Jason Kaye, influential UK hardcore and garage DJ, has died
Tributes have poured in for the DJ and producer, who was a member of the breakbeat hardcore trio Top Buzz and produced garage under the Ordinary People alias
Jason Kaye, the influential UK garage and hardcore producer and DJ, has died, aged 54.
While no official statement has been made at the time of writing, tributes have poured in for the artist, who was a key figure in the early '90s UK rave scene as part of the trio Top Buzz, before going onto become a celebrated producer and DJ on the garage scene.
Writing on social media, Doc Scott said: "Rest easy Jason Kaye, I don't really know what to say apart from this one has really upset me, if you went to raves back in the day you were a fan of Top Buzz, including myself, it was an honour to share the stage with you, I'm truly gutted."
DJ Logan Sama, wrote in tribute: "Rest in peace Jason Kaye. He did so much for others and was an absolute gent to me. Responsible for so many legendary projects across multiple genres of music. Shared his platform with so many musicians to launch themselves to success. Tragic loss."
Born Jason Kyriakides, the DJ and producer first emerged as one-third of breakbeat and hardcore collective Top Buzz, together with Mad P and DJ Mikee B in 1988. Their first records, which saw them popularise the jungle techno sound, came out through Basement Records in the early '90s, and one of their tracks, 'Livin' In Darkness', was a particular fixture of Fabio & Grooverider's much-loved Rage parties.
Kyriakides also released jungle as one-half of the short-lived projects New Jack Pimps and Van Kleef in the mid-'90s, before turning his hand to UK garage in the latter half of the decade.
He founded the influential UK garage label Social Circles in 1993, which went on to put out records by the likes of Steve Gurley, Zed Bias, Sticky and The Wideboys. The label was also home to the Ordinary People project that Kyriakides formed with Chris McFarlane, Russell Tait and Steve Gurley.
Releasing six records from 1997 to 2000, Ordinary People produced UK garage classics such as 'Baby You Make My Heart Sing' and 'Keep Your Love'.
Kyriakides also released a handful of UK garage records under his main solo Jason Kaye alias, including 2001's 'Soudbwoy'.
Read tributes from friends and peers of Jason Kaye, and listen to Ordinary People's 'Baby You Make My Heart Sing' below.
