Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler)

Grandmaster Flash is not only one of the first Hip Hop DJs of all time, but he is also the creator of various turntable techniques that have come to define the art of being a DJ. Born January 1, 1958 in Bridgetown, Barbados, Joseph Saddler moved to the South Bronx with his family in the 1960s.[1] [2] Flash grew up admiring his father’s astounding record collection and would often play Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, and Aretha Franklin records even though he knew the consequence would be physical abuse.[3] [4]His fascination with electronics led him to Samuel Gompers Vocational High School where he was nicknamed Grandmaster Flash because he would often hang out with a friend named Gordon (as in Flash Gordon). [5] [6]

As a teenager, Flash experimented with vinyl and studied the techniques of DJ Pete Jones, Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flowers.[7] He began DJing at several house parties in the early 1970s and took notice of DJ Pete Jones’ knowledge of mixing. He soon realized that he could perfect mixing by using headphones to listen to one turntable, cue up the record, and then play it for the crowd.[8] This discovery helped him design his own DJ mixing equipment, and he became the first DJ to ever lay hands on a record to manipulate it.[9]

Flash created various turntable cutting and mixing techniques including break-beat deejaying –“ the process of remixing and thereby creating a new piece of music by playing vinyl records and turntables as if they were musical instruments.”[10] He also enjoyed extending and looping the beats of his favorite song breakdowns by using two turntables and a mixer to play the same beat repeatedly.[11] This practice is now commonly known as Quick Mix Theory, Backspin Technique and Beat Juggling.[12] Punch phrasing (aka Clock Theory) “involved isolating short segments of music, typically horn hits, and rhythmically punching them over the sustained beat using the mixer.”[13] Flash eventually became skilled enough to recognize breaks on a record with his naked eye and marked them with crayon so that they were easily accessible.[14] Though Grand Wizzard Theodore is credited with the invention of scratching itself, Grandmaster Flash was known for cutting (moving between tracks exactly on the beat) which later evolved into crab scratching, transforming, flaring and doubleback.[15] [16] He was also known for phasing (varying the speed of a record) and for being the first DJ to have rappers like Kurtis Blow and Lovebug Starski accompany his breaks at his legendary block parties.[17]

At a time when disco ruled the world, Flash formed his own group to represent the Hip Hop movement that had become so prevalent with youth in the South Bronx. The group dropped theirfirst single “Superrappin’” on Enjoy! Records in 1979 and was comprised of rappers Melle Mel, Cowboy, Rahiem, Scorpio and Kid Creole.[18] The group went on to sign with Sugar Hill Records and the release of “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel” marked the first recorded DJ composition and also debuted scratching on a track.[19] They also made a social impact with hits like “The Message” and an anti-drug song called “White Lines (Don’t Do It)” though Flash has admitted to struggling with a cocaine base addiction in the 1980s.[20] The group disbanded when Flash sued Sugar Hill Records over royalties, and they reunited for another album and tour in the late 1980s with only lukewarm reception.[21] As a solo artist, he released various compilation albums and DJ mixes throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.[22] His latest effort, The Bridge – Concept of a Culture, was released in 2009 and featured Snoop Dogg and Q-Tip.[23]

Today, DJ Grandmaster Flash is now known as one of the founding fathers of Hip Hop who set the precedent for all DJs with his innovative cutting and mixing skills. He became the first Hip Hop DJ to ever be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 and has received various prestigious awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the RIAA and the Bill Gates’ Vanguard Award.[24] There is no doubt that Flash will always be remembered for pioneering an entire musical art form that will be practiced and studied for generations to come.

Origin:

Bridgetown, Barbados

Style/Claim To Fame:

Originating the following DJ techniques:
Break-beat deejaying
Quick Mix Theory
Punch phrasing (aka Clock Theory)
Backspin Technique
Cutting
Phasing

Discography

Super Rappin Recorded under Enjoy Records Released: 1976 Last RIAA certification: Singles: Super Rappin ^[20]

The Message Recorded under Sugar Hill Records Released: 1982 Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: “The Message“, “It’s Nasty”

Greatest Messages under Sugar Hill Records Released: 1984 Last RIAA certification: Singles:

They Said It Couldn’t Be Done under Elektra Records Released: April 26, 1985 Chart Positions: #35 Top R&B/Hip Hop Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: “Girls Love The Way He Spins”, “Sign Of The Times”, “Alternate Groove”, “Larry’s Dance Theme”

The Source under Elektra Records Released: 1986 Chart positions: #145 US, #27 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: “Style (Peter Gunn Theme)”, “Behind Closed Doors”

Ba-Dop-Boom-Bang under Elektra Records Released: 1987 Chart positions: #197 US, #43 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: “U Know What Time It Is”, “All Wrapped Up”

On the Strength under Elektra Records Released: 1988 Chart positions: #189 US Last RIAA certification: Gold Singles: “Gold”, “Magic Carpet Ride”

Salsoul Jam 2000 under Salsoul Jam Records Released: 1997 Chart positions: Did Not Chart Last RIAA certification: Singles: “Spring Rain”

Flash Is Back under Marlboro Music Released: 1998 Chart Positions: Did Not Chart Last RIAA certification: Singles:

The Official Adventures of Grandmaster Flash under Strut Records Released: January 29, 2002 Chart positions: Did Not Chart Last RIAA certification: Singles:

Essential Mix: Classic Edition under Rhino/WEA Records Released: May 7, 2002 Chart positions: Did Not Chart Last RIAA certification: Singles:

The Bridge – Concept of a Culture under Strut Records Released: February 24, 2009 Chart positions: U.S. Sales: 2,607 Last RIAA certification: Singles: Swagger feat. Red Cafe, Snoop Dogg & Lynn Carter Singles: Shine All Day feat. Q-Tip, Jumz & Kel Spencer

Singles

1980 – Freedom (Sugar Hill SH-549) Side A – vocal; Side B – instrumental
1981 – The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel (Sugar Hill SH-557)
1982 – Flash To The Beat (Sugar Hill SH 574)
1996 – If U Wanna Party (feat. Carl Murray) (JAM 1002-8) ^[21]