This is one DJ who doesn't need an award to prove his popularity, well known for his highly influential radio show on BBC's Radio 1, “Essential Selection” every Friday night for a decade and going. We are talking about Pete Tong, one of Britain's most well-received DJs.

Pete was inspired during his teen years by the underground soul scene in the late seventies, where Funkadelic and James Brown reigned the dance floor. Securing his first DJ job at a wedding when he was 15 years old, Pete began promoting local bands, booking gigs, and spinning black soul and dance music wherever he could. The Dartford-born lad then bought a Transit van after leaving school to set up his own sound system.

Pete became a journalist for Blues & Soul, a monthly magazine, in 1979, and rose to features editor the year after, leaving in 1983. His first break was with Radio 1, where he presented a regular 15 minute magazine programme, featuring dance music on Peter Powell's show, where Pete had to say what was happening on the streets.

His comprehensive knowledge of the dance underground scene and his ability to spot a crossover hit got him appointed as A&R manager of an new independent label, London Records, in 1983, where he managed careers of pop acts like Bananarama. But this did not deter him from pursuing his budding radio career. After hosting a show with Invicta station in 1984 for three years, he returned for a brief stint with Radio London, before he was poached almost immediately by Capitol Radio, where his dance programme induced a massive following of London clubbers.

Pete launched his own record label in 1988, FFRR, through London records, which he hoped to embrace the new wave of electronic music as well as promote black dance artistes with. Releases from this label, including Salt'n'Pepa's 'Push It', slammed right into the charts, resulting in a stream of influential hits after signings with other popular artistes like Goldie and The Brand New Heavies.

As club culture thrived across the UK in 1991, Pete went national on BBC's Radio 1 with his 'Essential Selection' programme, described as mainly house, but coupled with techno, jungle, hip hp, funk and soul from all over the world. Mainstream fused with funky cutting-edge sounds resulted in influential music and followings from all over the country. He was a key player in reshaping Radio 1, and the change saw many substantial DJs entering the scene to fit the tastes of British young people. It now sees over a millin and a half listeners every week, maintaining its spot as U.K.'s most popular dance music show. Pete's ability to change with the times consistently is now infiltrating the U.S., but Pete is careful not to override the current club culture there, understanding the differences in the scenes. His 4th installment of “Essential Mix” is due to be released on the 20th of March, and his ingenious radio show has recently taken off in over 100 college radio stations in the US.

Let's hope this venerable DJ, who manages to work within the mainstream but maintains his credibility and popularity in the underground, manages to spread to the Statesides what the British have had the luxury to enjoy for years.