Paul Gray (DJ)
Paul Gray is an English DJ, born in Luton, Bedfordshire, UK in 1953.
1971
Gray first got his hands on a pair of decks whilst assisting Disc Jockey Chris P. Taylor at Beachcomber, the discotheque attached to Caesar’s Palace Night Club in Skimpot Road, Luton.
His first real break came when he joined local DJ and entrepreneur Bruce Benson, who ran Strawberry Productions. Paul undertook a successful interview-cum-test at the Saturday morning children’s disco and was then given regular spots, rapidly becoming resident DJ at the California Ballroom.
Throughout the early Seventies, Gray covered the Friday night discos and Saturday night shows, working with many of the top Motown and Soul bands that were coming into the country at the time. He was also called upon to act as a foil to Bruce Benson’s outlandish on-stage and off-stage stunts.
1972
Following a major conversion at the California Ballroom, a smaller club was opened on the ground floor. The Devil’s Den was to provide an alternative to the mainstream music upstairs. It provided a more select sound, hosting specialist soul and funk nights, coupled with Northern Soul gigs and all-dayers. Paul Gray was the first DJ to run the new decks on opening night, starting up with a track by James Brown.
Whilst pursuing a full time day job in photography, Gray’s evenings were taken up with resident gigs at the Luton Recreation Centre, the Queensway Hall, Halfway House and Aquarius Night Club in Dunstable, and two Truman Gateway Public Houses, in Luton and Harrow.
1973
The resident gigs carried on into late 1973 and looked set to continue for the foreseeable future however, following a disagreement at the Truman Gateway in Luton when a bouncer refused to allow a Northern Soul dancer onto the floor, Paul Gray and Strawberry Productions parted company. He set up on his own and soon picked up a new venue in Bury Park, Luton, called David’s Disc-a-Dine.
This was a completely new concept where people could get a meal and a disco at the same time. Paul’s name and professionalism meant that when he was on, the venue was heaving.
Running your own venture was fraught with mishaps. Most of the places Gray had dealt with in the past had equipment already installed, but now he needed to carry his own kit. The Police took great interest in his grey and black Anglia van called Boris, usually packed to the gills, roaring around at odd hours of the night. Stop and search became a hazard of the trade.
1974
In early 1974, Paul Gray was asked to take over a spot at the Greyhound public house in Dunstable. This soon turned into a residency every Thursday and Friday night. This and his gigs at the Disc-a-dine, coupled with a fairly regular stint at RAF Upper Heyford and the one-offs, kept him flat out until he met up with Bruce Benson once again.
1975
Bruce had been having a break from the California and had lodged his DJs in many other venues; this meant that he was a bit short of bodies when he was offered the Prince of Wales public house in Fleet and Beadlow Manor Golf Club near Bedford. He contacted Paul who jumped at the chance to become resident DJ working Friday and Saturday nights.
As if the regular gigs weren’t enough, broadcasting called, and Paul hosted his own music show on Red House Radio based in Harpenden. This was one of a number of Hospital stations springing up and it catered for Luton, Stevenage and Harpenden.
Ilka Promotions were now in charge at the California Ballroom. Mick Ilka contacted Paul and offered him some gigs which he accepted.
1976
A serious car accident on his way back from Fleet; caused by him falling asleep at the wheel, prompted Paul to slow down. The far-flung gigs had to go. Deciding to concentrate on the California, he was soon working both the main ballroom and the Devil’s Den once again.
The style had changed completely. Gone were the Soul and Motown acts; in came the Glitter and Disco Divas. Paul took to this like a duck to water and really didn’t need the flamboyant Mr Benson to egg him on.
1977-1978
In 1978, the Devil’s Den was converted into a nightclub and renamed Didoz. Paul worked a number of spots here but was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the scene which was changing at a great rate. Dinner Dances were all the rage, Punk and New Wave were popular and pogo-ing wasn’t his scene. Finally he took the reluctant step of packing away all his records.
2004
Paul returned to the decks with a soul & Motown gig at the Norman King public house in Dunstable on 27th March. This was followed by another soul night in the company of DJs from Shades and Northern Soul Radio at Wickstead Park on 7th May.
Paul is involved with the 25th Anniversary of the California Ballroom. He was the DJ who worked there longer than anyone else.
2007
Today he is working in conjunction with Paddy Grady of NorthernSoul Radio on many Motown and Northern Soul gigs in the Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire areas of the UK and also presents 'California Soul' on the internet based station RadioFreeMK for the Ruff Justice Takeover.