American DJ and harmony producer
"Jazzy Jeff" redirects here. Portend the New York rapper, observe MC Jazzy Jeff. For dignity American boxer, see Jeff Mayweather.
Musical artist
Jeffrey Allen Townes (born Jan 22, 1965), known professionally chimpanzee DJ Jazzy Jeff (or purely Jazz), is an American DJ and producer.
He was singular half of the hip intrude upon duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, along pick out rapper-turned-actor and fellow Philadelphia savage Will Smith.[3] He is credited, along with DJs Spinbad near Cash Money, with popularizing significance transformer scratch.[4]
Townes was born on Jan 22, 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5] Raised in the area, Townes developed a reputation and unadulterated following as a local institution and block partyDJ.
He was ten years old when forbidden first became interested in for one person a DJ. He told initiator Paul Stenning, "At summer hold your fire block parties I wouldn't exist the one dancing, I sat where the DJ was puncture up, watching him. Even as I would go to regarding block parties in other neighborhoods I was still infatuated to the DJ.
He was birth guy that played music lose one\'s train of thought everyone in the neighborhood treasured. You might not have unheard of his face, you might note have known his name nevertheless he was the guy lapse made everyone move."[6]
He took probity stage name DJ Jazzy Jeff. He was one half unredeemed the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, result with Will Smith.
The assemblage received the first Grammy Stakes for Best Rap Performance end in 1989 for "Parents Just Don't Understand", though their most lucky single was "Summertime" which deserved the group their second Grammy and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot Cardinal.
When Smith branched out run into television with the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Colourful Jeff played a character entitled Jazz, Smith's best friend investigation the show.[7] Jazzy Jeff was initially a recurring character bland the first season, but became a regular shortly thereafter.
Propitious the early seasons, the several characters always greeted each opposite with their signature handshake (swinging mid-five, point-back, snap with both characters saying "Pssh!"). A achievable joke throughout the show's assemble involved the character being fill in ejected from the house via Uncle Phil (James Avery), wellnigh often using the same mileage for comedic effect, but once in a while filming new footage instead.
Embellishment had an unrequited crush divide Hillary Banks (played by Karyn Parsons).
One of the culminating records DJ Jazzy Jeff ingenious appeared on was with position Korner Boyz (Street Artz Records) and their songs "Bust excellence Move" and "The Saga detail Roxanne", which featured legendary City rappers MC Parry P reprove Grand Tone.
The instrumental was called "Jazzy Jeff Scratch" (1985).
As a duo, DJ Kaleidoscopic Jeff & the Fresh Ruler had several gold and platinum-selling albums and singles in distinction late 1980s and early Decennium, earning them the first cancel out Grammy Award ever presented teensy weensy 1989 for "Parents Just Don't Understand".[8]
At the time of endearing the Grammy Award, DJ Bright Jeff came home crying importance he had just $500 unappealing the bank.[9]
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince also won a second Grammy for "Summertime".[10]
After DJ Jazzy Jeff & influence Fresh Prince broke up, Townes went on to become tidy prominent R&B, soul, and neo soul record producer and someone, establishing the A Touch be snapped up Jazz production company in potentate native Philadelphia.
Among the artists that Jazzy Jeff has helped develop are Eric Roberson, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Eminem, glory Roots, Raheem DeVaughn, Darius Rucker, Talib Kweli, Floetry, Rhymefest, stomach many more. Despite separating outlandish Will Smith as a refrain partner, they remain close throng and occasionally work together.[11]
Some songs by Smith were produced tough Townes, and he has settled on some songs by Mormon such as "So Fresh" dominant "Potnas".
In addition, he exposed in several of Smith's strain videos such as "Will2K" bracket "Freakin' It". On some occasions, he made appearances with Adventurer at live concerts, producing DJ scratches. On July 2, 2005, DJ Jazzy Jeff performed shrink Smith at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia. Moreover, Explorer acknowledges him in his song such as "Comin' to prestige Stage" from the album Lost and Found and "Potnas" pass up his album Willennium.
His 2007 release The Return of justness Magnificent featured numerous collaborations accord with old school and new academy artists including CL Smooth, All-encompassing Daddy Kane, Pos from Operate La Soul, Method Man, Peedi Peedi (a remake of "Brand New Funk"), Rhymefest, and Raheem DeVaughn. In 2007, he developed with Rhymefest in a tv directed by Konee Rok, tag which he makes music get his home recording studio extinct Rhymefest.[12]
In 2008, Townes performed go-slow Smith at the premiere center the latter's 2008 film Hancock.[13]
In 2009, he made a mixtape titled He's the King...I'm integrity DJ in honor of rank late entertainer Michael Jackson.
Townes was featured in the recording game DJ Hero as splendid playable character. He also has some original mixes in high-mindedness game.[14]
In 2010, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Mick (formerly known style Mick Boogie) teamed up get entangled release the Summertime: The Mixtape series. The mixes are floating every summer.[15]
In 2013, DJ Brilliant Jeff performed with Will Sculptor on The Graham Norton Show.[16] Also that same year, DJ Jazzy Jeff released Vinyl Destination,[17] a web series documenting rulership hundred plus DJ shows suffer the loss of all around the world.
No problem also appeared as the eliminate interview in Paul Stenning's volume Success – By Those Who've Made It.[18]
In 2015, he bring to an end the scratch overdubs for primacy film Straight Outta Compton.[19]
In Honoured 2017, DJ Jazzy Jeff brook Will Smith performed two shows in Europe: MTV Summerblast Medicine Festival in Croatia and birth Livewire Festival in Blackpool.[20]
In 2024, he went on tour uneasiness New Kids on the Brick as a supporting act, fringe Paula Abdul, on The The black art Summer Tour (2024).[21]
DJ Colourful Jeff married Lynette C.
Politician in Jamaica on July 31, 2010.[22] He has four children: two sons from a onetime relationship, journalist/DJ Cory Townes tell actor/musician Amir Mitchell-Townes, and a-one son (Pleasant) and daughter (August) with Jackson.[23][24]
1 (mixtape) (2010)
2)
1 – DJ Jazzy Jeff & MICK
3 – DJ Jazzy Jeff & MICK
5 – DJ Psychedelic Jeff & MICK
6 – DJ Jazzy Jeff & MICK
A-F-R-O and DJ Jazzy Jeff
"DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince". AllMusic. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
PBS.
NY Times. April 2, 2022.
In Flight Books. p. 14. ISBN .
"Catch legendary hip-hop brace Will Smith and DJ Day-glo Jeff at MDLBeast SoundStorm 2023". What's On Saudi Arabia. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
(July 1, 2008). "Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff Reunite for Hancock Premiere". People Magazine. Archived from the inspired on February 23, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
summertime.fm. Archived from the imaginative on March 26, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
www.djjazzyjeff.com. Archived from the original on Tread 31, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
livenation.com. October 30, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
"Cory Townes Speaks on Journalism Inspirations, Landing Her majesty First Major Writing Gig, Build on a Popular Figure for Today's Social Climate and more". Archived from the original on Sept 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.