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The fastest-growing musical industry had some gigantic names representing it in many different genres. There are many parameters to consider when creating this list and there is always a dose of subjective judgment, but we tried to be as objective as possible to present you with the all-time greatest. Let’s get down to it!
1. Carl Cox
Carl Cox is a British DJ and techno producer. Carl began his career as a hardcore and rave DJ in the mid-1980s. In the early 1990s, Carl switched from hardcore and rave to house and techno. In 1992, Carl Cox & Friends hosted a party at London club Heaven. Carl has also released several mix albums, including F.A.C.T., Global, and Second Wave The party was a huge success, and Carl began to play at more clubs and festivals around the world. Carl has performed at numerous clubs and festivals across the world, including Glastonbury, Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, and Carl Cox & Friends. Carl has also released several mix albums, including F.A.C.T., Global, and Second Wave. In 2016, Carl was ranked number 25 on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs list.
Carl Cox was born in Oldham, England on 29 July 1962. Carl’s father was a professional boxer who encouraged his son to take up boxing himself. However, after being injured in a boxing match, Carl decided to focus on music instead. Carl began DJing in 1977, at the age of 15. Carl’s first gig was playing records at his school disco. Carl later began working as a mobile DJ, playing at weddings and parties.
In the early 1980s, Carl became involved in the UK hardcore scene. Carl started attending acid house parties and illegal raves. Carl also began collecting and playing techno records. In 1988, Carl co-founded the record label Ultimate Base Recordings. The label released tracks by artists such as Joey Beltram and LFO.
2. Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold is a world-renowned DJ and producer who has been at the forefront of the electronic music scene for over 30 years. He has played an important role in developing and popularizing EDM, particularly trance music, and is credited as being one of the first DJs to bring it to mainstream audiences.
Oakenfold’s career began in the 1980s when he started organizing illegal acid house parties in London. He soon became a resident DJ at several well-known clubs including The Zoo, Heaven, and The Hacienda. In 1988, he co-founded the influential record label Perfecto Records with Trevor Fung. The label helped to launch the careers of many artists including Sasha & John Digweed, Moby, and The Chemical Brothers.
Oakenfold’s own productions began to take off in the 1990s with his album Southern Sun reaching number one in the UK dance charts. He has since released several more albums and mix compilations, and collaborated with a wide range of artists including Madonna, U2, Britney Spears, and The Rolling Stones. In 2002, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Remix for his work on Madonna’s single “Ray of Light.”
In recent years, Oakenfold has continued to perform at major music festivals around the world and produce new music. He is also a regular DJ on the popular radio show “Global DJ Broadcast” on Sirius XM. In 2018, he was inducted into the DJ Hall of Fame.
3. Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles was born in the Bronx, New York on January 18, 1955. He was one of the first DJs to play disco music in clubs. He started his career as a DJ in the late 1970s
He became famous for his work at the New York City club named The Gallery, where he played music by artists like Chic and Donna Summer. He also remixes of tracks by artists like Michael Jackson and Diana Ross
In the 1980s, he moved to Chicago, where he founded the Warehouse nightclub. The Warehouse was one of the first clubs to play house music. House music is a type of electronic dance music that was created in Chicago
Frankie Knuckles is considered to be the “Godfather of House Music.” He has worked with many famous house music artists, including Marshall Jefferson, Jesse Saunders, and Mr. Fingers. He has also produced tracks for Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston
Frankie Knuckles died on March 31, 2014, at the age of 59 due to complications caused by diabetes he was suffering from since mid-2000s.
Frankie Knuckles was a legendary DJ who was one of the first to play disco music in clubs. He had a long and successful career, working with some of the biggest names in the industry.
4. Tiësto
DJ Tiesto (born January 17, 1969), is a Dutch DJ and record producer of electronic dance music. He was born in Breda, Netherlands. DJ Tiesto’s real name is Tijs Michiel Verwest. He began DJ’ing professionally at school parties and then started playing sets in clubs in the late 1980s. From there he gained residencies at several major clubs in the Netherlands and Belgium. By the early 1990s he had begun producing trance music under various aliases; most notably as DJ Limited, but also as Da Joker, Allure, and Hammock Brothers.
In 1997 he released his first album “In Search of Sunrise” which contained trance tracks inspired by classical music. DJ Tiesto’s fourth album “Magik Four: Live in Amsterdam” was recorded live at the Gashouder nightclub in Amsterdam on February 4, 1999. His fifth album “Magik Five: Live in Los Angeles” was recorded live at the Groove Radio International DJ Convention in Los Angeles on July 21, 2000. The sixth album “Magik Six: Live in Barcelona” was recorded live at the Palau Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona on October 20, 2001. His seventh album “Magik Seven: Live in Los Angeles” was recorded live at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on February 16, 2002. The eighth album “Magik Eight: Live in Tokyo” was recorded live at the Maison du Pacha nightclub in Tokyo on April 5, 2003.
His ninth album “Magik Nine: Live in Amsterdam” was recorded live at Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam on October 16, 2004. The tenth album “Magik Ten: Live in Los Angeles” was recorded live at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on February 11, 2006.
DJ Tiesto has also released several DJ mix compilations, including “Nyana” (2003), “Parade of the Athletes” (2004), and “In Search of Sunrise 4: Latin America” (2006), and has performed at numerous music festivals, including Ultra Music Festival, Tomorrowland, Coachella, and Electric Daisy Carnival. In May 2014, DJ Tiesto was voted by DJ Mag readers as the “Greatest DJ of All Time”. In 2013, he was voted by Mixcloud as the “Best DJ of the Last 10 Years”.
DJ Tiesto has won numerous awards throughout his career, including a Grammy Award for his remix of John Legend’s “All of Me” in 2015. He has also been nominated for three MTV European Music Awards and two World Music Awards. He has sold over one million albums and has received five gold and four platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States . DJ Tiesto was also ranked number fifty-three on DJ Magazine’s annual Top 100 DJ list in 2013, and number forty-five in 2012.
He is widely considered one of the best DJs of all time and has performed at some of the biggest music festivals in the world, including Ultra Music Festival, Tomorrowland, and Coachella. He has also won numerous awards throughout his career, including a Grammy Award for his remix of John Legend’s “All of Me” in 2015. DJ Tiesto is truly a legend in the DJ world and will continue to entertain audiences all over the globe for years to come.
5. Daft Punk
Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo from Paris, formed in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. The duo is considered to be one of the most influential groups in the history of electronic dance music, and they are credited with helping to popularise the genre. Daft Punk’s debut album, “Homework”, was released in 1997 and contained the singles “Around the World” and “Da Funk”. The album was a critical and commercial success and helped to launch Daft Punk’s career.
Daft Punk has released four studio albums, all of which have been highly successful. The duo has also achieved massive success with their live performances, and they were considered to be one of the best live acts in the world. They parted ways last year which resulted in a huge fans’ disappointment, but you never know, they might reconnect again.
6. Faithless
Faithless is a British electronic dance music group from London, formed in 1995 by producer and DJ Rollo. The group’s debut album, “Reverence”, was released in 1996 and contained the singles “Insomnia” and “Salva Mea”. The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to launch Faithless’ career. They have since released five additional studio albums, and their sixth album, “The Dance”, is scheduled for release in 2019.
Faithless is a highly successful group who have achieved worldwide fame and created some of the electronic music classics.
7. Paul van Dyk
Paul van Dyk (born December 16, 1971) is a German DJ and producer from Berlin. He is one of the pioneers of the trance music scene, and he has produced numerous hits throughout his career. van Dyk began DJ’ing in the early 1990s, and he soon became one of the most popular DJs in Germany. In 1993, he released his debut album “Seven Ways to Die”, which contained the single “For an Angel”. The album was a critical and commercial success and helped to launch van Dyk’s career.
He was named the World’s number one DJ in both 2005 and 2006, standing as an achievement that very few DJs accomplished.
8. Eric Prydz
Eric Prydz (born July 19, 1976) is a Swedish DJ and producer from Stockholm. He is best known for his 2004 hit single “Call on Me”, which topped the charts in several countries. Prydz began DJ’ing in the early 1990s, and he soon became one of the most popular DJs in Sweden. In 2001, he released his debut album “Real” under the alias Cirez D. The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to launch Prydz’s career. He has since released three additional studio albums, and his fourth album, “OPUS”, is scheduled for release in 2019.
Prydz is a highly successful DJ and producer who has achieved worldwide fame as one of the most spectacular live performances ever. Check out the link below and see for yourself.
9. The Prodigy
The Prodigy is an English electronic dance music group from Essex, formed in 1990 by Liam Howlett. The group’s debut album, “Experience”, was released in 1992 and contained the singles “Charly” and “Firestarter”. The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to popularise the big beat genre. The Prodigy’s second album, “Music for the Jilted Generation”, was released in 1994 and contained the singles “Voodoo People” and “Poison”. The album was another critical and commercial success, cementing The Prodigy’s reputation as one of the leading groups in the electronic dance music scene.
The Prodigy has released seven studio albums, all of which have been highly successful. The group has also achieved massive success with their live performances, and they are considered to be one of the best live acts in the world.
10. Armand van Helden
Armand van Helden (born February 16, 1970) is an American DJ, record producer, and remixer from Boston, Massachusetts. He is one of the pioneers of the house music scene in the United States, and he has produced numerous hits throughout his career. van Helden began DJ’ing in the late 1980s at clubs in Boston, and he soon became one of the most popular DJs in the city. In 1991, he released his first single “Witch Doktor”, which was a huge hit in the UK.
In 1993, Van Helden released his debut album “Here Comes Armand van Helden”, which contained the singles “U Got Me Up” and “The Funky Chicken”. The album was a critical and commercial success and helped to launch van Helden’s career. He has since released six additional studio albums, and his seventh album, “2Future4U”, is scheduled for release in 2019.
11. Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim (born Quentin Leo Cook on 31 July 1963) is an English DJ, musician, and record producer who helped to popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. His singles “Praise You”, “Weapon of Choice”, and “Wonderful Night” were all international hits, and his album “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby” was a critical and commercial success. In 2004, he was awarded an MBE for his services to music.
Cook began DJ’ing at the age of 14, and by the early 1980s he was a member of the band The Housemartins. He began producing solo material in 1987, and released his debut album “Better Living Through Chemistry” in 1996. The album was a critical and commercial success, and launched Fatboy Slim’s career. He has since released five additional studio albums, and his sixth album, “Fatboy Slim Presents Bemused Backwards”, is scheduled for release in 2019.
Fatboy Slim is a highly successful DJ and producer who has achieved worldwide fame. He is known for his innovative and catchy music, as well as his high-energy live performances. Fatboy Slim is truly a pioneer in the world of electronic dance music, and he continues to be one of the most popular DJs in the scene today.
12. Roger Sanchez
Roger Sanchez (born June 1, 1967) is a Puerto Rican DJ and record producer of house music. He is best known for his song “Another Chance”, which was a hit in 2001. Sanchez began DJ’ing at the age of 13, and by the early 1990s he was one of the most popular DJs in New York City. He has held residencies at some of the city’s most famous nightclubs, including The Roxy, Club Space, and Pacha. In 1995, he founded his own record label, Stealth Records. In 1999, Sanchez collaborated with Armand Van Helden to create the song “U Got Me Up”, which became a worldwide hit. In 2001, Sanchez released his debut album “First Contact “, which contained the single “Another Chance”. The song was a huge success, reaching number one in several countries.
Sanchez has released eight DJ mix compilations, including “Deep Soulful House” (1995), “Release Yourself” (1997), and “Global DJ Broadcast” (2003). He has also performed at numerous music festivals, including Ultra Music Festival, Tomorrowland, and Electric Daisy Carnival. In 2009, Sanchez was nominated for a Grammy Award for his remix of DJ Tiësto’s “Adagio for Strings”. In 2012, he was ranked number eight on DJ Magazine’s annual Top 100 DJ list.
Sanchez is a prolific DJ and producer who has achieved great success in the electronic dance music scene. He is a talented performer who always delivers high-energy sets that keep the dance floor moving.
13. Sasha
Sasha (born Alexander Paul Coe on 4 September 1969) is a Welsh DJ, record producer and Grammy Award-winning remixer. He was born in Wales to English parents and raised in England. Sasha began DJ’ing in the late 1980s at clubs in Manchester, and he soon became one of the most popular DJs in the city . In 1991, he released his first mix album, “Northern Exposure”, which was a critical and commercial success. The album helped to launch Sasha’s career, and he has since released five additional mix albums, as well as three studio albums.
14. Richie Hawtin
Richie Hawtin (born June 4, 1970) is a British-Canadian DJ, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is known for his work in the electronic music styles of techno and minimal techno under the alias Plastikman. He has performed at numerous clubs and festivals worldwide and has created his own music festival, ENTER., in Ibiza. He is also a three-time DJ Awards winner, receiving the highest accolade, “Best Techno DJ”, in 1998, 1999 and 2000. In 1998, Hawtin ranked second in a DJ Magazine poll of the top 100 DJs of the world; he was ranked first in 2000. Mixmag magazine named him one of the “Top 100 Greatest DJ’s of All Time” in 2003 and again in 2013. DJ Magazine named him the world’s number one DJ in their Top 100 DJ poll of 1997 and 1998. In 1996, Hawtin released his debut album as Plastikman, Sheet One, which was followed by a series of EPs throughout the 1990s. He also collaborated with fellow Canadian artist John Acquaviva on the 1995 album Plus 8’s The Lost Tapes.
In 2000, Hawtin launched M_nus Records with Daniel Miller. In 2006, he formed the label Minus with Miller and Magda. In 2011, Hawtin launched PLASTIKMAN LIVE, a new live performance tour featuring classic tracks from throughout his career as well as new music created specifically for these shows. The tour has taken Hawtin to festivals and clubs across the globe, including Coachella, Berghain, Fabric and Sonar. In 2012, Hawtin was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Windsor in Canada. In 2016, he debuted a new live show entitled CLOSE at the SĂłnar festival in Barcelona. The show sees Hawtin performing using Ableton Live and various controllers, with no pre-recorded audio or visuals.
Hawtin is also a visual artist; his work has been exhibited in galleries around the world. His DJing style is notable for its use of technology; he is often seen using a laptop computer and various DJ controllers onstage. He is also known for his use of the DJ software Traktor. In May 2017, Hawtin launched a new radio show on Beats 1 entitled “Mix-Up”. The show airs every Friday night at 9pm GMT / 4pm EST.
15. The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers are an English DJ and record production duo composed of TomRowlands and Ed Simons, originating in Manchester in 1989. Along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, and other acts, they helped to pioneer the big beat genre in the early 1990s. In 1999, their album Surrender won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. They have also been nominated for five other Grammy Awards.
The duo’s 2002 album Come With Us received criticism for its lack of innovation; AllMusic called it “a rehash of ideas already done better on earlier albums” and Pitchfork Media said that it was “the sound of two men coasting on past glories”. Nevertheless, NME magazine rated the albumas one of their top five albums of 2002. Their 2005 album Push The Button was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. In October 2011, Q magazine placed them at number 59 in its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
The Chemical Brothers have sold over 20 million records worldwide. DJ Magazine ranked Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons as DJ No. 30 in their Top 100 DJ Poll of DJ Magazine readers in 1998, making them the highest-ranked duo in the poll. In 2003 they were voted by Mixmag readers as the greatest DJs of all time. The BBC has described them as “the most acclaimed dance act around.”
Simons is also a member of the rock band New Order. In January 2005, the Chemical Brothers were presented with the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement by the American Recording Academy.
The Chemical Brothers were ranked number 17 in the DJ Magazine Top 100 DJ Poll of 2007. In 2010, they received an NME Icon Award for their “outstanding contribution to music”. In May 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked them as number 14 in its list of the “50 Greatest DJs of All Time”. In 2012, they were ranked as number 9 in Mixmag’s “The Greatest DJ Of All Time Top 100” poll. In 2013, they placed at number 8 on Pitchfork Media’s “Top 100 DJs of All Time” list. In 2014, they were ranked number 7 on DJ Magazine’s “Top 100 DJ Poll”. In 2015, they placed at number 20 on DJ Magazine’s “Top 100 DJ Poll”.
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