Hi Barrie, I've literally just posted the 'How The Talking Stopped' piece in the 70's Disco thread here:
http://www.oldskoolanthemz.com/forum/music-chat/94071-disco-scene-uk-late-70-s.html
Ian Levine told me that it was Greg James, the US DJ regarded as the first proper mixing DJ in England, who encouraged him to mix (James worked at the London club, The Embassy, in 1978, before heading up to The Warehouse in Leeds in '79). Levine regards himself as the first UK DJ to take a serious approach to mixing, although there are also the London pioneers to take into account - James Hamilton, the Record Mirror columnist who championed mixing, and Graham Canter, who deejayed with James at Gullivers - they were both involved in putting together the seminal UK mix album 'Instant Replays' in 1978 (issued as a DJ only promo by CBS) - Canter also mixed the 'Boogie Bus' album later that year, which spent 11 weeks on the chart.
Colin Curtis is the only DJ I can think of who was actively involved in the evolution of three British dance scenes - Northern Soul, Jazz-Funk and House. He's never given the credit for his part in helping pioneer the House scene - it doesn't fit easily into the established Ibiza mythogy, so most writers on UK dance culture never mention it. Stu Allan is also criminally omitted from the history - his radio show undoutedly played a crucial role in bringing House to a wider audience in Greater Manchester and beyond.
