If it moves, Funk it - The Radio Catchphrase from the UK legendary DJ/Radio Broadcaster - Robbie Vincent
For a number of us over here in the UK. As soon as we hear this catchphrase above. It means one thing and only one person and that person is Robbie Vincent.
Robbie is originally from the county of Suffolk, here in England where I am based actually.
In fact, he was born on the 9th of June 1947 in the town of Felixstowe, Suffolk, here in England; which is about 11 miles from my home town Ipswich Town, the county the town of Suffolk, England.
Within the USA however; and especially around the New York Area of the USA (the late 1970s and early 1980s).
We know that you had a DJ/Radio personality around the same time who had the same special pull and or special relationship with music lovers of Soul, Funk, and Jazz.
That person's name was Frankie Crocker, and his nickname that was known by was “The Chief Rocker” or “Hollywood”.
He was so influential within the Music industry (within the USA) as a Radio DJ/personality and as a music selector; especially around the time that these legendary clubs were running as well. Studio 54 and the Paradise Garage.
Both DJ and the clubs mentioned above became national news items to the nation around the country of the USA.
Probably the only other DJ at the time that could match him at that time would have been Larry Levan (the main club DJ for the world-famous Paradise Garage club, in New York, USA).
Larry Levan was a club Dj, and Frankie Crockerwas a Radio/DJ (WBLS-FM – New York, USA). Both had tremendous pull within the world of Soul, Disco, and Funk music scenes.
It has been well reported that Frankie Crocker during the height of the Disco boom - when Studio 54 nightclubwas at the height of its popularity. Crocker rode in through the front entrance of the nightclub on a White Stallion.
In the studio, before he left for the day, Frankie Crockerwould light a candle and invite female listeners to enjoy a candlelight bath with him.
He signed off the air each night to the tune "Moody Mood for Love" by vocalese crooner King Pleasure. Crocker, a native of Buffalo, coined the phrase "URBAN CONTEMPORARY" in the 1970s, a label for the eclecticmix of songs that he played.
Crocker is credited with introducing as many as 30 new artists to the mainstream, including Manu Dibango's - "Soul Makossa" to American audiences.
While both Gary Bryd and Herb Hamlett were influenced by Crocker, it is only Hamlett who always attributes his success to his mentor in Buffalo, Frankie Crocker.
In October 2000, Frankie Crockerwent into a Miami area hospital for several weeks. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and kept the illness a secret from his friends and even from his mother. He died on Saturday, October 21, 2000.
For us though (within the UK - Well, within the southern part of the UK that is) Robbie Vincent’s (“If it moves Funk it” catchphrase) meant we were NOW going to hear quality radio that would feature the latest Funk, Soul and Jazz/Funk releases from the USA, Brazil, and Japan.
No Robbie didn’t ride into the nightclubs WITHIN THE UK on any WHITE HORSE via entering nightclubs such as “Flicks” in Dartford and the Goldmine in Essex. But his musical influence was just as legendary.
Being born, bred (Dj Mistri), and situated within the town of Ipswich, here in England. Getting hold of the numerous London Pirate radio stations that were in abundance at the time (the 1980s) in London was a no-go for me and many others who lived in my part of the world at that time.
Robbie Vincent via his Radio show on Radio London, offered many of us Soul, Jazz, and funk fans the ability to hear the latest releases before they came out on vinyl.
It may not mean anything to today's generation in regards to being able to hear tracks like what was mentioned above on your Mobile Phone as standard.
However, for many of us, this show was a godsend at that time. It was. Pen at the ready, you made sure that the Radio had a good supply of batteries.
You put the Radio on the Window, or the best place in the house so that you can get the best Radio reception.
Robbie Vincent was so upfront with his tunes and album releases which he sourced from the USA, Brazil, and Japan in regards to Soul, Jazz, Funk, and Brazilian Jazz-Funk; that you had to make sure that you got those music titles down – quickly and precisely
When you visited your local record shop you would bombard the hell out Shop assistant with a list that you had in your hand.
More often than not they didn’t have them. So a trip to London would have to be arranged. Such was the level of upfront tunes that he was playing that your record bill could come to 100 pounds sterling, for each visit (which was a lot of money to be spending on vinyl records at that time). And in those days single 12-inch records come to cost you 6 pounds, or albums up to 20 pounds!
I managed to catch the show for the first time in the year 1980 during the lunchtime period. I could only get about 40 minutes of the show due to the Radio reception would fade and you would no longer be able to hear the show.
Robbie Vincent's Saturday Show broadcast in the early 1980s on Radio London had a cult following. It must be said. Most people when you visited London in that period were listening to the show.
Below is part of his show that he devoted to Jazz and Jazz/Funk and Jazz/Fusion in the early 1980s. Please click the YouTube video below!!
Something that I did myself and has now found out other fans of the show were doing the same. We were all making Pirate Radio cassettes of his show (Robbie Vincent) every week.
However, for myself, I have lost those tapes now. I just can’t find them. I still shake my head about this even today. As I know some of those tunes that he played will be lost forever, especially those obscure Brazilian Jazz Funk tracks and Japanese Jazz/ Funk albums details from the early 1980s
I have found out that many fans of the show made Pirate tape (c90) cassette recordings of the show week after week, which was aired from 11:30 am to 2 pm.
Robbie's shows that included these promos and new releases would become club dance floor anthems that filled dance floors from Flicks in Dartford to The Goldmine in Canvey Island.
Robbie would play a selection of UK and US Imports, thus strengthening the sales and reach of the sales both in London and further afield.
Such was the show's cult listening habit that many fans would travel to locations within the UK where even the weakest signal of BBC Radio London could be received – these locations included High Wycombe, Marlow, Luton, Dunstable, and even just east of Guildford.
His Saturday show in 1983 progressed to include a Fusion Jazz 40 (which often would mirror the Fusion Few Chart in Blues and Soul magazine). I used to love this part of the show so much, however, it used to drive me crazy, as the radio frequency always started to fade out.
This resulted in me trying to extend the aerial or running up and down the house to try and get a better reception for the show.
Robbie Vincent's importance to the scene of Soul, Funk, and Jazz music scene within the UK was that several import 12" singles and albums would not have been officially released in the UK without HIS influence.
Some of the albums or tracks from these artists included Maze feat Frankie Beverley, Brass Construction, Tania Marie, Earl Klugh, and Alfie Silas.
Below is the 1st UK radio Interview for Maze - done by Robbie Vincent (1982) - Part 1
For instance the first official playing of Lionel Richie's "All Night Long"was by Robbie Vincent on his Saturday Show in the Autumn of 1983 as a promo, well ahead of the release of Richie's album - "Can't Slow Down".
Occasionally, the Saturday Show standard format would be held over for Robbie's popular "All-Winners Show" where the fans would choose the tracks to be played.
On this occasion on the 12th of October 1982, one such All Winners Show unearthed a long-lost jazz-funk band called Prince Charles and the City Beat Bandand within weeks, their song 'In The Streets' was re-released in the UK. The band went on to have a renewed career in the next few years and UK hits.
On the same show, The Tramps'Soul Bones' was played resulting in a scurry to find deleted copies of this forgotten soul classic. On the same show, a composite of Merry Clayton's 'When The World Turns Blue', John Klemmers 'Adventures in Paradise, and Teena Marie's 'Portuguese Love' was a sequence that has remained a memorable highlight.
Other notable successes down to Robbie Vincent's work include Gilberto Giland Sadao Watanabe.
Robbie was also the first to play Teena Marie's comeback recording in 1983 called 'Fix It following her signing from Motown Records to Epic.
Careers previously restricted to the US and Latin America were given prime exposure on Robbie Vincent's Saturday Show notably, Phyllis Hyman, Angela Bofill, and Brenda Russell.
Below is the 1st UK radio Interview for Maze - done by Robbie Vincent (1982) - Part 2
Robbie supported Uk acts such as Second Image, I-Level, and early 12" Singles from Loose Ends.
In fact, in 1981, Robbie became manager of the UK Soul Funk band, Second Image, securing record deals with Polydor record label and then in 1984, with MCA Records. He acted as their sole personal manager until the band split in 1986.
It was a very exciting time for music much of it underground and unique to Caister all-weekenders and all-dayers.
In the spring of 1983, Robbie Vincent played a 7" Single by an unknown funk band here in the UK called - Mtume – the song 'Juicy Fruit' became a massive UK hit being released as an extended 12" single largely as a result of Robbie's pushing.
It should not be underestimated the contribution to the UK Jazz Funk and Soul scene made by Robbie Vincent between 1979 – 1989, but in particular in the early 1980s.
With Greg Edwards, Jeff Young, and other DJs, Robbie Vincent was part of both a soul revival as well as a massive move for commercial acceptance of Jazz-Funk.
In addition, the mainstream Jazz movement, so often missed in the story, received an incredible boost thanks to unknown and new artists being given a media platform.
More recent news about Robbie is that he is still doing what he does best which is his radio show along with the same format.
However, on 29th November 2013, Robbie Vincent announced his decision to leave Jazz FM (UK) and was denied a final farewell show on the station following his announcement.
This caused a stir within the UK radio world. Many thought it cruel of Jazz FM (Uk) to prevent him from saying goodbye to his listeners to his show.
As I mentioned Robbie is still going and can be found here - Robbie Vincent
Well, that's all folks for me now anyway.
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Dj Mistri and the Electric Soul Show © www.electricsoulshow.com
