Simon Willson

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Simon Willson (Aka DJ Simon) is a Hong Kong radio producer/personality, Freestyle Club DJ and sometime actor.

Born in Bath, UK, he is the youngest son of record breaking former world 16m glider champion and re-known Combined Services and Hong Kong cricketer B.J. “Tug” Willson.

Raised in Hong Kong, Willson has been a part of the Asian dance scene since the early eighties when he span in Tramps Disco Central, which was possibly Hong Kong's first regular "party night" as, every Friday, the tables and chairs were removed from an Indonesian restaurant and it filled up with fellow expat teenagers – Hong Kong's Brat Pack.

Turning "Pro" in 1983 he became resident DJ in Club 1997 Lan Kwai Fong (Now Post 97). Then after touring Taiwan he returned to Hong Kong to take up residency at New World "Faces" during 1984 at the time HK's most popular and exclusive club.

1985 saw him become the first resident foreign DJ in China as he took up residency at “Nicole's Disotecque” in Sheraton Hua Ting Hotel.

Returning to Hong Kong in 1986 he was resident DJ at "The Cavern" Tsim Sha Tsui's premier late night spot from 10pm all the way through till dawn.

From 1984 through 1989 Willson acted in dozens of Hong Kong movies and TV productions starting off as an extra, working up through bit parts to supporting roles. He's best known as the vampire in Cinema City's production “Vampire's Breakfast” which still features regularly on STAR TV Chinese Movie Channel.

By early 1989 Willson was the producer/presenter of “Night Music” 4 weekly late night radio shows on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) Radio 3 . This was cut short by a serious motor cycle accident he broke his jaw in four places, dislocated and damaged his knees and broke his right index finger.

Willson gives great thanks to Hong Kong Medical Health Department and Prince Of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin for the 5½ hours of re-constructive jaw surgery and 2 hour arthroscopic knee surgery on injuries which required over a month of hospitalization and months of Physiotherapy yet cost less than HK$1,000 (about US$120.00).

Additional Physiotherapy was on the dance floor at "The Big Apple" Wan Chai with DJ's Lee Burridge & Christian the attending Physicians. Willson used his recovery time to become computer literate.

After a hiatus from DJ'ing he used his experience of Asia and specifically China to switch to event management. He was tour manager of the Kix Interactive Heineken Music Tour tour of China in 1998, which featured Jennifer Su as MC. Traveling with a group of more than 20 performers and crew performing in 81 large nightclubs and discos in 33 Major Chinese cities including Hong Kong, Chengdu, Shanghai, Dongguan, Shenzen, Shantou, Guangzhou, Beijing and Harbin nearly all the way to Mongolia.

Re-known for his non-commercial approach to clubbing Willson is also one of the driving forces behind Lamma Life Force famous for free Full Moon Beach parties on Lamma Island, Hong Kong from 1998 until the current day.

In 1998 he returned to RTHK Radio 3 as the host of “The Year In Question” a retro-news/golden oldies show. He remains part of the radio 3 lineup. Willson's great love of music and knowledge of an incredibly wide variety means that he is often called to stand in for Uncle Ray when he has days off.

Simon was MC with Paul Oakenfold Heineken Thirst Asia Tour 2003.

He currently hosts Cool Trax, Two hours of Hip-Hop, RnB & Soul followed by The Rhythm Hong Kong’s only dance music show, produced 100% from vinyl and broadcast on RTHK Radios 3 and 4 from 10pm to 2AM on Saturday nights.

He's also the host of Simon's Sunday After-Noon Session on RTHK Radio 3 (13:10-16:00)

Monday to Fridays he can bee heard on Teen Time (21:05 - 22:00) with Alyson Hau doing artist profiles and CD reviews.

From time to time he can be found weaving a happy, uplifting Freestyle mix at Hong Kong's leading and underground parties.

September 2007 Willson announced on his Myspace that he's currently learning film making from Godfrey Ho at the Hong Kong Film Academy doing a full time course in TV and Film Production.