visiting American DJ, Sir Charles, on Saturday night, thanks to local organisers, Shy Guy Productions.

Charles Dixon, as he is in real life, traces his successful career back to his student days at the University of Maryland, when he started doing campus parties, inspired by Grandmaster Flash and the music in a hot local club, Odells.

In 1985 Mr. Dixon joined and eventually began working at a record pool, where he began spinning discs at the Dome. As assistant urban pool director he reviewed and added to the computer the charts of 75 of the hottest DJs in the Washington, DC area.

From this Sir Charles, as he was known, created the format which would eventually change his life and the sounds of Washington, and encompass the top records of everything from hip hop to R&B, classics, dance, go-go, high-energy disco, and whatever else was at Number One.

Just as his mix was diverse, so too were his audiences. People from all walks of life and all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds flocked to his sounds.

Word of the hot, young DJ's talent reached the new music director of Station WPGC, who hired him, and in just three years Sir Charles proved him right, taking the station from 22 to number one.

"They gave me five hours of air time to programme,'' the DJ recalls. "It was the first prime time mix show on a commercial station. I was on from 7 p.m. to midnight on an Arbitron-rated station.'' But talented feet have a way of itching hard, and eventually Sir Charles made his way to the Big Apple, where he joined station WBLS. It didn't take long for management to tell him his blend style wouldn't work with New York audiences, but Sir Charles proved them wrong. His show, Thunderstorms, was the first to put class jams, like Teddy Pendergras recordings, in a mix show of hip hop and current R&B. The hot-shot DJ was also responsible for bringing Grandmaster Flash, the DJ he credits with inspiring him to pursue what has become a highly successful career, to WBLS.

Next came radio promotions, where Sir Charles created Tommy Boy Records -- the first mix show mailing list.

Fans and followers can now find Sir Charles and his host, Renee from Zhane, on 88 Soul -- an hour-long mix show on 88HipHop.com, live every Wednesday night.

Fond as he is of radio, the popular DJ does have one complaint: "Today's radio is too generic,'' he says. "All the stations, no matter what region they are in, are all starting to sound the same. That's because, with all the mergers and big companies buying the smaller ones out, they are all owned by the same people.'' Sir Charles isn't discouraged, though. He sees technology as the rescuer.

"Being able to receive satellite and Internet radio soon in cars will have the same effect cable had on television,'' he believes.

If the past is any indication of what the future holds, fans can expect Sir Charles to be a big part of that change.

Sharing the bill with the visiting DJ on Saturday night will be Malcolm (Lethal Weapon) Smith, DJ Double S, and Spanish Town International.

Tickets ($20 advance, $30 at the door) are available from 27th Century Boutique, The Source Sound Stage, Dub City and Shannon's.

Sir Charles