L8 At The Tate / Black Music On Merseyside
Les Spaine (the DJ from The Timepiece and The Pun in the 70's) interviewed by Greg Wilson last April at the Tate Gallery, as part of the L8 At The Tate evening (which, in turn, was part of the Tate's Afro Modern season):
http://channel.tate.org.uk/media/89296363001
There's also a related Facebook group - Black Music On Merseyside:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=...d=229845541446
Here's the full lowdown:
From Freetown to Motown: Les Spaine in conversation with Greg Wilson
Internationally renowned local DJ Greg Wilson, and Les Spaine, who inspired him during in the 70s, explore the little told story of the development of the thriving black music scene in Liverpool.
On Merseyside people experienced an era that brought fourth some of the greatest black music ever committed to vinyl, with truly legendary artists, like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes releasing their most acclaimed work. Now classic Funk acts like Parliament, Ohio Players, Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, Brass Construction and B.T Express, with the Godfather, James Brown, were at the vanguard of a movement that would be fundamental to the evolution of black music and dance culture.
Toxteth-based DJ Les Spaine was one of the most important British club DJs of the 70s and made a significant contribution to the black music scene in the UK. Les was resident DJ at The Pun and then The Timepiece before leaving the city to take up a position for Motown Records.
The legendary electro-funk DJ Greg Wilson began DJiing in 1975 and is regarded as one of the most important figures on the UK dance scene. He enjoyed popular residencies in the early eighties at Wigan Pier and Manchester's influential Legend and Haçienda clubs. Greg was instrumental in breaking the new electronic, post-disco records coming out of New York, a sound he has dubbed 'Electro-Funk'.
