Releases by Mixer / D.J.
FROGGY
| Year | Release Title | Label | Mix Title | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Dance Mix Dance Hits Volume 1 | Epic | DANCE MIX DANCE HITS Side 1 | 00:24:43 |
| 1983 | Dance Mix Dance Hits Volume 1 | Epic | DANCE MIX DANCE HITS Side 2 | 00:23:40 |
| 1983 | Powermix | Baby | POWERMIX MEDLEY | 00:28:31 |
| 1983 | The Perfect Beat | 21 | PERFECT BEAT SCRATCH MIX VERSIONS | 00:25:42 |
| 1983 | The Perfect Beat (2) | 21 | PERFECT BEAT SCRATCH MIX VERSIONS | 00:25:42 |
| 1984 | Break Machine - Street Dance Medley | Record Shack | STREET DANCE/BREAK DANCE PARTY MEDLEY | 00:07:53 |
| 1984 | Change - Medley | W.E.A. | CHANGE MEDLEY | 00:08:45 |
| 1984 | Jeffrey Osborne Soul Mix | A & M | JEFFREY OSBORNE SOUL MIX | 00:08:44 |
| 1985 | James Brown - Froggy Mix | Boiling Point | FROGGY MIX Side 1 | 00:07:05 |
| 1985 | James Brown - Froggy Mix | Boiling Point | FROGGY MIX Side 2 | 00:06:26 |
| 1985 | Shakatak - Megamix | Boiling Point | MEGAMIX | 00:07:51 |
| 1986 | Electro 11 | Street Sounds | HIP HOP ELECTRO 11 Side One | 00:24:07 |
| 1986 | Electro 11 | Street Sounds | HIP HOP ELECTRO 11 Side Two | 00:22:19 |
| 1986 | Grace Jones - Re-Mix Re-Mask | Island | RE-MIX RE-MASK | 00:05:50 |
| 1987 | Hot Chocolate - Megamix | E.M.I. | HOT CHOCOLATE: MEGAMIX | 00:09:34 |
Information:
James Hamilton let us know where the nickname Froggy came from in his April 1981 Record Mirror column - "Froggy revealed on Radio Caister that he got his nickname 11 years ago at Chadwell Heath Birdsnest (latterly the Regency Suite) where his hyperactivity and boney build prompted the staff to say he was as jumpy as a frog".
Below is a summarised biography created using Google Gemini in April 2026...
Real Name: Steven Howlett
Born: November 8, 1949 (Whitechapel, East London)
Historical Significance: The "Beatmatch" Pioneer
Steven Howlett is the crucial link between the US disco movement and the UK’s transition into modern club culture.
Engineering Roots: A trained electronics engineer (City & Guilds qualified), Howlett didn't just play records; he understood the science of sound. He left school at 15 for an apprenticeship, a background that allowed him to customize his own gear when the UK market lacked professional DJ tools.
The New York Pivot (1979): The most significant moment in his career was a trip to the Billboard Disco Convention in NYC. While other UK DJs were focused on personality and mic work, Howlett spent his nights at Studio 54 and the Paradise Garage watching Larry Levan. He was the first to bring the "New York style"—using twin turntables to seamlessly beatmatch two records—back to the UK.
Technics Trailblazer: He is widely credited with bringing the first pair of Technics SL-1200s into the UK, effectively ending the era of the "stop-start" DJ set in British soul clubs.
Key Contributions & Ventures
The "Monster" Sound System: Unsatisfied with club speakers, he built the Froggy Sound System, a massive high-fidelity rig that required a custom lorry and a full-time crew to transport. It was frequently hired for major events like the Caister Soul Weekenders.
The Soul Mafia: He was a central pillar of the "Soul Mafia" collective alongside DJs like Chris Hill, Robbie Vincent, and Greg Edwards, ruling the 1970s and 80s soul-funk circuit.
Studio Influence: He bridged the gap between the booth and the studio, providing "club edits" and remixes for labels. His work with Simon Harris on remixes and his "Summer Groove" segments for BBC Radio 1 (Peter Powell's show) introduced the concept of the DJ as a producer to a national audience.
The Legacy
"He was the man who taught the UK how to mix."
Steven Howlett died in 2008, but his DNA is in every seamless transition heard in a UK club today. He transformed the DJ from a "presenter" into a technical artist, making the sound system itself an instrument.