Chris Hill (DJ)

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Chris Hill is a British disc jockey. He worked at the club Lacy Lady in Ilford, as well as at the Goldmine Canvey Island.[1] He was the head of the 'Soul Mafia' in London and the South East of England into the early 1980s. In 1975 he released a "break-in" novelty record, in the style of Dickie Goodman, called "Renta Santa", which became a hit single in the UK during the Christmas season. The record peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart in December of that year.[2] The following year, he released "Bionic Santa", cut in a similar style; this record also peaked at #10 in December 1976.[2] Both tracks, which included snippets of other hits of the time, were released by Philips Records.[3]

His final release, "Disco Santa", again in the same style, at Christmas 1978, failed to chart.[4]

Hill remains a DJ and until 2011 ran the Lacy Lady in Ilford. Hill also has a major involvement in the Caister Soul Weekenders with his long time event collaborator and music promoter Brian Rix.

Having completed a second stint back on Canvey's Goldmine in the early 80's, Chris decided to quit the club scene in 1985 and concentrate on his Ensign duties with a young Irish singer called Sinead O Connor whom he had recently discovered. In 1987 he as offered a weekend job in Hamburg on Radio 107 and created the enormously successful SoulBeat, which made him a huge celebrity in Germany. When Sineads worldwide hit "Nothing Compares to U" happened in 1989, Chris looked set for a quiet retirement from club life, until fellow DJ Gary Dennis suggested he return to his old Essex roots. Re-opening The Lacy Lady at The Kings, Ilford, they set about rebuilding a scene that had all but collapsed under the attack of rave, house and every other dance craze.

References

  1. ↑ Time Capsule:December 1976. Sixmillionsteps.com.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 search for "Chris Hill" performed at everyhit.com database on May 22, 2008.
  3. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 253. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  4. ↑ "Chris Hill Disco Santa.Wmv". YouTube. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2012-05-22. 

External links

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