Joseph Saddler, born January 1, 1958, better known as Grandmaster Flash is an American DJ and record producer. He is considered one of the original pioneers in hip-hop DJing, cutting and mixing. Flash invented the Quick Mix Theory, which allowed him to seamlessly loop any song using two copies, a technique now called Beat-Juggling. He also developed punch phrasing and new scratching techniques. In 2007, Flash’s group Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five were inducted into Rock and Roll of Fame, becoming the first hip-hop artists to receive this honor. Flash was born in Barbados, before his family moved to New York’s Bronx. He went to Samuel Gompers High School where he learned how electronic equipment can be repaired. Flash’s interest in DJing stemmed from his fascination with his father’s records and his mother’s desire to teach him electronics. He was involved in the early New York DJ scene after high school. Flash was a DJ and collaborated with many rappers, including Lovebug Starski and Kurtis Blow. He eventually formed his own group, The Furious Five in the late 1970s. In 1979, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five released their first record, “Superrappin’,” which was on the Enjoy label. The Furious Five signed to Sylvia Robinson’s Sugarhill label in New Jersey, where they released their first record, “Superrappin'”.
