BECAUSE YOU WANT TO!
First came the DJ, then the brand, then the holiday. Check out the full details about this fantastic week which celebrates music just for the love of it.
THE DJ
Dave VJ (he earned the nickname VJ = Vinyl Junkie because at one point he had a collection of over 40,000 vinyl) has been a DJ and Broadcaster for over 25 years. His love of music grew from listening to the radio as a child and from listening to his Antiguan father's collection which musically went from Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke to the Mighty Sparrow, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, John Holt and Jim Reeves. Eventually Dave became part of a massive sound system called Mastermind that ruled the Notting Hill Carnival in London through the 80’s. He went on to join an underground radio station called Kiss FM that made legal history by getting a broadcasting license and changing the face of radio in the UK. He ended up going from doing the Rap show to doing early breakfast show and then presenting the Kiss Chart show.
He left Kiss FM to join Choice FM - another massive urban radio station in London where he still DJ's now. His time as a broadcaster has afforded him the chance to interview some of the biggest names in the world including Chaka Khan, Joe, Public Enemy, Ja Rule, KRS One, Musiq Soulchild, Jay Z, The Fugees, Akon, Ludacris, Method Man, Ciara, Busta Rhymes, Angie Stone, Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, Old D B, Lionel Ritchie, Ice Cube, Common, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, Tyrese, Tweet, Run DMC, Russell Simmons and Snoop Dogg. He's also partied with the artists, played at their parties and concerts, done lots of remixes and even had dinner with them. Dave says “It was a dream job (and still is)". He was flown to USA on a regular basis to do interviews and attend conferences and has DJ'ed around the world.
During his time at Choice FM he was asked if he'd like to fly to Antigua to attend the Back II Life event so that he could broadcast his lunchtime radio show live from there back to the UK. Of course he jumped at the chance and did it for 3 years in a row. Dave has a strong connection with Antigua as his parents live there and also has lots of family on the island.
All the while Dave has been playing in clubs in the UK and started a night of his own called Grown & Sexy in 2008, a brand which caters for the over 30's playing old skool soul, r ‘n b, rare groove, disco and reggae.
THE BRAND
Fast forward to 2009 and with a major birthday approaching Dave decided to hold his party in Antigua. It was supposed to be a group of 6 friends but as word got around the numbers started increasing. Eventually as the numbers grew Dave had to get a friend with travel experience to help him out (enter Tracy Austin) .
Dave decided to bring the Grown & Sexy brand to Antigua and it in 2011 50 people from the UK landed and enjoyed five nights at venues around the island. The team returned in October 2011 and again in February 2012 to do one off events specifically for the Antiguan posse and coming soon is the second annual Grown n’ Sexy invasion.
THE HOLIDAY
Wherever you live in the world, if this sounds like your idea of fun, we have a package negotiated with Tranquility Bay at Jolly Harbour which includes a full venue pass and transport to each party. Email us for more details - email address tracyjaustin@hotmail.co.uk
THE MUSIC
Dave’s Top 10 Grown & Sexy Floor Fillers in no particular order:
- Atlantic Starr – Circles
- Loose Ends – Slow Down
- Eric B & Rakim – I know you got soul
- D’Train – Keep On
- Lilo Thomas – Settle Down
- Ashford & Simpson – It Seems to hang on
- Dennis Brown – Here I Come
- Gregory Isaacs – Soon Forward
- Yarborough & Peoples – Special
- James Brown – Funky President
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