DJ Denzil - Still Diggin' the Crates

SOUL STORIES: DJ DENZIL
From South-East London to Western Canada: A Lifetime of Soul, Vinyl and Musical Discovery
From Friday nights at London youth clubs to rubbing shoulders with musical legends in America, DJ Denzil's journey has taken him across continents, through decades of extraordinary music and eventually to a home behind the microphone at Love Soul Radio London. And the best part? He's still discovering new grooves.

Where It All Began
Growing up in south-east London during the 1970s, Denzil's earliest musical influences came courtesy of his father, whose record collection featured the likes of America, Steely Dan, Bread and Wings.

But everything changed around 1981.

A school friend had started DJing at a local youth club, introducing Denzil to the exciting sounds of contemporary soul music. Every Friday night became an adventure, catching the bus to hear the latest imports, watching the jazz dancers and body poppers showing off their moves and soaking up an atmosphere that would stay with him for life.

When his friend graduated to playing at a local nightclub, Denzil and his mates followed.

The music was fantastic, the dancing was infectious and, naturally, there was the added attraction of meeting girls.

Some things never change.

A Walkman, a Record Collection and a Growing Reputation
By the early 1980s, Denzil was well and truly hooked.

Armed with a Sony Walkman and a growing collection of carefully recorded cassette tapes, he became something of a musical authority among his school friends.

While other teenagers were happy listening to whatever happened to be in the charts, Denzil was searching for something a little more special.

Regular train journeys into central London took him to the legendary Groove Records in Soho, where he would hunt down American imports and those elusive records that weren't getting much attention on mainstream radio.

Then there were the live concerts.

Hammersmith Odeon became a regular destination, giving him the opportunity to witness extraordinary performances from artists including Maze, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jean Carn, Tom Browne and Roy Ayers.

For a young soul enthusiast, it was a musical education money simply couldn't buy.

How Denzil Became Denzil
Of course, every good DJ needs a name.

And Denzil's arrived in rather unusual circumstances.

A friend, amused by his seemingly endless enthusiasm for soul and Black American music, compared him to Denzil, the much-loved character from Only Fools and Horses.

The nickname stuck.

Later, while playing rugby for Blackheath in south-east London, his teammates affectionately christened him the "Soul Man".

Whether he was carrying a rugby ball, a bag of records or a cassette player, there was apparently no escaping his musical reputation.

Chicago Calling: The American Adventure
In 1994, life took an extraordinary turn.

Denzil won a Green Card through the United States immigration lottery, opening the door to a completely new chapter.

Destination: Chicago.

For someone who had spent years collecting American soul records and dreaming of the artists behind them, living in the United States was something of a musical paradise.

Eleven years in Chicago, followed by another three in Cleveland, brought unforgettable experiences and opportunities to see some of his musical heroes performing live.

Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock and Teena Marie were among the legendary names he was fortunate enough to experience.

It was also during his American years that Denzil became a regular listener to Soul24-7.com, developing connections with fellow music enthusiasts and DJs.

An event in Washington, D.C., introduced him to even more like-minded people, some of whom remain friends to this day.

For Denzil, music was becoming about much more than collecting records.

It was about friendship, community and the remarkable ability of soul music to bring people together.

From the Windy City to Western Canada
In 2008, Denzil, his wife and young family embarked on another adventure, relocating to western Canada.

And naturally, the record collection came too.

Some possessions are simply non-negotiable.

As the internet transformed the way music could be discovered, Denzil embraced the digital revolution while remaining faithful to the spirit of traditional record collecting.

His collection of MP3s grew alongside his vinyl, and the search for forgotten gems, obscure recordings and wonderful new discoveries continued.

Different country. Different surroundings.

Same passion.

Lockdown, Mixcloud and a New Beginning
Like so many people, the Covid-19 pandemic brought a period of isolation and reflection.

But in 2022, Denzil decided to turn his passion for music into something more creative.

Encouraged by DJ friends back in England, he began recording hour-long shows for Mixcloud, carefully selecting records and experimenting with the art of putting together a proper radio programme.

What began as a personal project soon developed into something much bigger.

And eventually, that journey led him to Love Soul Radio London.

Finding His Radio Family
Joining Love Soul Radio London proved to be a turning point.

For Denzil, the station offered something particularly special: the freedom to share the music he genuinely loves, alongside presenters who share the same enthusiasm, knowledge and dedication.

Being part of an independent radio station also introduced him to a whole new circle of talented DJs and music enthusiasts.

He readily admits that he's constantly learning, discovering new artists, exchanging ideas and drawing inspiration from fellow presenters.

And that's precisely what makes independent radio so special.

It's not about following a computer-generated playlist or playing the same familiar records on endless rotation.

It's about personality, musical knowledge and the excitement of hearing something unexpected.

The Crate Diggers Club: More Than Just a Playlist
Denzil's show, The Crate Diggers Club, perfectly captures his philosophy.

For him, a great radio programme isn't simply a collection of individual tracks.

It's a journey.

Every selection has a purpose. Each record should complement the next, creating a natural musical progression that takes listeners somewhere special.

And he takes that responsibility seriously.

Very seriously.

In fact, Denzil can spend around three weeks researching, selecting and refining the music for a single two-hour show.

That's quite a commitment.

Picture the scene: Friday night in western Canada, Denzil relaxing on the sofa, carefully fine-tuning his next playlist, surrounded by musical possibilities.

And helping the creative process along?

A rather agreeable glass of red wine.

Well, every great artist needs a little inspiration.

Still Digging, Still Discovering
Now in his sixties, Denzil shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.

If anything, his passion for sharing great music continues to grow.

His latest venture is a regular Sip & Soul event at a local brewpub in western Canada, bringing people together to enjoy wonderful music, good company and a relaxed atmosphere.

He's even invested in a new DJ controller, allowing him to take his musical adventures beyond the radio studio and into local venues.

As Denzil jokes, he can finally look like he knows what he's doing!

But behind the humour lies something rather special.

A lifetime of musical discovery, from the youth clubs of south-east London to the record shops of Soho, the concert halls of America and the radio studios of today.

Through every chapter, the music has remained a constant companion.

And perhaps that's the real beauty of soul music.

It doesn't matter where life takes you, how old you become or how many records you've collected.

There's always another hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

For DJ Denzil, the crates are never empty, the journey is never finished and the next great record is always just around the corner.

And somewhere in western Canada, there's probably a glass of red wine waiting too.

 
Listen to DJ Denzil on Love Soul Radio London
Join DJ Denzil for The Crate Diggers Club, a lovingly curated journey through soul, funk, rare grooves and those wonderful musical discoveries you won't necessarily hear anywhere else.

Love Soul Radio London

From London to the World.

www.lovesoulradiolondon.org