Gary Van Den Bussche - Promotion Person of the Year 2023

Daytime Starpoint Radio presenter Gary Van Den Bussche runs a radio promotion company called DSG (Disco Soul Gold) and has just been awarded 'Promotion Person of the Year' in the 5th Annual Indie Soul Awards run by  Chris Clay's Soul Cafe Radio in the US. 

Gary started collecting records from the age of 9 in the early 70s, so that's 51 years ago to our reckoning as he was 40 plus VAT last year! His love of soul music was influenced by early UK soul radio pioneers Greg Edwards, Peter Young and Robbie Vincent. At 17 he ran a record shop beneath a book shop called Baker Street Record in London's West End which Gary tells us had many celebrity customers such as Paul Weller, Edwin Starr, Randy Crawford. 

Through another customer, Fitz Brown (who was a DJ at Tramp Nightclub), Gary got his first shot at DJ'ing at the plush Tramp Nightclub in London's West End where he DJ'd at many celebrity events for the likes of  Tony Curtis, The Stones, Rod Stewart, Joan Collins, Georgie Best, Royalty, Tony Hall, Mel Brooks, in fact everybody who was anybody.

When the record shop closed it's doors he started plugging records during the day and DJ'ing at night. Some of his successes included plugging #1 hits for Phyllis Nelson with "Move Closer" and Amii Stewart "Knock on Wood".

His first stint on radio was given to him by Tony Monson on Solar Radio which was a pirate station in those days.

After a few years at Tramp Gary left and worked at  various other venues around the south, Club Musique (Croydon), Sunset (Maidstone), Samantha's (London) and Piccadilly Theatre (London)  supporting The Foundations for three weeks.

He eventually opened his own club at Kent Hall in Maidstone and built up a large following which resulted in opening nights at various other venues around the South East in  Orpington, Gravesend, Ashford, Cheam, Weybridge, Town & Country London, plus many others. Many celebrities attended.

He was introduced to the recording studio by Noah Johnson who taught him how to write and produce songs. Gary's first record release was "Young Free & Single" under Dee Gee (Disco Gary) (a cover of Sunfire) which reached  #1 on John Leech's radio show and several record deals were offered but the first label closed down before pressings started and it was taken by Upfront Records who after promoting it also closed down.

Not deterred, Gary set up Wizz Records and released around thirty singles. He also set up a distribution company, Empire, initially from the back of his car driving around the South East creating a buzz distributing records received and his own white labels and progressing to vans and telesales.

Gary changed direction and bought a Free House Pub in Hever (Kent) which he ran with his ex-wife and family and taught himself to become an award winning chef and eventually sold the pub and bought a restaurant which grew into a chain. 

After a brief 'spell' as a hypnotherapist Gary returned to music and set up DSG. He discovered Newcastle group SouLutions after hearing a demo of "Listen" which they sat on for 8 years before arranging to have it remixed and released.

DSG promotes new releases each week sending them to a mailing list of around 860 which includes radio stations, DJs and media outlets, most end up on radio playlists which results in them entering the UK Soul Chart.

In addition Gary does a lunchtime radio show on Starpoint Radio between 11:00-13:00 GMT as well as his "Get Down Saturday Night Show" geared to the dancefloor which moves to a new time slot of 19:00-2100 GMT from this evening.

Join us in congratulating Gary for the work he does promoting independent soul music for artists and labels.

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved