Back in the late 80’s
Chrissy was a regular figure on the warehouse party movement and club
circuit and had began to make a reputable DJ name for himself playing
his favourite disco grooves and championing the more soulful and gospel
influenced side of the music. Around this time he hooked up with the legendary
Bobby & Steve (of Zoo fame) and was an obvious choice for the warm
up slot at the twins new Friday night venture Klub Zoo @ Munkberry’s
in London’s west end. For five years Chrissy controlled the crowd,
setting the vibe for the likes of Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson
and Fabio. Famous for it’s mix of disco and early house music, Klub
Zoo and its DJ’s became instrumental in planting the roots for what
would later become known as garage music.
With the garage sound now in full flow the Zoo crew launched Garage City,
with resident DJ’s Bobby & Steve and Chrissy T playing the best
in uplifting house and garage alongside some of the biggest names from
the house and garage spectrum. Held each and every Saturday night at Bar
Rumba, W1, Garage City’ is today the capital’s most seminal
soulful house night out having seen visits in the past from the likes
of Masters at Work, Jazz n Groove, Tony Humphries, Eric Morillo and Todd
Terry. ‘Garage City’ has also enjoyed two successful seasons
at Es Paradis in Ibiza. On 23rd August 2001 Garage City celebrated it’s
10 Year Anniversary with a party at Fabric with guests including Kenny
Dope Gonzalez, Dimitri from Paris, DJ Spen, Terry Hunter, DJ Disciple
Ricky Morrison and Joey Negro to name a few. There is a forthcoming ’10
Years of Garage City’ album set for release via Defected Records
in September to mark the occasion also.
2001 has been a busy but successful year for Chrissy T, with one high
point being his new residency at Zoo’s own Soul Heaven @ Ministry
of Sound. The launch night on 17th February saw Chrissy joined by Masters
at Work’s Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez playing to over 2500
party people bringing back the vibe to the Ministry with a further 1000
queuing outside. The follow up in April was just as successful with DJ
Spen and Terry Hunter whilst June’s instalment with the legendary
Louie Vega was one of the most successful parties seen this year with
Radio One’s Pete Tong and The Evening Standard quoting it as the
must go to party. The Ministry of Sound must have been impressed too –
as from January 2001 Soul Heaven will become a monthly fixture and word
on the street is Louie Vega has requested a residency too! By invitation
Soul Heaven will host the Pacha closing party in Ibiza in September and
as the night continues to grow from strength to strength Defected Records
released a Soul Heaven compilation album mixed and compiled whilst a follow
up is planned by the later in the year.
As well as his Garage City and Soul Heaven residencies, Chrissy is also
resident at the Milk Club in Ireland (where he spins one Friday and one
Saturday of each month) and also holds a once a month Friday night residency
at Paradise @ Opium Lounge (Essex), a night dedicated to the great Larry
Levan’s infamous Paradise Garage, the night that not only gave birth
to soulful house and garage but gave the music it’ name too. Internationally
Chrissy is a regular guest at Empire (Switzerland), Madison’s (Jersey),
Cheers (France), Es Paradise (Ibiza), Kool Club (Aiya Napa) and Screen
(Helsinki), Kirma (Finland), D Club (Switzerland) and H20 (Switzerland).
He also took part in the 1997 Ministry of Sound Showcase Tour of Nigeria,
playing to crowds of up to 75,000 people. In May 2001 Chrissy was a guest
at GBH @ Centro-Fly in New York, to coincide with the US launch party
of the Soul Heaven album, he has also represented out the UK DJ’ing
at the last five years at the Miami Winter Music Conference too.
Away from his busy DJ schedule and as part of his association with the
Zoo name, Chrissy co-produced (and regularly hosted) The Zoo Experience
radio show. The show broadcast each and every Friday night between the
hours 10.00 pm - 12.00 am on London’s leading dance music radio
station Kiss 100 FM until February of this year. Having celebrated it’s
10 Year Anniversary in August 2000, The Zoo Experience, still remains
the stations longest running specialist show. More recently Chrissy also
enjoyed an eight month stint broadcasting across the globe via his Zoo
Experience with Chrissy T on internet station cnsoholive.
An essential part of the Zoo team Chrissy plays an integral role within
the company. Instrumental in all Zoo connected events, as Label Manager
of the Klub Zoo International Music imprint his responsibilities include
A&R, radio & club promotions and over seeing the general smooth
running of the label. Chrissy was responsible for signing and promoting
Overjoyd who enjoyed success at the 1997 MOBO (Music of Black Origin)
Awards where they were nominated for Best Gospel Group, he also co-compiled
The Sound of Garage City album on Telstar Records and Soul Heaven - the
album - for Defected Records.
Most at home playing his first love of soulful and funky house music but
just as capable throwing down a classic disco and rare groove set, Chrissy’s
10 Year residency at a leading US house night as reputable as Garage City
should prove his worth alone, but anybody lucky enough to catch this non-egotistical
turntable master in the act will never fail to be bowled over by his genuine
love of all things soulful and a set always played straight from the heart,
which makes this star shine brighter than the rest.
For more information check out www.zooevents.com
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