Leigh The Flava

Leigh ‘The Flava’
GOURMET SOULFUL MUSIC
Wednesdays 6-8pm
Genre of music specialised in:
Upfront Independent Soul, RnB, Rap, Jazz, Soulful House and Classic Grooves From 70’s & 80’s
DJ & Musical Background :
It all started back in 1984 for Leigh, all the money he earnt
from his Saturday job used to go on buying records. Local
parties gave Leigh his first experience of DJ’ing and he soon built
up a rep in his local town.
In 1986 Leigh built up a strong friendship with Martin Collins
and became his ‘Box Boy/Driver’ in so learning all the skills of Club
and Radio Dj’ing occasionally doing his warm up slots.
In 1988 he was offered a job in a London record store, Rhythm Inn on Praed Street, which
he couldn’t refuse. Within a couple of months he became Store Manager,
building up a strong repore with leading DJ’s and music industry executives.
After gaining a years worth of experience he was head hunted by the famous Bluebird
Records (then owned by DMC) to become Assistant Manager,
eventually becoming Store Manager before their demise in 1992.
A spot on pirate station Hardcore FM (Stevenage) in ’88 gave him
his break into Radio. Firstly doing a spot from 1:00am to 4:00am. He
was soon elevated to ‘primetime’, 8:00 – 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday nights.
A year later Leigh was given the chance to be the resident DJ in The Venue‘s,
(Aspects Leisure Park, Bedford) Room 2, on a Thursday night.
People used to travel far and wide for this gig, from Oxford to Cambridge,
London to Birmingham. Leigh soon built up a name for himself for playing the latest R&B & Rap tunes.
In 1993 Leigh was asked to present his first ‘Legal’ Radio show
for JIVE FM in Luton. The show entitled “The Flava” was the only 100% RAP
show on the station and from then on the tag “The Flava” just stuck.
In 1993 Leigh compiled the first of his two Rap LP’s
“Jus’ Jeepin‘” that was warmly received by the music press this LP was a great
underground compilation with no commercial fillers like many compilations.
Then in 1995 “Jus’ Jeepin Again” was released although in his opinion not as
strong as the first but it was still a must have non the less.
Specialising in Soul & RnB Leigh has DJ’ed and held residencies in most
of the Pubs & Clubs in Bedford including; The Venue, Prince’s Soul Cafe, Mission,
Bar Aquarium, Bar Soviet, Venom, Oxygen and Bullnose Bat to name a few.
And has played out of town in New York City, Romford, Ipswich, Leighton Buzzard, Cambridge and more.
Gourmet Soulful Music has been broadcasting on In2beats since the very beginning
and brings in regular listeners from across the globe as well as frequent artist interviews.
Over 150 guests have been interviewed on GSM including: Will Downing, Big Daddy Kane,
Sandra St Victor, Omar, Donnell Jones, Jon B, Carl McIntosh, Intro, L Young, Freddie Jackson,
Calvin Richardson, Craig G (Juice Crew), Terry Hunter, Mr V, Tashan, The 45 King, DJ Lord of Public Enemy,
Chuck Chillout, Michon Young, Kenya Soulsinger, Don E, Gwendolyn Collins, Hi-Five, The Mood Doctors,
Joyce Sims and many of Bedfords very own artists.
GSM brings all the elements of Soulful music together along with rotating features:
VINTAGE CULINARY DELIGHTS (Classic & Rare grooves from the 70s & 80s)
SOULFUL HOUSE DELICACIES (Real Soulful House)
RAP PLATTERS (Real ‘Boom Bap’ Rap)
90’s NUGGETS (Classic RnB/Soul from the 90s)
2K TREATS (Classic R&B/Soul from the 2K’s)
JAZZ JUICE (Quality Jazz Old & New)
INGREDIENT X (Soulful music from the left side)