Dancefloor Classics

The home of Classic soul, jazz funk & boogie

Les Adams

Les Adams - Presenter of Dancefloor Classics

BIOGRAPHY

Les has been a professional DJ since 1979 and was one of the first DJ’s in the UK to adopt the American “beat matching” (BPM) form of mixing.

He was taught to mix by American DJ Greg James who was an understudy of Ritchie Kaczor, the resident spinner at New York's legendary nightclub “Studio 54”

Les’ mixing skills on the turntables and musical knowledge led to him working in top London nightclubs and in 1980 he secured a job as the resident DJ at London’s premiere nightclub “Regines”. He was also invited to play in their New York and Paris Venues.

In 1983, Les sent a demo tape to the international DJ club DMC (Disc Mix Club), and was invited to join their production team, constructing and producing mixes that were mailed to thousands of DJ’s worldwide to play in their clubs and on radio. He became know as Les “The Mixdoctor” Adams. He also ran DMC’s DJ beat mixing DJ school.

In 1985, Les was approached by A&M records to perform a dance remix on “Stomp” by “The Brothers Johnson” which went on to be a huge hit record and established Les as a hit re-mixer.

Between 1985 and 1987, the remix and production work rolled in and Les was regularly used by record companies to give the “dance” treatment to their releases.

In 1987, based upon a simple original demo that Les had constructed in his 8-track home studio, he was signed as a recording artist to A&M under the guise of “LA Mix”. Initially this was a one-single deal, but A&M decided to take the option for a second single and Les made a track called “Check This Out” which reached NO:3 on the national charts. A&M then signed Les for a major 5 album deal worth 1.5 million. He was also signed to Sony Music publishing as a songwriter.

In the 1980’s Les was invited to join Capital Radio in London by Richard Park and the head of music Mike Childs. For 7 years Les co-produced and mixed the legendary “Capital House Party” with music Journalist and good friend James Hamilton, then moved to BBC Radio One before joining Solar radio in 1998

Throughout this time Les continued to DJ in clubs and on Pirate radio in London as it gave him an insight to trends and fashions in dance music.

For 5 years, Les was a senior lecturer in DJ skills and DJ technology at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. Apart from mixing and technology, he also has a wealth of experience in many areas of the music industry.