Steve Abbs:
As a teenager growing up in the late 70's, early 80's jazz, funk and soul was my passion. My love for the music was fueled even more when a couple of radio pirate stations popped up called Solar Radio and Horizon Radio playing nothing but the best in this music.
Before the DJing started, around 1982 I was organising youth discos at the Thames Board Mills Club House in Aveley where i worked as a potboy collecting glasses....I soon realised that the DJing game was where i wanted to be!
I then started DJing myself as soon as I was allowed in a pub, I played only Jazz, Funk and Soul, over a ten year period starting at the Top House in Aveley. I then progressed and played at the famous celebrity haunt The Boar & Thistle in Wanstead, East London. When I had a night off it would be spent at Oscars in Ilford, Zero 6 in Southend and of course the legendary Gold Mine, even an odd trip over to Flicks and stage 3 on the Isle of Sheppey.
In 1995 I started my own business within the motor trade and in 2004, Simon, my long time friend and fellow DJ joined me as a business partner.
Today we are fortunate enough to put in the time and effort into relaunching the famous Gold Mine name so that the soul family continues to grow through the generations.
Simon Croft:
I was mesmorized by disco and soul music ever since my mother introduced me to KTel in the early 70's ! We may laugh but playing Blue Beat 45 hits back in those days was far more enjoyable than watching "Hughies Opportunity Knocks" in black and white... I knew Steve from school and he did a wicked night at The Top House in Aveley, I remember going in there when I was 14 (!), I was a big lad in those days, and it was packed to the rafters with "funkers". By 17 I had my own Saturday DJ slot at The Top House, then helped out at The Circus Tavern, did regular slots on a Sunday at The Prince of Wales, Ockendon and then to Villa Stefano in Holborn, London where I was located for just over a year.
They were halcyon days for me because I'd grown up loving the music that I was playing, and getting paid to do it ! I also did some mobiles, but it was for a selective few that really knew what we played and there was a policy, dont request, just dance. I lost count of the numerous Jazz, Funk and Soul haunts that I hung out with friends over the years, I could name 3 dozen, but reviving The Goldmine name is the one that everyone wants to see, its so iconic.
As time moves on influences change and Japanese Jazz Funk, Bossa, Samba has become a highlight of my musical taste, they will be the main stay of my playlist whenever I play, as recently as 18th November 2016 5 Star Star Soul at The Goldmine Orsett Hall night.
