RIP DJ extraordinaire Chris Hill.

In a weird twist of fate, it was only a couple of weeks ago that I noted it was the 50th Anniversary of my first-ever compilation project, "Stax Northern Disco Sounds". The sister compilation, which came out at the same time, was "Stax Southern Disco Sounds" which was compiled by Chris Hill.

I met Chris a couple of years later at a DJ convention in the 1970s and then he travelled up to Manchester to play the Ritz All-Dayer in February 1978. In fact, I've just found something I wrote about that gig on a previous Chris Hill thread on Soul Source from 2008 :-

'I was there along with Ian Levine, Colin Curtis, Paul Schofield, John Grant and all the other Northern-based DJ's. We were all expecting (and probably hoping) he'd fall on his arse but happily that wasn't the case.

He was great full stop. It was a revelation to be honest. I remember him kicking off with Ashford & Simpson's "Don't Cost You Nothing" with Fred Dove from Warner Bros on the stage and he rocked it all the way through his set. The floor was packed. He also utilsed some gimmicks and sang along to some of the records and it all worked like a dream. A lesson in total professionalism in my view and most of us upped our game after seeing him perform that gig.

I had the utmost respect for him after that. A total pro in my opinion. I got to know him personally a bit better some 30 years later and I haven't changed my opinion one iota. One of the greatest live DJ's of our era'.

I kept in touch with Chris when I moved to London in the early 1980s and I used to bump into him all the time, especially at studios and industry functions. When I did the Mastercuts series in the 90s he was the first to congratulate me and support the series.

A consumate professional and a good bloke. RIP Chris. X

Edited September 11Sep 11 by Ian Dewhirst
Updated

That's sad to hear and good to read your thoughts Ian.

RIP Chris Hill

Used to go to the Goldmine Canvey Island when I was stationed down there in the 80's. Great night's and Chris enjoyed it as much as we did. Great DJ and good times

A l'il clip of Chris Hill and Greg Edwards in action from the British Hustle documentary courtesy of Kev Hill. :)

Edited September 11Sep 11 by Ian Dewhirst

I had some great nights at the Lacy Lady. Never knew what he would play next!

I remember around 77/78 time frame going down to London from North Wales to go and see Chris Hill at various places for a totally change of scene. I remember Harrow on the Hill on Friday nights, followed by driving over to the Goldmine Saturday night, there was also the Royalty and sometimes funk nights on boat ride up the river Themes. It was so different then going down south after all the clubs in the north, just fun to be a part of it all back then. RIP Chris Hill you were fun to watch on stage.

Didn't know him, but do remember him from my visits to Canvey Island in the 80s.Always packed there.

What age was he, couldn't have been much more than late 60s or 70 ?

Jazz funk days at the Goldmine on Canvey Island in the 80’s..Chris ruled the decks..great memories..RIP Chris

I expect most of you have seen this but it contains some great footage of Chris Hill (along with Froggy and Sean French) at the Royalty in Southgate in 1980

When scenes like this were genuinely underground

Chris first appears about 15 minutes in (but the whole thing is fascinating and worth a watch) - and watching him work the crowd is something to behold

RIP Chris

Edited September 12Sep 12 by Lord Emsworth

3 hours ago, Sheep said:

Didn't know him, but do remember him from my visits to Canvey Island in the 80s.Always packed there.

What age was he, couldn't have been much more than late 60s or 70 ?

According to this, 81:

Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews

Seminal UK Soul DJ Chris Hill Has Died | News | Clash Mag...

Influential UK soul DJ Chris Hill has died. News of the DJ's death was confirmed today (September 11th) through multiple sources; Chris Hill is said to

Today's Gilles Peterson show on Radio 6 was dedicated to Chris Hill and had a section about him

I first met Chris at the Lacy Lady and later used to often bump into him at Moondogs record shop. Always interested in what discs i had bought and what clubs I had been to.