The “godfather of hard house,” DJ Tony de Vit, has been recognized with the unveiling of a blue plaque. De Vit, a Kidderminster native, gained notoriety in the 1980s in Birmingham’s Nightingale Club before becoming a legendary DJ at clubs like London’s Heaven.
His life was celebrated during the city’s Pride weekend by the Birmingham Civic Society after he passed away in 1998 at the age of 40 from HIV.
Along with other DJs, his family, friends, and supporters attended the ceremony.
In Digbeth, close to where de Vit had a recording studio, the plaque was unveiled at the Custard Factory.
On Saturday night, The Mill will host a special DJ set to honor his life.
He was a lot like Carl Cox in terms of influence, according to Jez Collins of the Birmingham Music Archive.
De Vit was nominated for a number of honors over his career, including DJ of the Year for three consecutive years.
According to Mr. Collins, who this year organized an exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery honoring the storied Que Club, Birmingham was finally commemorating its musical history.
It has gained attention thanks to performances at the Commonwealth Games by Ozzy Osbourne, Duran Duran, and Dexys Midnight Runners, to mention a few.
There is a strong feeling, according to Mr. Collins, that now is the perfect time to celebrate both the history of music and the current music industry.
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