http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html DJ Purple (the duke of House): Blog Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:04:27 -0800 http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/another_reason_that_5_magazine_is_a_lifeline
Verbatim from the magazine: “There’s a track on the Black Album, “Cindy C”, which makes a reference to Steve “Silk” Hurley’s “Music Is The Key”, and releases from the “Gett Off” era were remixed by ID Productions and others”¦” What?! I have the Black Album, so my next move was to play the song and listen for myself. Sure enough, “music is the key to set yourself free”¦” at the end of the song. My jaw dropped at the realization that I just learned something new! Was Prince a Househead????

Once again, 5 Magazine continues to be a “lifeline””¦]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/another_reason_that_5_magazine_is_a_lifeline Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:04:27 -0800 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/dj_purples_current_flavahs__january_2011
Producer Yah Sharif featuring Amera Light — “MA’AT POWER (Be Strong)” [Messengers of House]
Third Party featuring Johan Greaves — “Alright” [Mi Casa]
Frankie Knuckles — “Chicago Theme (La Sonata di Fascia Bassa)”
Mark Grant featuring Russoul - “You R The 1” [Blackstone]***5 Magazine Remix is doing the damage for me right now”¦
Ron Trent — “Message to the World”
Matthew Bandy featuring Venus Cruz — “Time Me” [Soul Heaven]
Stevie Wonder — “My Love Is On Fire” ***DJ Spinna heats it up”¦
Papo Sanchez — “Guaguanco” [T’s Box]
Sun Singleton — “Ready” [Stilnovo]
Inaya Day — “My Cry” [Slaag]
Amana Melome` — “Nao Falo” [Irma Casa Di Priordine]
Positive Flow — “Dance Of The Soul” [Stilnovo]]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/dj_purples_current_flavahs__january_2011 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:48:59 -0800 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/special_project_wfriends
First, Happy New Year! Now is the time for reflection and a recharging of the batteries (if even for short time). I am in the midst of pursuing a very special project that has been in the pipeline for some time now. For this project I will be soliciting input from other people, which should make things even more exciting. The project? Allow me to explain”¦

Every DJ has a story about how they got into spinning records, and how they were influenced. I will be putting down my thoughts about music in general, and time span will be from 1971 — 2010; four decades. I only state 1971 vs 1970 because ’71 is my year of birth. This recollection of memories will basically be about some of my shared experiences as well as events that only I could experience through the decades, and the subject matter will be varied. One element of my storytelling will be that of including excerpts from outside sources: family, friends, etc. This is where you enter the picture. If our acquaintance/friendship was shaped in any form by music I would love to hear from you. What do you remember the most about me? What were our shared experiences? What stood out the most? I will most likely have an idea of what I would state from my own perspective, but what makes the project have more appeal is the perspective of other people involved.

There is no age limit nor time factor restriction apart from the previously stated year group. If we were acquainted at any time between 1971 — 2010 you fit the category and may proceed to give me feedback about what you remember. There is also one other rule: there is no such thing as too much information. If you have several different moments that you wish to recount by all means do so. The worst thing that can happen is that I break the one big project into several smaller projects”¦

Cheers to you all.

Now start writing!

:D]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/special_project_wfriends Sat, 01 Jan 2011 14:50:59 -0800 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/commentary_old_habits_are_hard_to_break
First off, I am NOT against advancement. As much as I am a 70s and 80s kid I can still appreciate (some) music of today. My thing is that it has to appeal to me in a certain way in order for me to react to it. For instance there is an artist by the name of Rogiers who I am drawn to because his sound is “interesting”. When I listen to his tracks I hear musicianship — not just random noise, and that appeals to me. I approach DJ equipment in the same fashion — the piece of equipment MUST appeal to me. I have often been (and could very well continue to be) teased about my equipment because by today’s standards it’s “ancient”. I have two Technics 1210 turntables and a Pioneer CMX — 3000 CD mixer as my main output sources, and if I really wanted to dust off some music I could still use an additional output from a SONY TC-WE475 double cassette deck (that’s right, I said “cassette”). What? No Serato? No iPod? That’s correct — no software hookups, and no iPods. Why”¦because they don’t appeal to ME. I am a kinesthetic person, meaning I sometimes communicate by touch. But I also appreciate “visuals”, so I can best be described as a “touchy-feely-seeing type”. This is where my stubbornness for vinyl comes into the big picture.

I was a “collector” of vinyl records long before I decided to become a DJ — about 10 years to be precise. I would buy a record and just enjoy listening, watching it spin around on the portable turntable, looking at the sleeves, or reading the liner notes and cover art. I “touched” and I “saw”. Teaching myself how spin records was very easy because I continued to “touch” (vinyl — turntable — mixer) and “see” (label artwork — mental pictures as the record plays — breaks in the gooves), and that appealed to me more than anything else. I was not so much interested in become a “Turntablist” or “Scratch DJ”, though I loved hearing scratching in the early 80s rap records (“Roxanne, Roxanne” and Run D.M.C. joints) and seeing guys like Kid Capri or Jazzy Jeff doing their thing on TV. My niche would simply be to create an environment for dancing — period. When I play a record, you dance”¦end of story.

Nowadays I still play records, but when the occasion calls for it I will use CDs. Another DJ might go with CDs only. Yet another DJ (or “she-jay”) might use only Serato. My whole thing is this one question: “how does the music sound when the DJ is playing?” Compare this to having a hammer in your toolbox. A hammer is used to drive nails into the wall. You have the hammer and nails, but if you don’t use the hammer correctly, you could end up trying to drive your thumb into the wall — ouch! The point is that for me it’s not the “madness” (the equipment hype) but the “method” (how well you use your tools) that gets my attention. Are you driving a ”˜nail’ or a ”˜thumb’ into the wall? When I use my Technics 1210s I drive ”˜nails’ into the walls! I choose to remain a “vinylsaur” simply because this is how I am wired. If the day comes when there are absolutely NO more vinyl records pressed, released, or sold then I will cease buying vinyl. Until that day comes this vinyl habit will be one of those that is IMPOSSIBLE to break.

My tools!]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/commentary_old_habits_are_hard_to_break Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:41:28 -0800 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/reinvention_of_dj_purple
I have been a DJ since 1993 and I have purchased music since 1983 — add in my lifetime appreciation for music in that I’ve listened to it practically all my life. My love of music is as strong now as it has ever been. Now I am at the point where I feel that my eclectic taste in music can no longer be held back and kept in bondage by “imaginations” and “strongholds”. What I mean in a literal sense is that while the function of the DJ is to entertain there is certainly room for education.

In my reinvention I am incorporating several different catch-words that will now define DJ PURPLE - Purple: royalty. Duke: a ruler of a territory. Spiritual: of the spirit or the soul. Harmonic: in harmony. Sonic: having to do with sound. Organic: systematically arranged.
DJ PURPLE. My style is “soulful dance music”.
Re-tooling my “brand” - in the past I described myself as a soulful house DJ. Now I am simply

Re-evaluating my “mission” — in the past my mission was to create the atmosphere for “a soulful, melodic, and spiritual clubbing experience”. Now my mission is to create an “organic” experience.

My renewed “package” — in the past my “package” was that of a professional DJ available for various types of functions and events stateside and overseas. While this has not changed, the depth of it has. Now I have purposed it in my heart that I would always give of my heart and soul at each and every performance for which I am hired; my taste in music knows no boundaries — and neither will my musical expressions.]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/reinvention_of_dj_purple Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:15:37 -0800 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/october_2008__and_the_mix_that_sealed_the_deal_was_regarding_5_magazine_post
“'Twas the green one, "Soul Revival"”

Sometimes it pays to stay in your element”¦]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/october_2008__and_the_mix_that_sealed_the_deal_was_regarding_5_magazine_post Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:45:25 -0700 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/october_2008__5_magazine_dj_series
Now I’ve entered a fair share of DJ battles/competitions/contests, and while I never placed any higher that second, I always entered these events with three basic mindsets: 1. enter for the sake of networking. 2. by entering a competition I am contributing to the House Music scene. 3. I must play in my element - in other words, “be yourself” so that the judges hear ”˜you’. I had no other expectations since I felt that the contest targeted Chicago residents and at the moment I resided in Salt Lake City. Nevertheless, the decision to enter the contest was purely instinctual. In fact, I couldn’t decide on just ONE mix, so I sent two: “Chicago Classics from the Vault” and “Soul Revival — Volume Five”. I went to the post office and mailed my package”¦

Fast-forward to October 5, 2008, when I got the following email from Terry Matthew, one of the managing editors for 5 Magazine:

“Hi Reggie,

You're one of the finalists for the 5 Magazine DJ Series contest. Congratulations!

In order to expedite the process, I need t get from you a high resolution photo (at least 2 inches x 2 inches at 300 dpi). At this point we expect the photo to be printed regardless of whether or not you're the final winner. I need to get this from you as soon as possible -- sometime within the next week.

Thank you!”


Let’s just say that this qualifies as a significant event! I’m a finalist, and I got some love from my hometown!]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/october_2008__5_magazine_dj_series Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:44:56 -0700 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/response_to_homework_assignment__enjoy

"Study Questions 8 and 15


Question 15

There is a class/genre of music that is very much misunderstood, and this question affords me the platform to address it. This genre is called House Music. The reason that House Music is misunderstood is because it is typically an “underground” genre, meaning that it is prevalent in after-hours nightclubs and college radio stations. House Music got its beginnings in downtown Chicago via the night club. The majority of the patrons at the time were young Black men, but soon all sorts of people from various other parts of town were frequenting the clubs across the city. In the 1980s House Music was popularized in New York, Detroit and London. In the early 1990s it became big news across the rest of the US, with a featured article in USA Today in 1990 (and another one a year later). Top 40 radio stations were dedicating weekend slots to the music. Other European and Asian countries were taking hold. People were drawn to the pulsating beats and rhythms. One theory behind the rapid expansion of House Music was that the message in the music was simply that of Love, Peace, and Harmony. To further expound on those themes a sub-genre soon emerged and took the dance community by storm: Gospel House. There is a poplar vocal speech (often used in the “real” underground clubs) that sums up the House Music culture: “You may be Black. You may be White. You may be Jew or Gentile. It don’t make a difference in our house”¦” Today House Music can be heard in the most unlikely locations — given it’s beginnings in the big city. There are events in places such as Denver, Atlanta, Omaha, and even Salt Lake City. These are “smaller” markets compared to Chicago, New York or Detroit. With House Music, ethnicity and social status is not an issue since the music is literally made by people worldwide. The one thing that stands out the most is that House Music is a reincarnation of Disco, and that music was special in its own way, too."]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/response_to_homework_assignment__enjoy Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:42:08 -0800 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/disturbing_news_concerning_rinaldos_nightclub_peterborough_uk__please_read

To begin this discussion, I DO NOT APPRECIATE BEING CALLED A LIAR. If I put a location down as having played there, then I played at that location. I have no reason (or motivation) to lie.
There are several reasons why I would list a club, pub, hotel, etc., as a “location played”:
1. I was an opening DJ.
2. I was a headlining DJ.
3. I was the closing DJ.
4. The location was used for a special occasion for which I was a DJ.

Need I go further?

Simply put, if I play ONE record at a club, pub, hotel, etc., then it goes on my resume`.


Oftentimes I played at a place as a warm-up DJ, which would mean that my name was not on a flier. The thing I took away from those moments was that I could play to “myself” until the crowds started to come. At that point I could play to them and control the atmosphere until the next DJ was due up.


In 1994 I began my UK DJ-ing career at Muswell’s Pub, as a headlining DJ. I played with John V. Dub, DJ Intrigue and DJ Maestro. Although I do not have any fliers, I do have a “live” recording of one of my sets (see 1994 photo). From there came the Sports Bar and Stuckley Inn, on RAF Alconbury. At those locations I was able to build a following. The next opportunity came with Rinaldo’s. Again there was no flier: I was warm-up. I was finally able to make a strong showing at a club — Laristo’s! I clearly remember the aerobic workout I gave myself just by spinning records — and the backwards record playing (see BLOG: April 1995 - "THE ZONE" VS "COTTONBASS"). Oh, by the way, this one did have my name on a flier, as did Winner’s! So again, I ask, WHY SHOULD I LIE ABOUT WHERE I PLAYED????


I was in England a total of seven years. During that time I played at a lot of places, most of them small and off the clubland radar. I PLAYED AT QUITE A FEW PUBS — DO I HAVE FLIERS FOR THEM? NO. That did not diminish my passion and enthusiasm for playing the music that I enjoyed. I also played at Bar Rumba — several times in the DJ Laboratory, as a precursor for “Garage City”. DO I HAVE FLIERS? NO. Translation: I played where I could get gigs — end of story!

BOTTOM LINE: AS I STATED IN THE BEGINNING, I DO NOT TOLORATE BEING CALLED A LIAR. I HAVE WORKED TOO HARD (AND I ENJOY MY MUSIC TOO MUCH) TO HAVE A COWARD WITH A “MISGUIDED” MEMORY TELL ME, AND THE VIEWING PUBLIC, THAT I DIDN’T DO WHAT I SAID I DID. FOR ME TO LIE WOULD NOT ONLY BE STUPID, BUT IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF WEBSITE SPACE AND THE MONEY SPENT ON PROMOTION. NOT TO MENTION THAT A MAN’S WORD IS HIS BOND!


In closing, I only welcome positive remarks in my guestbook. If I see another remark about my not having played at Rinaldo’s - I WILL DELETE IT!]]> http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/disturbing_news_concerning_rinaldos_nightclub_peterborough_uk__please_read Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:18:53 -0700 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/august_2005__riding_the_rhythm http://phantomgreyent.com/blog.html/august_2005__riding_the_rhythm Wed, 31 Aug 2005 11:08:55 -0700 Phantom Grey Enterprises - DJ Purple (the duke of House) - Blog