Dance community pays tribute to the late Les ‘MixDoctor’ Adams
Some of the biggest names in dance music have taken to social media to pay tribute to Les ‘MixDoctor’ Adams, who has died of a heart attack at the age of 63.
Adams was one of the first DJs in the UK to adopt a ‘beat matching’ style to his DJing – a craft that he learned from American DJ Greg James (himself the understudy of Studio 54’s Ritchie Kaczor).
In 1983, he sent a mix to the then-emerging Disco Mix Club, or DMC, which in time would become fabled for its megamixes, and was assigned to its production team, working alongside the likes of Alan Coulthard, Chad Jackson and Peter Slaghuis.
It was at DMC that Adams would become known by the pseudonym ‘MixDoctor’, adding a dancefloor touch to some of the big pop hits of the period: 1984’s Madonna Goes To The Doctor, for example, blends the queen of pop’s Holiday with everything from Frankie Goes To Hollywood to Miami Sound Machine, while the Grace Jones Musclemix, which featured on the Pull Up To The Bumper 12-inch (1986), is a disco-fuelled rework of some of the Jamaican artist’s biggest hits.
Adams would also find pop success as a member of LA Mix (alongside wife Emma Freilich and Mike Stevens), a pop act that tapped into the sampling craze of the late 80s – 1988’s Check This Out made it to the Top 10 in the charts, but was tainted by legal complications over the samples therein.
Among those paying tribute to Adams on Twitter were Joey Negro, CJ Mackintosh, Robbie Vincent and a host of familiar names.
R.I.P. Les Adams. Very sad news. Just recently spoke to Les on messenger and was going to give him a call for a catch-up. Gutted. This man inspired many of us along with Froggy with his mixing skills. RIP Les 🙁 — feeling sad
— CJ Mackintosh (@cjmackintosh) September 2, 2019
Just read Les Adams aka The Mixdoctor and L.A.Mix has passed away. Quite shocking news as I was listening to last weekends Dancefloor Classics show (broadcast Saturday night 8-10pm on Solar) this morning via Mixcloud. Les was one of the early UK… https://t.co/qW5S7s6NRh
— Joey Negro (@JoeyNegro) September 2, 2019
Another incredible DJ has gone up to the party in the sky. Les Adams aka The Mixdoctor was a genius.
— Ronnie Herel DJ (@ronnieherel) September 2, 2019
I never met the great man but listened to his mixes growing up know how influential he has been to the soul music scene. He will be MASSIVELY missed! #RIPLesAdams 🙏🏽
Deeply saddened to hear of the death of monster music man #LesAdams. Mix man,broadcaster,music maker but most of all a thoroughly honest warm and genuine nice person to know.
— Robbie Vincent (@RobbieVincent) September 2, 2019
I am in shock. My VERY good friend and Mentor Les Adams has left us. You will be missed my friend.#RIPMixdoctorpic.twitter.com/SPxcwCHr97
— Ian Jons (@Essentialrhythm) September 2, 2019
Shocked to just hear the sad news about the death this morning of DMC legend Les Adams, a pioneering producer and mixer and radio presenter, absolutely loving guy and an inspiration to many djs and producers. RIP LA Mix
— BUZZ CHART (@BUZZCHART) September 2, 2019
Sad to hear of the passing of the Mix Doctor, Les Adams. DMC stalwart and later of LA Mix who gave me many happy nights at the Sussex in Streatham and beyond, with his mixing skills. Sleep well, mate 😞
— Nelly (@neilforbessoul) September 2, 2019
Check out this classic mix from Les Adams from DMC’s January 1986 mixes LP, dubbed the Bogie Boogie Mix, which features artists including Doug E Fresh, Aretha Franklin, Kurtis Blow and Colonel Abrams among others. RIP.
[Main picture taken from www.muzines.co.uk – original photo from Music Technology, October 1989]
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