sa_butta
03-20-2007, 01:19 PM
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2250314.html?menu (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2250314.html?menu)=
Da Doo Ron Ron
The world's first DJ is celebrating his 90th birthday.
Ron Diggins, from Boston in Lincolnshire, built the world's first custom-made DJ console back in 1949.
A professional radio engineer, he hand-crafted his 'Diggola' mobile sound system - complete with two record decks, sound mixer, lights, microphone, amplifier and 10 speakers, reports Boston Today.
"I've invented nothing," he insists modestly. "I put the same things to a different use, that's all."
But Lesley Wright, editor of DJ Magazine, who ran a two-page spread about Ron entitled 'The First DJ', clearly disagrees: "Ron started it all," she said.
Ron had been using an early version of his mobile soundsystem for local events like school sports days when some Land Army girls asked him to provide music for a dance night.
"They were passing the office, saw the van and came in to ask if it could be used for dancing," Ron said.
"They were having a harvest supper with some of the Italian POWs. Well, I'd never thought of it before, but I didn't want to lose the booking - so I said I'd give it a go."
The rest is history. Ron is reckoned to have played more than 20,000 parties before finally hanging up his headphones in 1995.
However, he was not popular with everyone.
"I wasn't well liked by the musician's union," he said. "I was putting them out of a job. I used to get dozens of angry letters from them every day."
Ron is philosophical about paving the way for today's superstar DJs, who can earn up to £20,000 for a single night's work.
"I never knew how it would take off," he said, shaking his head. "The most I've ever charged is £50."
Da Doo Ron Ron
The world's first DJ is celebrating his 90th birthday.
Ron Diggins, from Boston in Lincolnshire, built the world's first custom-made DJ console back in 1949.
A professional radio engineer, he hand-crafted his 'Diggola' mobile sound system - complete with two record decks, sound mixer, lights, microphone, amplifier and 10 speakers, reports Boston Today.
"I've invented nothing," he insists modestly. "I put the same things to a different use, that's all."
But Lesley Wright, editor of DJ Magazine, who ran a two-page spread about Ron entitled 'The First DJ', clearly disagrees: "Ron started it all," she said.
Ron had been using an early version of his mobile soundsystem for local events like school sports days when some Land Army girls asked him to provide music for a dance night.
"They were passing the office, saw the van and came in to ask if it could be used for dancing," Ron said.
"They were having a harvest supper with some of the Italian POWs. Well, I'd never thought of it before, but I didn't want to lose the booking - so I said I'd give it a go."
The rest is history. Ron is reckoned to have played more than 20,000 parties before finally hanging up his headphones in 1995.
However, he was not popular with everyone.
"I wasn't well liked by the musician's union," he said. "I was putting them out of a job. I used to get dozens of angry letters from them every day."
Ron is philosophical about paving the way for today's superstar DJs, who can earn up to £20,000 for a single night's work.
"I never knew how it would take off," he said, shaking his head. "The most I've ever charged is £50."