Gilles Peterson
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Gilles Peterson is an influential DJ and record-label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz and Talkin' Loud he has been associated with the careers of countless well-known artists of the 1990s. He is also well known as a radio DJ: he used to have a radio show on London's Kiss FM dance music station, but was recruited to the BBC's youth-oriented Radio 1 in 1998. Peterson is known for his eclectic musical selections. Though not as "anything goes" as the late John Peel, he plays anything from dub and reggae through jazz, nu-jazz, drum and bass and hip-hop.
History
In the mid- and late- 1980s, Gilles Peterson was already known on the London circuit as a DJ specialising in the new breed of "acid jazz", drawing on the jazz, funk and Latin fusions of the 1970s. He had a radio slot on BBC Radio London in 1986, then ran a notable club night in Camden. In 1988 he and Eddie Pillar founded Acid Jazz Records, an influential label whose roster included the Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, Corduroy, the James Taylor Quartet and Snowboy.
In 1990 he left Acid Jazz and founded Talkin' Loud. This label had artists like Courtney Pine, MJ Cole, The Young Disciples, Reprazent and 4hero - whose albums each received a Mercury Music Prize nomination, (only Reprazent winning, in 1997) - as well as Incognito, Terry Callier, Galliano and others.
He has also released several DJ mix CDs and compilation CDs.
External links
- Biography on BBC Radio 1 website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/urban/peterson/gilles_biog1.shtml)
- Gilles Peterson discography at discogs.com (http://www.discogs.com/artist/Gilles+Peterson)