Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold (born 30 August 1963),[3] formerly known mononymously as Oakenfold, is an English record producer, remixer and trance DJ. He has provided over 100 remixes for over 100 artists including U2, Moby, Madonna, Britney Spears, Massive Attack, the Cure, New Order, the Rolling Stones, the Stone Roses and Michael Jackson. Oakenfold was voted the No. 1 DJ in the World twice in 1998 and 1999 by DJ Magazine.
"Oakenfold" redirects here. For the English cricketer, see Kate Oakenfold.
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold
- Bunkka
- Electra
- Elementfour
- Perfecto
- Perfecto Records
- Perfecto Allstarz
- Planet Perfecto
- Rise
- Virus
- Wild Colour
30 August 1963
Mile End, London, England
Greenhithe, Kent, England
1980–present
- Perfecto (UK)
- Maverick (US)
- Warner Bros. (UK and US)
Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Oakenfold was born on 30 August 1963 at Mile End Hospital. His father delivered the London Evening News. He lived in Highbury, Greenhithe, then Croydon, attending Archbishop Lanfranc School, then studied to be a chef for four years and worked at the Army and Navy Club.[4]
Early career: 1980–1984[edit]
Paul Oakenfold describes his early life as a "bedroom DJ" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew up listening to the Beatles.
Oakenfold's musical career began in the late 1970s, when he met Trevor Fung and began helping him DJ soul music in a Covent Garden wine bar. Here in London, he also met Rumours where he played Earth, Wind and Fire and popular British bands.[5][4]
In 1981, 18-year-old Oakenfold and his friend Ian Paul moved to New York City. Oakenfold worked as a courier in West Harlem.[6] During this time, hip-hop was overtaking dance music as the most popular sound in the area (see 1984 in music). Oakenfold and Fung used fake identification[7] to sneak into various dance clubs, like Studio 54, where they met members of the band Maze, Bobby Womack and Bob Marley, whom they also interviewed, claiming to be NME and Melody Maker journalists.[7]
Returning to London, Oakenfold began breaking into the mainstream, as an A&R man for Champion Records. At that time, he signed DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, as well as Salt-n-Pepa. Oakenfold appeared on the Blue Peter BBC programme for children with a breakdancing crew. He became a promoter and British agent for the Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C. Since then, he appeared at The Project in Streatham playing soul and jazz music.[8][9]
Awards and nominations[edit]
BMI Awards[edit]
The BMI Awards are annual award ceremonies for songwriters in various genres organized by Broadcast Music, Inc. Oakenfold won the Film Award for Music the 2001 movie Swordfish.