DJ Froggy
Encyclopedia
Steven Howlett aka DJ Froggy was an English DJ (born 8 November 1949, died 28 March 2008) who worked as a 'beatmixer DJ' on the British Club music scene in the 1970s and 1980s.
, east London
, the son of Jean and Kenneth Howlett. His father worked as a mechanical engineer at the electrical equipment manufacturer Plessey
. His mother died in 1956 when he was only 7 years old. Educated at Dane Secondary School in Ilford
, he became fascinated by sound equipment, in particular the radiogram
that his father brought home from work.
He undertook his apprenticeship as an engineer at 15 and took the City and Guilds qualification, and was responsible for chairing the Apprentice Association. He put on his own shows using a sound system built by himself.
(on Thursdays) and the Bird's Nest, in Romford
. It was here that the name DJ Froggy was created. He became known as 'Froggy' for his habit of jumping up and down in time to the music.
He was taken on by popular music act manager George Brown in 1972, and offered the DJ accompaniment for bands including acts such as The Sweet, Slade
and T.Rex, quite often at big venues such as Scunthorpe Baths. He met up with BBC Radio 1 DJ Emperor Rosko
, who came to fame through pirate radio in the 1960s. Froggy was inspired by the quality of Rosko's sound system. As a result, he upgraded his own sound system, and went in search of Mat Mathias who set up the Huddersfield
company Matamp based in Yorkshire
and was the designer of the mixing console owned by Rosko. Mathias and Froggy then decided to co-design their own consoles.
In 1974, BBC Radio 1
disc jockey Dave Lee Travis
(known to his followers as the 'Hairy Monster') suggested a collaboration. Between 1974 and 1978 their act, which Travis described as 'verging on cabaret', toured Britain. Later Froggy decided to quit and focus on disco, soul and jazz-funk music. He took on several club dates in the south of England and in late 1978 started a weekly residency (Fridays) at the Royalty, in Southgate
, north London. He then progressed on to Purley and the National Soul Festival.
In 1978 he incorporated his sound system at one of Britain's first soul "all-dayers", the National Soul Festival in Purley and a year later in 1979 he became DJ at the first "Caister Soul Weekender" based in Great Yarmouth
. He worked alongside DJs which included Robbie Vincent
, Chris 'Rent-a-Santa' Hill, Greg Edwards of Capital Radio's 1970s/1980s 'Soul Spectrum' programme fame and Jeff Young who all became known as the 'Soul Mafia'. His use of tape recorders and mixing decks alongside his own sound system and the mixing consoles which were also designed by himself, were popular with the British club scene and became an introduction to the 1980s rave culture.
In 1979 Froggy went to Billboard magazine's New York disco convention. He took on the theory behind New York's DJs' mixing styles. He studied the practice at the clubs Studio 54
and Paradise Garage
, watching DJ Larry Levan
synchronising the rhythm of two records and cross-fading the music in order to play sections of their sounds at the same time, whilst overlaying effects from a third track being played on another turntable. Levan was presenting familiar tracks in a unique way with pauses in the soundtrack introduced, often sparingly, although always under the DJ's control. This method became more and more popular in the 1980s and many DJs used this style in clubs.
Froggy again improved his sound system further and, like Levan, became experienced at cross-fading. It was not long after this that the Soul Mafia, using the system deployed by him, were playing to audiences at Knebworth
. His creation continued as a hired-out concern in the mid-1980s 'rare-groove' scene as well as during the early rave movement.
The “Froggy Soundsystem” which he built himself was so big that he paid for a lorry to transport it and took on two full-time employees to run and maintain the equipment.
Between 1980 and 1985 just before electro and hip-hop, he was one of the country's 'Technical DJs'.
and held responsibility for editing tracks for segments in Peter Powell
's 'Summer Groove Feature' show. He later was given record company work and provided extended disco mixes and shortened radio edits of music tracks.
95.8 FM called, "The Best Disco In Town".
, Essex
and the surrounding area for most of his life. He died from a brain haemorrhage on 28 March 2008.
He was married three times and is survived by two daughters and a son, Mark Howlett. Mark carries on the family tradition under the alias DJ Tadpole.
Early years
Born Steven Howlett in WhitechapelWhitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
, east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the son of Jean and Kenneth Howlett. His father worked as a mechanical engineer at the electrical equipment manufacturer Plessey
Plessey
The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
. His mother died in 1956 when he was only 7 years old. Educated at Dane Secondary School in Ilford
Ilford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
, he became fascinated by sound equipment, in particular the radiogram
Radiogram
A radiogram is an instance of formal written message traffic routed by a network of amateur radio operators through traffic nets.It is a plaintext message, along with relevant metadata , that is placed into a traffic net by an amateur radio operator...
that his father brought home from work.
He undertook his apprenticeship as an engineer at 15 and took the City and Guilds qualification, and was responsible for chairing the Apprentice Association. He put on his own shows using a sound system built by himself.
DJing
In 1971 he became the DJ residency at The Robin Hood in DagenhamDagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
(on Thursdays) and the Bird's Nest, in Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
. It was here that the name DJ Froggy was created. He became known as 'Froggy' for his habit of jumping up and down in time to the music.
He was taken on by popular music act manager George Brown in 1972, and offered the DJ accompaniment for bands including acts such as The Sweet, Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
and T.Rex, quite often at big venues such as Scunthorpe Baths. He met up with BBC Radio 1 DJ Emperor Rosko
Emperor Rosko
Mike Pasternak, better known by his stage name of Emperor Rosko is a well known pop radio presenter.Born Michael Joseph Pasternak, he is the son of Hollywood film producer Joe Pasternak. He was influenced in his career choice by KYA Radio Los Angeles DJs Lord Tim Hudson and Wolfman Jack...
, who came to fame through pirate radio in the 1960s. Froggy was inspired by the quality of Rosko's sound system. As a result, he upgraded his own sound system, and went in search of Mat Mathias who set up the Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
company Matamp based in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and was the designer of the mixing console owned by Rosko. Mathias and Froggy then decided to co-design their own consoles.
In 1974, BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
disc jockey Dave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis , also known professionally as DLT and the Hairy Cornflake, is a British radio presenter, best known for his career on BBC Radio 1.-Early life:...
(known to his followers as the 'Hairy Monster') suggested a collaboration. Between 1974 and 1978 their act, which Travis described as 'verging on cabaret', toured Britain. Later Froggy decided to quit and focus on disco, soul and jazz-funk music. He took on several club dates in the south of England and in late 1978 started a weekly residency (Fridays) at the Royalty, in Southgate
Southgate
-Places:In the United Kingdom:*Southgate, London**Enfield Southgate **Southgate tube station*SouthGate, Bath*Southgate, Ceredigion*Southgate, Cheshire*Southgate, Norfolk*Southgate, Swansea*Southgate, West Sussex...
, north London. He then progressed on to Purley and the National Soul Festival.
In 1978 he incorporated his sound system at one of Britain's first soul "all-dayers", the National Soul Festival in Purley and a year later in 1979 he became DJ at the first "Caister Soul Weekender" based in Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
. He worked alongside DJs which included Robbie Vincent
Robbie Vincent
Robbie Vincent is an English radio broadcaster and DJ whose catch phrase for many years was "If it moves, Funk it"He started life as a journalist although Robbie Vincent's broadcasting career began as one of the pioneers on BBC Radio London in early 1974 during the miners' strike and Three-day week...
, Chris 'Rent-a-Santa' Hill, Greg Edwards of Capital Radio's 1970s/1980s 'Soul Spectrum' programme fame and Jeff Young who all became known as the 'Soul Mafia'. His use of tape recorders and mixing decks alongside his own sound system and the mixing consoles which were also designed by himself, were popular with the British club scene and became an introduction to the 1980s rave culture.
In 1979 Froggy went to Billboard magazine's New York disco convention. He took on the theory behind New York's DJs' mixing styles. He studied the practice at the clubs Studio 54
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
and Paradise Garage
Paradise Garage
The Paradise Garage was a discotheque notable in the history of modern gay and nightclub cultures and in dance and pop music. It was founded by Michael Brody, its sole proprietor, and was located at 84 King Street, in the Hudson Square neighborhood of New York City. It operated from 1976 to 1987...
, watching DJ Larry Levan
Larry Levan
Larry Levan was a DJ best known for his decade-long residency at the New York City night club Paradise Garage, which has been described as the prototype of the modern dance club. He developed a cult following who referred to his sets as "Saturday Mass"...
synchronising the rhythm of two records and cross-fading the music in order to play sections of their sounds at the same time, whilst overlaying effects from a third track being played on another turntable. Levan was presenting familiar tracks in a unique way with pauses in the soundtrack introduced, often sparingly, although always under the DJ's control. This method became more and more popular in the 1980s and many DJs used this style in clubs.
Froggy again improved his sound system further and, like Levan, became experienced at cross-fading. It was not long after this that the Soul Mafia, using the system deployed by him, were playing to audiences at Knebworth
Knebworth
Knebworth is a village and civil parish in the north of Hertfordshire, England immediately south of Stevenage. The civil parish covers an area between the villages of Datchworth, Woolmer Green, Codicote, Kimpton, Whitwell, St Paul's Walden and Langley, and encompasses the village of Knebworth, the...
. His creation continued as a hired-out concern in the mid-1980s 'rare-groove' scene as well as during the early rave movement.
The “Froggy Soundsystem” which he built himself was so big that he paid for a lorry to transport it and took on two full-time employees to run and maintain the equipment.
Between 1980 and 1985 just before electro and hip-hop, he was one of the country's 'Technical DJs'.
Work with Radio 1
From the late 1980s Froggy worked with BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
and held responsibility for editing tracks for segments in Peter Powell
Peter Powell
Peter Powell may refer to:*Peter Powell , British DJ*Peter Powell , inventor of a dual-line, steerable model of flying kite...
's 'Summer Groove Feature' show. He later was given record company work and provided extended disco mixes and shortened radio edits of music tracks.
Presenting on London's Capital Radio
By the end of the 1980s both acid house and rave culture were reaching their height and Froggy was presenting a regular Saturday night slot on London's Capital RadioCapital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
95.8 FM called, "The Best Disco In Town".
Death
Froggy lived in IlfordIlford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and the surrounding area for most of his life. He died from a brain haemorrhage on 28 March 2008.
He was married three times and is survived by two daughters and a son, Mark Howlett. Mark carries on the family tradition under the alias DJ Tadpole.