Dave Marshall - My Coventry DJ Story
by David Marshall
My first attempt at being a D.J. was on 8/3/1969 at the church hall on Holyhead Road I was then aged 18. It was as support for a band called Time Tunnel as I knew Terry Price.
I did not have any P:A or decks or even records ! I used a Ferguson tape recorder with the songs recorded on it and played it through a microphone. I threw most my flyers and tickets etc away probably after I got married, but did keep a few items,which you'll find lower down on here.
Time Tunnel were Martin Barter, Terry Price, Billy Campbell and Errol Mcgrath who went on to change the name to Coconut Mat. Around April 1969 I saw an advert in the Coventry Evening Telegraph advertising a complete D.J. set up P:A: and decks. It was 80 pounds which was quite a sum as I was only an apprentice at Rolls Royce who started in 1967 for 3 pounds 17 shillings and 6 pence for 40 hours so do not remember what I got in 1969, but not a lot more.
Well I went to view the equipment at the Abbey Hotel in Kenilworth. I remember I went with a friend and we bought it between us 40 quid each. It consisted of twin decks make forgotten, twin speakers also forgotten, a mic also forgotten and mic stand but what I remember and wish I still had was a VOX AC 30 I think was the model that many groups used.
What surprised me when we bought it was it came with a residency every Thursday night ! We started on Thursday 17 March I have it in an old diary. My friend did not like being a DJ, so I bought him out for the 40 quid he put in. Turned out to be a good idea in the long run. The first gig I did after 17 March was April 25 for a golden wedding. Now things get a little hazy as I only have my memory and a few more clippings in the diary. The next day 26 April I was at the Virgin and Castle Kenilworth 8-12 midnight. On 9 May was at Kenilworth youth club. On 8 September had my first gig backing a band at Jaguar Apprentice Association, the band were Indian Summer.
On the 12th, four days later, I ran my first disco at Wyken Parish Hall. I think I rented it from the scouts I was in at the time. My best mates father, custom made some Garrard SP 25 decks for me, also a sound to light console that consisted of household light bulbs of different colors that worked on frequencies, he was very clever and repaired all electrical things like TV s. Later he built me a strobe. I then bought a Marshall 100 watt amp, Carlsboro speakers a Shure Unidyne mic. and sold all the old gear (regret that AC30 to this day when I see what they go for). I now had a good set up.
We could only sell pop and crisps at Wyken Parish Hall. I booked Wandering John first on 10 January 1970 for 12 pounds 14 shillings.The place was packed so I booked them again on 13 June for a record 15 pounds as you know the going rate was a fiver, but I made money on tickets and sales. The scouts saw how popular my discos were and wanted a piece of the action AND profits. I was doing all the work and they wanted a cut for doing nothing ? I basically told them to take a hike and stopped the discos.
The next big break I got was I do not know when. There was a DJ competition at the Wally ( Walsgrave as you well know). About 8 of us hopefuls entered. We had to each play 3 records and 1 would be eliminated every week by the judges. After 8 weeks I managed to get in the final. It was against a man called Boris. I thought I had no chance he was a good looking man to me. We each played our records and I remember 1 that went down very well with the crowd dancing. It was 'Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache' by Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon if I remember correctly but that was the title.
The judges that night were Peppermint Kreem and I cannot remember if Dr. Vince was also. To my amazement I was voted the winner. The prize was a legally binding contract with Friars Promotions. Things really took off then. I had various regular weekly residencies Wally (Walsgrave), Mercers Arms, Silver Sword, etc - all Friars Promotions venues. The only other rival company was CBR ( Cliff and Brian Ridge ).
I also had my own regular spots away from Friars like the Old Hall Tamworth road supporting Coconut Mat, Sportsman's Arms, Binley club. Allesley Hotel and Chesford Grange where I met and worked with 208 DJ Tony Prince. He told me what record he wanted, I would cue it in then he would do his spiel . Next I remember passing an audition at the Rock House. I worked there Saturday afternoons and Monday night Vive La Revolve with Pete Waterman who taught me a lot. It was great listening to groups like Equals, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds,Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band. I also met Edwin Starr and have a picture with him somewhere in a box. Arthur Conley. Along with pictures of David Frost, Jimmy Tarbuck, Danny Blanchflower, Bernard Manning with his roller BM 1. Last time I saw Pete Waterman was coming out of Coombe Abbey hotel in his Bentley years ago.
Next working at the TIC TOC: (Theatre in Coventry Theatre of Coventry) I met John Gaunt and Gerry or Jerry forgot his name and they gave me a job to play 60s, 70s and 80s music. I used to go round the pubs and clubs selling Kershaws seafood and I worked the TIC TOC: They therefore called me D:J: COCKLE 
It was great being able to see Martha Reeves and The Vandellas and Kirsty McColl free. In fact I have seen over 40 of the best bands in the world all thanks to my love of music. My last DJ spot in England was the DJ revival night at Mercia sporting club over 20 years ago. I did some work in Germany where I now live. Worked in Tenerife as DJ and compere where I lived for 11 years. Majorca and on a cruise liner as a guest . I used to drink with a good friend of mine in the Foresters and Whitefriars Rod Felton RIP:
Coconut Mat - formally known as Time Tunnel
Wandering John
Wandering John at Wyken Parish Hall - bottom entry.
