Sir David Rodigan
David Rodigan is arguably one of the most gifted and knowledgeable reggae DJs in the history of the genre. He is not only a famous reggae selector, he also is an phenomenal radio host. His shows are featured on BBC Radio, BBC 1xtra and they air weekly.
Students of the genre/culture for decades, many of Upsetta Records’ contributing members have always looked up to and respected David Rodigan. Surely, they are not alone.
Here’s more about Mr. Rodigan, courtesy of Rodigan.com.
Bio
For over 35 years David Rodigan has been the top dog in the ganja-scented, bass heavy-atmosphere of Britain’s reggae dance-halls. The key to his success has been an unsinkable passion for reggae music, which first took a hold of him as a schoolboy when he heard ska music in the early ’60s.
He developed an obsession with the music of Jamaica that generated an encyclopedic knowledge of the island’s every artist, every song and every rhythm track.
His earliest experience of dee jaying was during lunch breaks once a week in the gym at Gosford Hill School in Kidlington, Oxford. On leaving school he landed a place at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in 1971, where he spent three years studying to become an actor. He worked extensively in repertory theatre and appeared in a number of television productions such as ‘Doctor Who’ (BBC) and ‘Shackleton’ (BBC); he also performed his one-man show ‘Zima Junction’ at literature festivals and theatres in the 1970s; a dramatisation of the poem by the Russian writer Yevtushenko.
Rodigan began his reggae broadcasting career in 1978 on BBC Radio London. He moved to Capital Radio in 1979 and remained there for eleven years broadcasting his legendary ‘Roots Rockers’ show every Saturday night. His credibility was ensured when he began clashing with Jamaica’s champion DJ, Barry G on JBC Radio in Jamaica. He then went on to clash with all the top Jamaican sound systems in the West Indies, the USA and England and in 2012 he won the ultimate clash victory when he took the Champion Trophy at World Clash Reset in New York.
Click HERE for the entire biography.
“Biggest Record in Jamaica”
This first honor is that Agent Sasco’s “Winning Right Now” was played by Rodigan on his March 11 show.
The second is the introduction, in which he recognizes the song as the “biggest record in Jamaica …” A ‘mega’ tune that is playing on “every street corner” in Jamaica.
The outro of the segment is equally as flattering, entertaining & Rodigan provides a refreshing perspective some selectors/DJs. He also notes that he first played “Winning Right Now” in June of last year and touches on the timing it can take for a song to truly “establish…”
Audio
A winning segment indeed. But, don’t take our word for it. Click HERE to listen to the entire show, or listen to the entire “Winning Right Now” segment below!
