Eric Forth (9 September 1944 – 17 May 2006) was a British politician. He was the Conservative Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Birmingham North, then Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Worcestershire and finally Bromley and Chislehurst at his death. He served as a junior minister in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major between 1988 and 1997. In his obituaries, he was described as "colourful", "flamboyant", "provocative" and a "right-wing libertarian". He was noted for his colourful ties and waistcoats, sideburns, and jewellery.^{[citation needed]}

Early and private life[link]

Forth was born in Glasgow. His father was a harbourmaster. He was educated at the Jordanhill College School and the University of Glasgow, where he was awarded a master's degree in politics and economics. Before entering politics, he worked in junior managerial roles at Xerox, Rank and Ford Motor Company before becoming a management consultant with Deloitte and Dexion.^{[citation needed]}

He was married to Linda St. Clair on 11 March 1967 and they had two daughters before their divorce in 1994; he re-married in 1994, to Carroll Goff, gaining a stepson. Forth died in Charing Cross Hospital from cancer on 17 May 2006, aged 61.

Political career[link]

After standing as a communist at a mock school-election and flirting with distributism at university, Forth developed conservative libertarian leanings. Forth was elected as a councillor for the Pilgrims Hatch ward on the Brentwood Urban District Council from 1968-72. He contested the safe Labour seat of Barking at both the February and October 1974 general elections, where on both occasions he was defeated by Labour's Jo Richardson. He was the secretary of Llandeilo Conservative Association from 1975–77, and chairman of the Ross-on-Wye Conservative Political Committee from 1978-79.

He was elected to the European Parliament as the member for Birmingham North in 1979. He remained in Brussels and Strasbourg until 1984, where he founded and chaired the backbench committee of the European Democratic Group. Originally in favour of membership of the European Economic Community, he would eventually become a Eurosceptic.^{[citation needed]}

He was elected to the House of Commons at the 1983 general election with a majority of 14,205 votes for the new seat of Mid-Worcestershire. His political views were apparent from his maiden speech, in which he attacked the Sex Equality Bill, and he was an early member of the No Turning Back group. Following boundary changes to his constituency, he was not selected to fight the new seat with the same name, losing out to the sitting MP for Worcester, Peter Luff. Forth found a safe seat in the Outer London suburbs for Bromley and Chislehurst in the heart of the large London Borough of Bromley. He was elected to represent the seat in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

In Parliament, he served on the Employment select committee in 1986 until later in the year when he was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Angela Rumbold at the Department for Education and Science.^{[citation needed]}

He entered the government of Margaret Thatcher when she appointed him as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry in 1988, as minister for consumer affairs. He was moved by John Major in 1990 to the same position at the Department for Employment and then the Department of Education following the 1992 general election, taking responsibility for schools. He was promoted to become Minister of State for higher education at the Department for Education and Employment in 1995 and became a member of the Privy Council in 1996, shortly before leaving office in 1997.^{[citation needed]}

The awkward squad[link]

Forth had hoped to support Michael Portillo for the leadership of the Conservative Party, to follow Major, but Portillo famously lost his seat in the 1997 general election. Forth was then Peter Lilley's campaign manager until the latter withdrew, then supported John Redwood, and finally backed eventual winner William Hague. Forth refused the offer of a place in the Conservative shadow ministerial team and instead became a leading backbench irritant to the Labour government, engaging in "a Parliamentary form of guerrilla warfare".^[1] Initially acting as a loner and concentrating on Private members bills to which he objected, Forth soon gathered a small group around him known as "the awkward squad".

In 1997, with senior Conservative MPs David Maclean and Patrick McLoughlin, he established the Parliamentary Resource Unit, a subscription briefing service available to any MP as a means of countering the briefings that government ministers receive from the Civil Service.

Disliking e-mail, he would send brief written notes to like-minded MPs to say "I am given to understand that the Powers That Be think that Wednesday's business will go through easily", and his group would ensure that Wednesday's business did not go through easily.^[2] Forth's speciality was the filibuster: as Labour MPs found themselves often required to remain in Parliament past midnight, they called him "Bloody Eric Forth" (a reaction Forth welcomed). Iain Duncan Smith appointed Forth Shadow Leader of the House of Commons in 2001. Forth backed David Davis to replace Duncan Smith in 2003: Davis refused to stand, and Forth was dismissed from his front-bench position by Michael Howard. He served on many Parliamentary committees and his last role was chairing the statutory instruments committee. He was a member of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen.

Forth was in favour of capital punishment, but opposed corporal punishment in schools. He opposed the BBC's spending money on a Nelson Mandela concert in 1988, saying "those who want the arts and who support them should pay for them themselves".^[3] He also opposed the government spending on AIDS treatment, saying that the disease was "largely self-inflicted".^[4] He was a fan of Elvis Presley and treasurer of the all-party Music Appreciation Group, and a couple of Presley's songs were played at Forth's memorial service in October 2006.

Publications[link]

• Regional Policy: A Fringe Benefit? by Eric Forth, 1983, Conservative Central Office, ISBN CCO508912

References[link]

• Obituary The Times, 19 May 2006
• Obituary The Daily Telegraph, 19 May 2006
• Obituary The Guardian, 19 May 2006
• Obituary The Independent, 21 May 2006

External links[link]

• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Eric Forth MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Eric Forth MP
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Eric Forth
• Ex-Tory minister Eric Forth dies, BBC News, 18 May 2006
• Family values MP dies, Pink News, 18 May 2006

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008)

Fedde le Grand
Fedde Le Grand
Background information
Birth name	Fedde le Grand
Born	(1977-09-07) 7 September 1977 (age 34) Utrecht, Netherlands
Genres	Eurodance, House, Electro house, Tech House, Techno
Occupations	DJ, producer Fiancè- Tana StCyr 2002-Current
Years active	2003-present
Labels	Flamingo Recordings, Ministry of Sound Australia, Toolroom Records
Website	Official Web Site

Fedde le Grand (born 7 September 1977) is a Dutch house DJ and producer whose single "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" (UK/US) / "Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit"^[1] (Europe, excluding UK) reached number one on the UK's singles and the top 5 in the Dutch singles chart, and spent five weeks in the Spanish dance chart. On 28 October 2009, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Records artist Fedde le Grand placed at #29.,^[2] climbing to #21 in 2010 and #14 in 2011.

Biography[link]

1998 - 2000[link]

Inspired by Masters At Work and Mousse T, Fedde le Grand kicks off his DJ career in the Danssalon in Eindhoven. For two years he is the resident DJ on the Sunday night. He also plays Dutch clubs like Panama, the Escape and the Love Boat in Amsterdam, and Jackies, Thalia, Discothèque and Now & Wow in Rotterdam, De Rechter in Eindhoven and he can also be seen at Extrema. Fedde le Grand is also popular abroad and performs in Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Greece and Israel.

2001 - 2006[link]

From 2001 Fedde le Grand works on his own productions. His first release, under the name F.L.G., is the Electronic EP on Flamingo Recordings, a co-production with Robin M and with contributions from Funkerman (Ardie van Beek). Le Grand's records are released on labels such as Little Mountain Recordings (Sander Kleinenberg's label), Influence, Work and the British labels CR2 Records and Toolroom. Le Grand makes remixes for artists like Anita Kelsey (Every Kiss, 2004), Erick E (Boogie Down, 2005 and The Beat Is Rockin', 2006), Funkerman (The One, 2005), Olav Basoski (Proper Tunes, 2006) and Camille Jones (The Creeps, 2006). The DJ is a regular guest in Dutch radio show Ministry of Beats on 3FM radio. Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit (2006), an electro track with vocals by Mc Gee, is officially awarded 'the summer anthem of Ibiza 2006'. The single climbs to the top slot of the UK charts and is also a big dance hit in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Australia. Hiphop crew D12 from Detroit (known for their work with Eminem) puts out a vocal version of the hit record. Le Grand provides a remix for Robbie Williams' single Bongo Bong/Je Ne T'Aime Plus.

2007[link]

In March the DJ commences an Australian tour and as of May he tours the US. Fedde le Grand wins three prizes at the International Dance Music Awards staged at the Winter Music Conference in Miami (March). Not only he is Best Breakthrough Solo Artist, but also his hit Put Your Hands Up For Detroit is awarded in the categories Best Breaks/Electro Track and Best Underground Dance Track. On March 31 he receives a Danish Dance Award. On July Fedde le Grand he appears at Amsterdam's Westerpark edition of the worldwide Live Earth festival, supervised by climate guru Al Gore, who raises awareness for the global warming problem. Especially for this event Fedde le Grand writes the Mirror070707 Anthem. The festival is broadcast live on public Nederland 3 (TV) en 3FM (radio). At the same day Le Grand is prominently on the bill of dance event Sensation White at the Amsterdam Arena. During the tenth edition of the DJ Awards on Ibiza, Fedde Le Grand wins in the category Breakthrough. Le Grand's remix of Let Me Think About It, sung by Danish singer Ida Corr, reaches the Top 3 of the British charts. This makes it the third British hit single for the producer within a year. In the annual Top 100 of the influential British DJ Mag Le Grand the 22nd place which makes him the Highest New Entry. Under the name The Flamingo Project the single Take No Shhhhhhhh is released.

2008[link]

Fedde le Grand's club hit Put Your Hands Up For Detroit is mixed with Madonna's Music during the opening of Madonna's live shows. The American singer asks Le Grand to do a remix of her single Give It 2 Me, which is to be released in July. After Junkie XL Fedde Le Grand is now the second Dutchman to do a remix for Madonna.

2009[link]

The title track of Le Grand's debut album Output (September) is used in the promo videos of the OUTPUT World Tour and the Flamingo Nights. It's also being played by the DJ during the Ultra Festival in March in Miami. The first single of the album is released in May: Scared of Me, with vocals by Mitch Crown and a remix by Dutch producer Hardwell (Robbert van de Corput). Mitch Crown can also be heard on the Let Me Be Real (August). One of the remixes of the fusion between pop and dance is done by Kraak & Smaak.

2010[link]

The single Back & Forth has vocals by MC Mr. V. from New York (real name: Victor Font), whom Fedde Le Grand has met at the Miami Winter Music Conference in 2008. Le Grand again travels around the world for performances. He plays in Las Vegas and Chicago (January), Lausanne, Lyon, Munich, Bangkok and Jakarta (February), São Paulo and Miami (March), Casablanca, Berlin, Budapest, Birmingham and Düsseldorf (April), Hong Kong, Singapore, Quebec, Toronto, Seattle and San Francisco (May), Ibiza, London, Los Angeles and Broek op Langendijk (June). The DJ has just finished his set at the Love Parade in Duisburg, Germany, on 24 July, when 20 people are crushed to death at the entrance to the festival grounds. He offers his condolences to the victims on Twitter. The world tour continues in July and Augustus with performances in England, France, Turkey, Lebanon, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania. A tour around the USA with stop in New York, Los Angeles, and The Necto (nightclub) in Ann Arbor.

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Singles[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Fedde le Grand's channel on YouTube
• Artist Site at Ultra Records

References[link]

1. ^ IMO Records "Fedde le Grand Biography", IMO Records,Retrieved on 11 February 2012.
2. ^ "DJ Mag's Top 100 DJ's". DJ Magazine. http://www.djmag.com/top100. Retrieved 19 November 2009. 

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (October 2008)

Clifford Smith (born 1974), better known as Mr. Vegas, is a Jamaican dancehall star.

Biography[link]

Smith was born in Kingston in 1974.^[1] The moniker "Mr. Vegas" was given to Smith by his schoolyard football-mates, who thought that he kicked the ball like a Las Vegas dancer. In his early years as a singjay, Vegas sang covers of Jamaican hits at local parties and shows, and acquired a reputation as a troublemaker. During a scuffle over stolen master tapes, Vegas was hit in the face with a crowbar and had his jaw wired shut for six weeks. Vegas claims that, after hearing Beenie Man's hit "Who Am I", he immediately demanded that his still-healing jaw be unwired, changing his speech pattern but allowing him to practice toasting.

He found fame in 1998 with hits such as "Yu Sure", "Jack It Up", and "Latest News".^[1] For his first major hit, Vegas played off of^{[clarification needed]} "Who Am I" to create "Nike Air", which became a huge hit in Jamaica.^{[citation needed]} The next single, "Heads High", followed its success in Jamaica with a chart run in the UK and a #69 peak on the US R&B chart, and Vegas became increasingly in demand as a guest artist by acts such as Sean Paul.^{[citation needed]}

In 1998 his debut album, Heads High, was released, which hit #5 on the US Reggae chart. Vegas won a MOBO for Best Reggae Artist for the Heads High album as well. 2000's single "Hot Gal Today" was a minor hit on the US R&B charts, peaking at #66. In 2001, he issued Damn Right, featuring guest appearances from Shaggy and Big Yard; this album went to #2 on the US Reggae chart. 2004 saw the release of the Pull Up LP, and the title track scraped the bottom of the Billboard Top 200, peaking at #98 (as well as #68 on the R&B chart). In 2006 he did a Soca collaboration with Machel Montano, Dance With You on Machel's B.O.D.Y. album. His latest, 2007's Hot It Up, featured the Jamaican hits "Hot Wuk", "Taxi Fare" and "Tek Weh Yuhself". In 2008 Mr. Vegas also recorded "On The Floor" with Trinidadian artiste Destra Garcia on her album, Soca or Die.

Retirement[link]

In September 2008, Smith announced that he was retiring from the music industry, citing unhappiness with his work and a desire to spend more time with his children and be "closer to God Almighty". Although he had been suffering from ill-health for some time, he denied that this was a factor in his retirement.^[2] However, in 2009 and 2010 Mr.Vegas has made new songs such as Man A Gallis, Can't Stop Now ( Major Lazer ), Mix Up Peggy, Wanna See You Move ( DJ GQ ) and Fi Get Rich

Discography[link]

• Heads High (Greensleeves Records, 1998)
• Reggae Max (Jet Star, compilation, 1999)
• Mr. Vegas (VP Records, 1999)
• Damn Right (Greensleeves, 2001)
• Pull Up (Delicious Vinyl, 2004)
• Hot It Up (Universal Records, 2007)
• The Hits (Greensleeves Records, 2008)

References[link]

Footnotes

Further reading

• Mr. Vegas at Allmusic

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Mr. Vegas at Facebook
• Mr. Vegas at MySpace

Eric Harding Thiman (12 September 1900 – 13 February 1975^[1]) was an English composer and organist.

Thiman was born in Ashford, Kent. Largely self-taught, he was awarded an FRCO in 1921. From 1930 he was Professor of Harmony at the Royal Academy of Music and later, from 1956 to 1962, was Dean of the Faculty of Music at the University of London. From 1958, having moved from Park Chapel (a Congregational Church in Crouch End, later to join with Ferme Park Baptist Church to form a Union Church in the same district, currently (2011) pastored by a professionally qualified pianist), he was organist of the City Temple in London, a Congregational Church where he increased his renown as an improviser of great skill. He was a keen advocate of amateur music-making and in the 1960s was the conductor and Musical Director of the Purley Choral Society, performing his 'Spring Garland' in 1964. The choir changed its name to The Chandos Choir in 1969, and is still in existence (www.chandoschoir.org), scheduled to perform his beautiful 'Go, Lovely Rose' in 2012. A prolific composer of small-scale works, he wrote much educational music for piano and other instruments, as well as accessible music for church choirs, some of which is still performed. He is best remembered for his short passion cantata, "The Last Supper" (1930) which sets texts from the gospels of Matthew and John and hymns by St Thomas Aquinas, Charles Wesley and Johann Franck. It remains one of the rivals to Stainer’s The Crucifixion in the repertoire of less ambitious choirs and choral societies.

He was conductor of the Elysian Concert Society that performed at Hornsey Town Hall and other venues in London, and died in 1975.

References[link]

• External link to Musicweb International
• UGA Men's Glee Club perform Eric Thiman's composition, "She Is My Slender Small Love"
• Ursula Grace Fuller performs Eric Thiman's composition "I Love All Thing That Move With Grace"

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DJ Antoine
MC Roby Rob (left) and DJ Antoine (right).
Background information
Birth name	Antoine Konrad
Born	(1975-06-23) June 23, 1975 (age 37)
Origin	Switzerland
Genres	Electro House, House, Vocal House
Occupations	DJ, record producer
Years active	1998–present
Associated acts	Tom Dice, Mad Mark
Website	http://www.djantoine.com/

Antoine Konrad (born June 23, 1975), better known as DJ Antoine, is a Swiss-Lebanese house and electro DJ and producer, from Beirut, Lebanon. He has had a number of successful single and album releases in Western Europe, in particular Switzerland and France. DJ Antoine's first notable release was the 2000 album Houseworks 01, and he has since released many albums in the last years. One of his releases, Jealousy (released in 2007) was one of his best selling albums.Also, In 2010, he released the summer hits "Welcome To St. Tropez (Feat. Kalenna)" and "Sunlight (Feat. Tom Dice).^{[citation needed]}

With more than 1,5 million sold albums, 34 gold records, 5 platinum awards, 1 double-platin award and owning the record label „Houseworks“, DJ Antoine is the internationally most successful DJ of Switzerland.

His career officially took off in 1995, when he opened his club called House Café in the city of Basel. This club is the benchmark for the progress of the whole scene in Basel and the cult-parties are still in fond memories. After a short tip into the Swiss Hip Hop scene, DJ Antoine had quickly switched genre, getting hooked on the Pumping-House-Wave. In 1998, he released his first album “DJ Antoine – The Pumpin’ House Mix”. 1999 “Houseworks 1” won the first gold award. After that, things started to move very fast. Until this day, DJ Antoine has produced 51 CDs, strongly establishing his music and himself in the music and clubbing scene. Since 2003 he has been hosting his own weekly radio show, which is broadcasted by radio stations all over the world.

In 2006, DJ Antoine achieved his international breakthrough with the album “DJ Antoine – Live in Moscow” and the single “This Time”. Ever since, he has been a highly demanded act in popular and trendy clubs all over the world. Gigs in New York, Chicago, Miami, Montreal, Moscow, Dubai, Bangkok, Oslo, Vienna and Cairo have turned into a regular but exciting part of his everyday life. Acknowledging his international success, All Around The World Records, the electronic music label owned by Universal Music UK, Blanco y Negro Spain, Happy Music France, Emi Music South Africa, Ultra Records USA and Kontor Records Germany signed the single “This Time” in 2009.

The many awards he won in the recent years prove that DJ Antoine is one of the best in this industry. 2001 he won the Ericsson Dance Music Award for the best and most successful artist of the year 2000 in the category „House / UK Garage / Progressive House“. In 2008, DJ Antoine created a stir with his sociocritical album “DJ Antoine –Stop!”, on which he openly spoke out against juvenile violence, calling for more civil courage. In spring 2009, the record was priced with the Swiss Music Award for “Best National Dance Album”. The following year, he defended that title with his CD “DJ Antoine – 2009” and, on top of that, received the Swiss Prix Walo. In 2010 he achieved his biggest success in Switzerland so far: For his album “DJ Antoine – 2010” he was awarded with a platinum record. This platinum record was also nominated for this year Swiss Music Award in the category “Best Album Dance National”.

In the studio DJ Antoine works with his long-term business partner Fabio Antoniali also known as Mad Mark. Well-known musicians such as Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy, Pitbull, Cindy Lauper, Robin S., Roberto Blanco and Ivana Trump have had their tracks exclusively remixed by the two artists. In 2010, DJ Antoine produced songs for Timati, Snoop Dogg, DJ Smash and Bob Sinclar. That same year, the charismatic House-legend Mr. Mike joined the team as a vocalist, also accompanying the DJ to selected performances.

Another highlight of his career is now the first collaboration with Timati and Kalenna Harper (Dirty Money) for the hit single "Welcome to St. Tropez", which was released in Germany and Austria by none other than the dance label Kontor Records.

DJ Antoine keeps setting new trends with his music, attracting worldwide attention to his brand. Labels like Maurice Lacroix, Perrier-Jouët „Belle Epoque“ champagne and the Swiss custom tailor SuitArt all trust in his image. For VIP-Events, DJ Antoine has had the chance to work with nameable partners such as Sony Ericsson, Campari, Moonlight, Edo Popken, Crysler, Dodge, Maybach, Cadillac, Moet Hennessy, J. Lindeberg, Paco Rabanne and the German TV station Pro7.

Alongside his work as a DJ, Antoine Konrad manages his own production and booking companies Global Productions GmbH and Global Bookings. For his VIP-Events, he regularly creates extensive and individual concepts, in tune with the clients and guests needs and wishes. His exclusive event concepts represent lifestyle and luxury and he inspires his customers with his ideas. His team currently consists of ten employees, all based in Switzerland. Antoine has sold over 1,000,000 CDs,^{[citation needed]} and runs his own labels, Houseworks and Egoïste. He has gained popularity all over Europe and also overseas in Canada and the United States.

Discography[link]

External links[link]

• Official site