The Talkin Loud Years: 1989 - 93

 

By now Jays achievements had seen him become a much respected icon on the UK dance scene. He was headhunted by Polygram Records to launch a new label called Talkin Loud with close friend and fellow deejay Gilles Peterson - signing amongst others - the likes of talented uk singer/songwriters Omar, Bryan Powell, Young Disciples, Galliano and Incognito. After four successful years - and many more happy years at Kiss - he decided it was time to quit both and pursue his first love - deejaying.

 

International DJ...

 

With the global rise in interest in UK deejay and dance culture, Jay has once again found his niche being extremely popular with a new generation of dance fans around the world. He regularly plays at a host of clubs, festivals and parties worldwide. Whether its playing upfront disco fuelled funky house in the nations main rooms and festivals or his much vaunted old skool jazzfunk, hip hop or chilled out beats in the back, he still manages to inject his rich musical heritage and quality in every set he plays. Whilst being amongst one of the most popular and credible contemporary deejays in the country today, he is also regularly cited as a major influence by a host of leading deejays and players worldwide who refer to him quite simply as The deejays DJ.

 

With increasing deejaying commitments around the world - including regular dj tours to countries such as Australia, USA, China, Japan, SE Asia, South Africa, South America, Russia and the Middle East - playing an eclectic mix of black and dance music - Norman has precious little time to do much else these days. He has also played in just about every major city in Europe - being one of the first ever British deejays to do so.

 

Apart from the punishing deejay schedule, he was again voted club DJ of the year 96/97 by Blues & Soul magazine and is the only DJ featured in the Face magazines book of club culture extracts from 1980-1997 called "Nightfever" and in 1998 Norman was a nominee for the Best Radio Personality category in GQ magazines annual Men Of The Year Awards.

 

Celebrity...

 

In January 2004 he made clubbing history by becoming the first ever DJ - direct from the streets to be invited to appear as a panellist on the nations most prestigeous and celebrated long running political debating forum; BBC Question Time. In June 2003, he was specially invited to deejay for the family and guests at the French international and Arsenal soccer star Thierry Henrys wedding.

 

He is without doubt the deejay of choice of the rich and famous celebrity set. He has played for the likes of Mick Jagger (now Sir Mick of course) at his exclusive 5Oth birthday party - Robert Di Nero, Michael Caine, George Michael, Will Smith, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Jamiroquai (who affectionately calls him the Godfather), Paul Weller (who has been quoted as saying that Jay is his favourite dj), comedian Lenny Henry (who reputedly modelled his pirate radio deejay TV character on Jay).

 

Others include top fashion designers Dolce & Gabanna, Vivienne Westwood, Katherine Hamnett, Gaultier, Tommy Hilfiger and an exclusive MTV party at Pierre Cardins magnificent space age villa overlooking the Mediterranean - located high up in the hills outside Cannes in the South of France. All the above have partied wildly to a funky Norman Jay set.

 

He is also often invited to play at the most prestigeous UK film premieres - including 101 Dalmations, Judge Dredd, Enemy Of The State, East Is East - and most recently - at the launch of movie giant Samuel L. Jacksons (one of his favourite actors) 51st State. He also presided over the decks at the multi million pound launch of Sky TVs new digital satalite cable channel at Londons Battersea Power Station.