Ray Keith

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use British English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ray Keith | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = | alias = Armageddon, Babylon 5, Dark Soldier, Doctor Wootang, London's Most Wanted, Renegade, Terrorist | birth_date = | birth_place = [[Colchester]], [[Essex]], England | death_date = | instrument = | genre = [[Electronic dance music|Electronic]], [[breakbeat]], [[Jungle music|jungle]], [[House music|house]] | occupation = [[Music producer|Producer]], [[Disc jockey|DJ]] | years_active = | label = [[Dread Recordings]] | website = }}

'''Ray Keith''' is a British [[drum and bass]] [[Disc jockey|DJ]] and [[record producer]]. He is one of the genre's most well known producers and DJs and is regarded as one of the pivotal figures in the early jungle/drum and bass scene.

==Biography== Keith cites influences including [[underground hip-hop]] music; [[Electronic music|electronic]] acts like [[Depeche Mode]], [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]] and [[Gary Numan]]; and [[techno]] artists such as [[Derrick May (musician)|Derrick May]], [[Juan Atkins]] and [[Kevin Saunderson]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cicic|first=Maja|date=18 December 2012|title=You Call the Shots: Ray Keith|url=https://breakbeat.co.uk/interviews/you-call-the-shots-ray-keith/|website=Drum&BassArena|access-date=26 January 2025}}</ref> Keith's interest in [[jazz]], [[funk]] and [[soul music|soul]] music led him to buy turntables. He began DJing as a teenager in the 1980s around his native [[Essex]] and [[Suffolk]]. This was before he got his break DJing on the London [[acid house]] and [[rave]] scene.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dreadrecordings.com/artist/ray-keith/|title=Ray Keith – Biography Dread Recordings|website=Dreadrecordings.com}}</ref>

He started working as a recording artist and producer for his own style of music and other genres in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.groove2.co.uk/dj/raykeith.htm|title=groove2.co.uk|website=Groove2.co.uk}}</ref> One of his early remixes was a bootleg mix of [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]]'s [[Chime (Orbital song)|Chime]] in 1990, which was then officially released in 1992.<ref>''Drum 'n' bass – The Rough Guide'' – Peter Shapiro, p. 107, {{ISBN|1-85828-433-3}}</ref>

He found his niche with [[drum and bass]] music. He is famed for producing bass heavy yet soulful tunes and has made classics such as the jungle anthems "Terrorist" and "Chopper". Keith set up Dread Recordings in 1994 and has produced numerous albums. He has also remixed [[Moby]], [[Shades of Rhythm]] and [[Moving Shadow]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.outlineonline.co.uk/article/ray-keith|title=Ray Keith |website=Outlineonline.co.uk}}</ref>

His nephew, Peter O'Grady aka [[Joy Orbison]], is also a DJ and producer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2009/09/09/interview-joy-orbison/|title=Interview: Joy Orbison|website=Factmag.com|date=9 September 2009}}</ref> Keith is a keen supporter of [[Manchester United FC|Manchester United]] football team.<ref name="auto"/>

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Contact'' (UFO, 1999) * ''Classified'' (Dread Recordings, 1999) * ''Vintage Dread'' (Dread Recordings, 2000) * ''Alien Encounter'' (UFO, 2001) * ''Twisted Anger – Mothership'' (Dread Recordings, 2002) * ''Blade Runner – Analog Bass'' (Dread Recordings, 2009) * ''Dread Digital Volume 1'' and ''Volume 2'' (Dread Recordings, 2010) * ''I Am Renegade'' (Dread Recordings, 2012) * ''Ray Keith vs Bladerunner – Dubplate Clash Dub Dread 4'' (Dread Recordings, 2012) * ''The Golden Years: Back to '94'' (Kniteforce Records, 2021)

===Aliases=== * ''Universal Wars'' [as Dark Soldier] (Dread Recordings, 2000) * ''Sinister'' [as Ray Keith Presents The Dark Soldier] (Dread Recordings, 2001) * ''The Universe And Beyond'' [as Dune] (Kniteforce Records, 2024)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/2332-Ray-Keith Discogs.com - Ray Keith]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keith, Ray}} [[Category:English DJs]] [[Category:English record producers]] [[Category:English drum and bass musicians]] [[Category:British club DJs]] [[Category:British remixers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:British electronic dance music DJs]] [[Category:Musicians from Essex]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]