Abbey’s DJ career commenced in the late seventies when still at school using his own Mobile Disco playing at the standard Weddings, Birthdays, Youth Halls, and arranging his own functions wherever he could. As the eighties began, he moved into the retail sector of the record business starting at Bluebird Records London after being a regular customer there for some years.
Bluebird during this period was one of only 4 - 5 shops in London specializing in Black Music and within two years he was made Head Product Buyer and dealt directly with several influential United States Distributors such as Unique (NYC), Jerry Basin (Miami) and JDC (San Pedro CA).
Buying product directly from America was not the standard practice then, but Bluebird was innovative and forward-thinking in is approach to trade and progressed to selling more records than established record importers at that material time, such was Abbey’s ability and knowledge he was granted a Directorship in his third year, of Bluebird Records Inc.
During this period, Abbey supplied product to such renown United Kingdom DJ’s like the late Steve Walsh, George Power, Robbie Vincent, Jeff Young, Alex George, Froggy, Chris Hill, Pete Tong, CJ Carlos, Paul Anderson, Colin Hudd, Gordon Mac (Kiss Fm), Mick Clarke, Martin Collins, plus local DJ’s like Norman Jay MBE, The Mastermind Crew, Cleveland Anderson, Ricky Morrison, Jazzy M, Danny D, Paul Okenfold, Tim Westwood, and more.
Abbey was also involved in “Radio Invicta” the First Pirate Radio Station to play specialist Black Music shows as well as co-presenting Bluebirds Top 10 Chart with Steve Walsh he also presented his own specialist programmes on several other stations including Horizon Radio, and Starpoint FM.
Abbey’s activities led him to New York City from 1981 attending the New York Music Seminar and inspired by the American way of doing business and a timely trip to Paradise Garage watching and hearing the legendary Larry Levan, he was hooked.
New York became his regular destination and he would check out Larry Levan at Paradise Garage as well as The Funhouse, The Roxy, The Tunnel, Better Days, The Loft, Zone and met such people as Jellybean, David Morales, Brian Chin (Profile), George Nelson (Billboard), Tom Silverman (Tommy Boy), Shep Pettibone (Kiss FM), Craig Kallman (Big Beat) Walter Gibbons (Rock’n’Soul Record Store).
Abbey spent time with Paul Okenfold who was living in New York engaging with music pioneers such as Afrika Bambaata, Run DMC, Cory Robbins at Profile, Russell Simmons, most of the Zulu Nation, and a DJ called the “The Whiz Kid”.
In 1984 Bluebird signed a label deal with Virgin/10, Abbey took charge of A/R and Promotion for the label, among the artists signed, Juliet Roberts, Paul Hardcastle (Rainforest / Nineteen / 19), Walter Jackson, Dante, Paris, Magnum Force, and The Whiz Kid. Bluebird also signed Washington DC’s Heavy Go-Go outfit Little Benny and the Masters “Who Comes to Boogie” was the only Go-Go record to get in to the National Charts Top 40 at No.34. a number of Re-issues of classic tracks were released including Lonnie Liston Smith’ – “Expansions” Manfredo Fest – “Jungle Kitten” & Francine McGee’ – “Delirium”
Abbey consulted with Morgan Khan’s Streetwave / Streetsound Labels helping
him compile most of his compilations at the time from the Electro / Hip Hop
series through to the Streetsounds volumes and equally assisted with the Streetsounds
U.K. Hip Hop show at Wembley Arena, making several trips to New York to meet
the likes of Afrika Bambaata, Roxanne Shante, The Aleem Bros, Leroy Burgess,
and bring them over for a concert which was hugely successful this led to his
regular Hip Hop column in “Streetsounds Magazine” a Monthly Music
publication. Interviews undertaken were with, Bambaata, Grandmaster Flash, Fab
5 Freddy, Davy DMX, Clive Campbell AKA DJ Herc, and more.
In the late 80’s Abbey progressed to Red Records with a new branch opening in London’s West End which he managed with Trevor Nelson (MTV) and Lloyd “Daddy Bug” Brown.
Staff included
notable DJ’s such as Ricky Morrison, Jeremy Newall and Seamus Haji.
In summer of 1988, Abbey and Paul Okenfold collaborated and brought over David
Morales for one of his first sessions in the U.K. Paul played a Raindance Event
in the Essex countryside to an audience in excess of 5,000 people.
The time had come for Abbey to move on and implement his ideas and experience gained over the last decade, together with Ricky Morrison and Jeremy Newall Catch –A- Groove Records was born and trading in Beak Street, London. Visitors to the store on a regular basis included Tony Humphries, Larry Levan, Todd Terry, David Morales, Terry Hunter, Frankie Knuckles, Masters at Work, C&C, Kenny Carpenter, Basement Boys (USA), Bobby & Steve, Paul “Trouble” Anderson, Deli G, DJ Spoony, Norman Jay MBE, Simon Dunmore, Paul Okenfold, Danny Rampling, Justin Berkman and Bert Bevans.
Most notable, dramatis persona mingling with the A & R staff, from several record companies in the store on Saturdays to see what was selling.
Obviously, Monday was a busy day for them.
Progression and innovation was and is Abbey’ mantra and progress he did and during 1995. Release The Groove became live and with Jeremy Newall one of the Original team from “Catch a Groove” and Gary Dillon who ran a DJ agency, Label, and the highly Successful long running club night “Release The Pressure” at The Café De Paris in the heart of London’s West End, they launched “Release The Groove” and continued to supply top quality product to the public and DJ’s alike and guided a new generation of discerning product buyers and DJ’s.
With the emergence of UK Garage it was decided the shop be laid out on two floors catering for the variety of musical taste’s, from Nu Jazz, Soul, Funk, Hip-Hop, Drum & Bass, and Funky Soundtracks on ground level in The Jazz Lounge to UK / US Garage and House in the basement.
A number of several in - house labels operated including Released for Pleasure and the shop label.
It is to be noted Abbey is a founder DJ with JazBah® and ghosts in now and again to spin the tracks that matter.
He now runs the Catch – A - Groove label full time with five releases to date and with his collaborators, records more products in the studio.