| MIXES BY GREG WILSON |
| Total Mixes: 2, Duration: 00:47:33 |
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A summarised biography of Greg Wilson created using Google Gemini in December 2025 can be found at the bottom of this page |
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Click on the 'Release Title' to view the full details of each release |
| Release Category | Release Title | Label | Catalogue # | Year | Mixer(s) | Mix Title | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Series - Dance Mix Dance Hits | Dance Mix... Dance Hits Volume 3 | Epic | DM3 | 1984 | Greg Wilson | DANCE MIX... DANCE HITS VOL. 3 Side 1 | 00:23:25 |
| Legal Series - Dance Mix Dance Hits | Dance Mix... Dance Hits Volume 3 | Epic | DM3 | 1984 | Greg Wilson | DANCE MIX... DANCE HITS VOL. 3 Side 2 | 00:24:08 |
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Greg Wilson is a seminal figure in UK club culture, known for bridging the gap between the soul/funk era and the electronic future. His career is uniquely split into two distinct chapters, separated by a 20-year hiatus, making him a living bridge between the roots of DJing and the modern era. Career Snapshot 1975 - 1980 Beginnings Started at age 15; built a reputation as a Black music specialist (Soul, Funk, Disco) in Merseyside. 1980 - 1984 The Pioneer Era Held legendary residencies at Wigan Pier and Manchester’s Legend. First DJ to mix live on UK TV. 1984 - 2003 The Hiatus Retired from the booth to focus on production and managing the Ruthless Rap Assassins. 2003 - Present The Renaissance Returned to DJing; became a global leader in the re-edit and disco movement. Key Historical Contributions Champion of Electro-Funk: In the early 1980s, Wilson was instrumental in breaking the new, electronic "post-disco" sounds coming out of New York. He dubbed this sound "Electro-Funk," which laid the groundwork for the UK's subsequent house and techno explosion. A "First" for UK Television: In 1983, he became the first DJ to demonstrate live mixing on British television on the Channel 4 show The Tube. At the time, the concept of "mixing" two records was so new that the presenter had to explain what a turntable was. The Hacienda's First Resident: While the club is now a legend of the rave era, Greg Wilson was its first dance music specialist resident in 1983, bringing a strictly electronic and underground Black music palette to its cavernous hall. The Teacher: He famously showed a young Norman Cook (who would later become Fatboy Slim) how to scratch and cut records in 1983. Technical Signature: The Reel-to-Reel Wilson is one of the few DJs in history to incorporate a vintage Revox B77 reel-to-reel tape machine into his live performances. Initially used in the early '80s to play his own "re-edits" (extended versions of songs designed for the dancefloor), he still uses the machine today. This "Credit to the Edit" philosophy emphasizes the DJ's role as a creative editor, not just a selector. Impact and Legacy Electrofunkroots: In 2003, he launched the website electrofunkroots.co.uk, an essential historical archive that documents the evolution of the UK's Black music scene. Essential Mix Legend: His 2009 BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix is widely considered one of the greatest in the show's history, later selected by Rolling Stone as one of the top 25 internet DJ mixes of all time. Author: He continues to document history through his book, Discotheque Archives, which serves as a guide to the DJs, clubs, and records that shaped the culture. |