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Pete Tong
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pete Tong | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Born | July 30, 1960 in Dartford, England | |
| Genre(s) | Electronica Progressive trance House |
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| Occupation(s) | Disc jockey Music producer |
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| Website | http://www.petetong.com/ | |
Pete Tong (born July 1960) is a British DJ who works for BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programs such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for his own performances at nightclubs across the globe. Tong has also worked as a record producer.
The phrase "It's all gone a bit Pete Tong", where the name is used as cockney rhyming slang for "wrong", was reputedly first coined by Mark Radcliffe. However, on his show of 28 November 2005, Mark Radcliffe credited his erstwhile sidekick Marc "Lard" Riley with inventing the term.
It's All Gone Pete Tong is also the title of a 2004 film which portrays a DJ's experiences as he realises he is becoming deaf. Tong appears briefly in the film as himself.
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Pete Tong was born in Dartford, Kent during July 1960 and was educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent.
Pete's original musical interest was in drumming, but he soon moved on to DJing. He played his first public gig at a friend's wedding aged 15. While at school he and a couple of mates earned some extra money by promoting a couple of local bands, booking halls for gigs etc. He also worked as part of the Kent "Soul Mafia" bringing soul weekenders to seaside towns like Caister-on-Sea and Prestatyn.
Initially after leaving school he set up a mobile disco based in a transit van, but he soon started his own club in Baker Street called Family Function. He also booked bands for an alternative night, the first of which was the then unknown Culture Club.
In 1979 he became a staff writer for Blues & Soul Magazine [1]. After a year he was promoted to features editor, a position he would hold until 1983. He left Blues & Soul to join London Records as an A&R manager.
Through his connections in London Records Pete was exposed to newly emerging house music sound from Chicago. In 1986 Tong organised a compilation album, The House Sound of Chicago, Vol. 1, the first British release to gather and expose this genre.
Pete's first appearance on Radio was in the late 70's on Radio Invicta 92.4fm, Europe's first soul station, Pete joined a rotation of nightclub djs including, Steve Walsh, Chris Hill, Chris Brown and others to present monthly guest shows. Later he appeared on local radio station BBC Radio Medway in the 'Soul Mafia' and doing occasional mixes for Radio London. Then in 1981 he made his first appearance on Radio 1 hosting a 15 minute feature on Peter Powell's show, playing the new tracks and covering the latest gossip and news from the dance world.
When Invicta Radio started up in Kent in 1984, Pete joined them to host a regular soul show, where he stayed until 1987. He was then hired by Capital Radio to present a weekly dance program.
Finally in 1991 Pete returned to national radio. As part of its desire to provide coverage for the growing club culture Radio 1 hired Pete to host the Essential Selection.
The Essential Selection was a BBC Radio 1 show on Friday nights from 6:00pm-9:00pm in the UK. Although this has now been changed. The show is now simply known as Pete Tong and its new time slot is 7:00pm-9:00pm on Fridays. It showcases the latest dance music, with the focus being on house, and informs listeners what club nights are on around the United Kingdom that weekend. It's endorsed by Radio 1 as the official start to the weekend. It attracts one of the highest audiences for a dance radio show in the UK. Pete Tong also hosts a one hour show on Radio 1 on Thursday nights 9:00pm-10:00pm called Pete Tong's In New Music We Trust. Since 1993 Pete has been associated with Radio 1's Essential Mix which airs 2:00am-4:00am on Saturday night/Sunday morning. He is now the station's second longest serving DJ (after Annie Nightingale).
Pete is one of the world's most recognised DJs. He draws people from all over the world to his famous Pure Pacha nights held at the Pacha nightclub in Ibiza, which in 2006 went on for a massive 17 week stint, and featured a massive line up including Andy Carvell and Carl Cox.
- Pete's Radio 1 'In New Music We Trust' site
- Pete Tong's homepage
- Pete Tong Profile on Fantazia
- BBC Radio 1: Pete Tong
- Pete Tong interview (2006) on I Like Music
- Peter Tong Interview (2006)
- Pete Tong biography, photos and radio programme
- WorldDJ.com Pete Tong Page - Pete Tong biography, photos, upcoming events, booking details and summary of venues featured at (registration required).
- Pete Tong's Web Site : info,Videos,Movie...
- PETE TONG - Radio BBC
- Pete Tong at Discogs
- Interview with DJ Times, 2000