove, this will put a smile back on your face