Boogaloo Stu
Encyclopedia
Boogaloo Stu is a singer, musician, DJ and performer based in Brighton, UK.
Often describing himself as a "showbiz multi-tasker", Stu carved out an early career as a knitwear designer, with celebrity clients including Bjork
, Kylie Minogue
, and Mariah Carey
, before turning his attention to DJ-ing and performing on the alternative London club scene in the mid-90's at clubs such as Popstarz, Shinky Shonky, Duckie and Ghetto.
Stu launched his pop career with his debut single entitled "Rocksteady" in 2002. Limited to just 1000 copies, "Rocksteady" was a surprise radio hit, with the single playlisted at XFM
and receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1
from Jo Whiley
, Huw Stephens
and Rob Da Bank
. The original version of the single was built around a brass sample from the 1983 Carmel hit "More More More" but a new version was recorded without the sample for his debut UK album "The Glambassador" which followed in 2004.
"The Glambassador" was eclectic in style, embracing the late 90's trend for lounge-pop. Two further singles were released from it - the 50's mambo swing of "Hit 'Em With It High" and the solid disco groove of "Dynamite" (the latter being remixed by Manhattan Clique
).
A follow-up album "Enough About You...Let's Talk About Me" was released worldwide in January 2008, and spawned 3 more singles - "Just Want You To Know", "Hammer To Fall" (a duet with Lucy Bundy) and "Magnetic Heart" (featuring remixes from Manhattan Clique
and Mo' Wax
's Parsley Sound). The album had a more accomplished feel; melodic 80's electro-pop and late 70's glam-rock clearly being the primary influences.
In June 2010, Rambling Records in Tokyo released "Dancing Elepop: Best Of Boogaloo Stu" in Japan, a 30-track career retrospective featuring new tracks, remixes and previously unreleased music.
A single "Forever More" was released in June 2010, followed by "Hello" in November 2011. A third album "Magic Soul" is due in early 2012.
Renowned for his outlandish stage attire, Stu also starred in the Olivier Award-winning show "C'est Duckie" and a Latin-American dance show "School Of Dance” at London's Barbican Centre
. He also hosted Eurovision for BBCi in 2008, and continues to present his Pop Kraft radio show on Brighton's Juice 107.2 and Totally Radio online.
Often describing himself as a "showbiz multi-tasker", Stu carved out an early career as a knitwear designer, with celebrity clients including Bjork
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
, and Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, before turning his attention to DJ-ing and performing on the alternative London club scene in the mid-90's at clubs such as Popstarz, Shinky Shonky, Duckie and Ghetto.
Stu launched his pop career with his debut single entitled "Rocksteady" in 2002. Limited to just 1000 copies, "Rocksteady" was a surprise radio hit, with the single playlisted at XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
and receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
from Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley
Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
, Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens is a radio presenter currently broadcasting shows on BBC Radio 1.-Early life and career:Stephens was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens...
and Rob Da Bank
Rob da Bank
Robert John Gorham, known by the pseudonym Rob da Bank, is a British disc jockey. He presents a Friday-night/Saturday-morning show, Rob da Bank, on BBC Radio 1 from 5am-7am, focused on promoting new left field music...
. The original version of the single was built around a brass sample from the 1983 Carmel hit "More More More" but a new version was recorded without the sample for his debut UK album "The Glambassador" which followed in 2004.
"The Glambassador" was eclectic in style, embracing the late 90's trend for lounge-pop. Two further singles were released from it - the 50's mambo swing of "Hit 'Em With It High" and the solid disco groove of "Dynamite" (the latter being remixed by Manhattan Clique
Manhattan Clique
The Manhattan Clique are producers, remixers and writers Philip Larsen and Chris Smith. Regular visitors to the higher reaches of the Music Week Club and Pop charts in the UK, plus the Billboard dance chart in the US, Manhattan Clique are equally at home with their more underground MHC guise as...
).
A follow-up album "Enough About You...Let's Talk About Me" was released worldwide in January 2008, and spawned 3 more singles - "Just Want You To Know", "Hammer To Fall" (a duet with Lucy Bundy) and "Magnetic Heart" (featuring remixes from Manhattan Clique
Manhattan Clique
The Manhattan Clique are producers, remixers and writers Philip Larsen and Chris Smith. Regular visitors to the higher reaches of the Music Week Club and Pop charts in the UK, plus the Billboard dance chart in the US, Manhattan Clique are equally at home with their more underground MHC guise as...
and Mo' Wax
Mo' Wax
Mo' Wax was a UK-based record label owned by James Lavelle, who founded it in the early 1990s with Tim Goldsworthy. Steve Finan became co-owner shortly after. The label came to recognition for being at the forefront of trip hop, turntablism and alternative rap during the mid-90s...
's Parsley Sound). The album had a more accomplished feel; melodic 80's electro-pop and late 70's glam-rock clearly being the primary influences.
In June 2010, Rambling Records in Tokyo released "Dancing Elepop: Best Of Boogaloo Stu" in Japan, a 30-track career retrospective featuring new tracks, remixes and previously unreleased music.
A single "Forever More" was released in June 2010, followed by "Hello" in November 2011. A third album "Magic Soul" is due in early 2012.
Renowned for his outlandish stage attire, Stu also starred in the Olivier Award-winning show "C'est Duckie" and a Latin-American dance show "School Of Dance” at London's Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
. He also hosted Eurovision for BBCi in 2008, and continues to present his Pop Kraft radio show on Brighton's Juice 107.2 and Totally Radio online.
Albums
- The Glambassador (Lucky Pierre, 2004)
- Enough About You...Let's Talk About Me (Telefunc, 2008)
- Dancing Elepop: Best Of Boogaloo Stu (Rambling Records, 2010)
Singles
- Rocksteady (Lucky Pierre, 2002)
- Hit 'Em With It High (Lucky Pierre, 2002)
- Dynamite (Lucky Pierre, 2004)
- Rocksteady (re-issue) (Lucky Pierre, 2005)
- Just Want You To Know (Telefunc, 2008)
- Magnetic Heart (Telefunc, 2008)
- Hammer To Fall (Telefunc, 2009)
- Forever More (Telefunc, 2010)
- Hello (Telefunc, 2011)
Compilations
- Music Department (Rambling Records, 2005) - Rocksteady
- I Say Yeh Yeh (Rambling Records, 2007) - Hit 'Em With It High
- Cafe Music Select Vol. 3 (Rambling Records, 2010) - Blue, Fly Around The Moon
- Swing Meets Electro (Rambling Records, 2010) - Just Want You To Know (Future Perfect Radio Edit)
- Sunset Reggae (Rambling Records, 2010) - The Next Big Nothing
- Electro Swing Party Vol. 2 (Rambling Records, 2010) - Hit 'Em With It High (Unbedingt Schon remix), Just Want You To Know (Future Perfect Radio Edit)
External links
- http://www.boogaloostu.com Official Boogaloo Stu site
- http://www.myspace.com/boogaloostu Boogaloo Stu on MySpace
- http://www.totallyradio.com/archive.php?show=123 Boogaloo Stu's Pop Kraft radio show
- http://www.youtube.com/user/stuboogaloo Boogaloo Stu on YouTube