Roni O'Brien

At the tender age of 13, I discovered the key to my older Brothers bedroom door, Pandora's Box suddenly opened and it was a revelation! While all my friends were dancing to Madness I was gripped by The Players Association, Gonzalez and then got 'Swingin' with Light of the World!

My Soul sessions didn't remain a secret for long; my lunchtimes became popular amongst friends where we all discovered the latest sounds in soul and Jazz-funk. I bought my first 7"inch Geraldine Hunt -'Can't fake the feeling' and I gained instant credibility with my Brother and my English teacher alike.

I by chance discovered a Radio station, the signal was weak...and if I hadn't lived on a hill I would never have found it. Radio Horizon and then JFM....quickly became the reason the homework wasn't being done!

At college I quickly took over the role of organising events by hiring clubs like Flicks and the Goldmine and knew the importance of having the right DJs for the night. Tom Holland, Chris Hill and Robbie Vincent became the icons of our soul tribe ‘The Jazzers Incognito’. We travelled the country looking for the best sounds around but were so lucky being from Essex means we never had to travel too far!

I discovered the Caister Soul Weekender, the Lacy Lady and then the Special Branch in Tooley St.

I became involved with the fashion industry and it became more and more of a part of my role to organise fashion shows and presentations. The music never left me and I quickly took over organising the music in all the venues that I worked. When the world was playing acid house I continued to use Soul and Jazz-Funk for my shows.

Through organising the music at fashion shows I was asked to produce for a new DJ on Solar Radio, and from there realised my dream to have my own show.
I now have my own show on the Europe’s premier Soul station Solar Radio.

I have since played at Soul Heaven, Qudos, Henrys, and various other venues including Caister!

I played at Soul Heaven last year and was given the Tom Holland treatment!

He accidentally whacked me round the head with my CD case and gave me a concussion minutes before doing my set.

I have since been told this is a soul mafia initiation ceremony. I survived and played my first main room set at the Caister 2006 New Year!

If you can’t wait for the next Caister for some great tunes then listen to Roni’s Show

‘Insatiable Soul’ on www.solarradio.com –Sky 0129

Every Sunday at midnight.
www.insatiablesoul.com

  My Top 10 Tunes

McCrary's-Love on a summers night
Harold Melvin-Prayin’
George Duke-I want you for myself
Manu Dibango-Soul Makossa
Lonnie Smith-Funk Reaction
Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson-I need it
Johnny ‘ Hammond’ Smith-Fantasy
B.B.Baker and the Chocolate Co.-Snow blower
Jimmy Smith-You can’t hide love
Jimmy Messina-Do you wanna dance
Al Hudson-Spread love
Bill Summers-Take that to the bank
The Equals-Funky like a train

My Top 10 Films

Carry on screaming
The life of Brian
Psycho
Devils advocate
The green mile
Whatever happened to Baby Jane
Misery