Meet David Rodigan, the white British, Oxford-educated reggae aficionado who rules dancehalls around the globe.
Roddy is definitely “smaddy” in the dancehall. He is also white, middle-class and British. Short and balding, he is the most unlikely-looking selector. But don’t be taken in by his looks or the English accent (Oxford, no less). Rival sound systems have make the mistake, and barely survived the sound clash to tell the tale of the Gentleman Rude Bwoy who slaughtered them with big tunes.
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In 2005 he was inducted into the Sony Radio Academy Hall Of Fame and has also won three highly coveted Sony Radio Academy Gold Awards; The Music Broadcaster Of The Year. (Kiss 100 – 2004), The Specialist Music Broadcaster Of The Year (Kiss 100 – 2009), The Specialist Music Broadcaster Of The Year (BBC Radio 2 – 2012), and in 2012 he was awarded the MBE for “services to broadcasting” at Buckingham Palace. At Easter in 2012 he won the highest honour in reggae sound system culture by winning the World Clash Re-Set contest in New York against opponents, Bass Odyssey, Black Kat, Tony Matterhorn, Fire Links, Earth Ruler and Poison Dart. He plays his unique collection of customised dub plates and classic recordings extensively across Europe, especially in Italy and Germany, and in North America and the West Indies, to loyal reggae fans worldwide.
http://www.rodigan.com/bio/
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Few can match David Rodigan's exhaustive knowledge of reggae and its history. The man is a living encyclopedia of the dance-hall culture and its riddims; the sound systems and their colorful personalities, and the legends and their various contributions to the growth of the genre. His infectious enthusiasm for — and unapologetic embrace of — the music of the masses have earned him the love and devotion of reggae lovers worldwide. I am sure that there was once a time when he was seen as a novelty and people treated him with condescending humor; those days are long gone. The man has assumed his rightful place as a giant in the arena. He is to be feared and respected.
Rah!
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Some years ago I was spending New Year’s in NY with family and took the Metro-North into Grand Central, and a cab from there into Queens. The driver was blasting a tape of a clash between two sound systems and I was enjoying the selections. The voice of one of the selectors came on and from the back seat I said, "Rodigan at the control!" The driver looked over with a startled expression on his face. "Yuh know him?" "I know of him," I replied.
"I am his personal driver, you know. When he comes to New York, I always pick him up and get him to wherever he needs to go. I just picked him up yesterday."
"Really?" I said politely.
"Yes. You want to talk to him? He would love to talk to you."
"He would?"
"Whaaat? Trust me. Let me call him."
With that, he whipped out his cell phone and made the call. "I have someone who wants to talk to you," he said to the party who answered. Uh? So now I am the one who wants to talk to him? You aren't slick, mister; I saw what you did there. "What's your name?" he mouthed. I told him and he promptly relayed that bit of information to the man himself.
He handed me the phone. "Hello," I said. There was no mistaking the voice that answered. "Hi there, 'M'. I just met a girl named..." he started to sing. Well now, like every other red-blooded woman, I’m a sucker for the English accent all day...and all night. (Please note that Pier’s Morgan’s voice does not qualify).
We were on the phone for some 10-12 minutes... the (mainly one-sided) conversation ended with him exacting a promise that I'd be at the New Year's function to be held the following evening. When I promised, I had every intention of going. I cannot now recall just why I didn't go, but I will see him perform yet. It's on my bucket list.
In his element: