DJs mixed tape tops charts

According to the USA`s Podbean.com, the hit mix was played 226 times in January so far. Finer Jamz 21 features PJ’s selection of some of the latest 2010 Jamz plus snippets of the 1990`s jamz in a mix. Another true mobile-to-global story, PJ honed his studio skills in Zimbabwe and eventually gained notice from top touring jockeys, relocating to the UK where he has carved a name for himself.

Starting out as a club DJ in 1980, PJ played at Scamps, a night-club in Harare owned by DJ Tim Breen and Zac Almeida. His initial guest appearance resulted in him gaining a Friday and Saturday night residency almost immediately. Soon his energetic remixes and sharp original productions found themselves in sets and over time, his mixed tapes and club nights, solidified his status as one of Zimbabwe’s best DJs.

PJ’s mobile disco business ran parallel with his residency at various clubs, guest appearances at concerts, and promotions with international artists. In 1981, after the launch of Radio 3, which started with a 19 hour broadcast time and eventually moved to become a 24 hour station, gave PJ his first break into radio. They offered him a part-time slot on a Sunday evening by John Matinde, then manager responsible for recruitment at ZBC.

Through PJ’s connections in the UK and US, and his continued thirst for up-to-date knowledge of musicians and their music, the dynamic DJ was exposed to newly emerging trends in music from the UK and US, rocking local radio. This enabled him to update and build on his ever-growing collection of music. Incorporating international music with local jams proved to be a great recipe, boosting his radio shows and leading to an increase in shows he hosted on air. These included Monday Mellow Madness, which he continues to host on the Internet, the UK Top 40, Hit-Pick and others.

PJ is credited with interviewing the bad boy of ragga music, Shaba Ranks, during his visit to Zimbabwe in the 90s. He has interviewed several other celebrities, including Maxi Priest. The introduction of satellite television brought another great break for PJ – TV broadcasting. Sponsored shows, namely bottlers of Coca Cola, gave him a marvellous break. His star was to continue shining until circumstances changed. This week he fondly recalled the good times in Zimbabwe. PJ played for a private party aboard a train across the Victoria Falls gorge in 1999.

“The highlight was of course the countdown to midnight on New Years Eve when the train stopped on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia what a way to see the new millennium!” he said. In 2002, through restructuring and a change of policies at State radio, PJ was left “with no choice but to leave the radio station I had served for a great many years, albeit with bitter-sweet memories. The bulk being sweet,” he told Showbiz. PJ stands as one of Zimbabwe’s most prolific remixer/producers and most popular home grown DJs. He hopes to return home one day.