Biography

Ralph Tee is one of the UK’s most respected soul DJs. Raised on the sound of Philadelphia and a tastemaker through both the 80s soul/boogie scene and 90s neo soul movement, he has his finger on the pulse of all that’s new and vibrant on the ever evolving black music scene. A club DJ since the 70s and a radio DJ since the 80s, Ralph currently hosts Sunday afternoons 4pm-7pm on the recently revitalized Jazz FM. His original show for the station in the 90s attracted one of the biggest ever radio audiences for soul music in London.

“I love the classics, but still always want to know what’s fresh out and play new music with the same sophistication and integrity of what’s gone before. Soul music is not just about nostalgia, though it’s great to spin the anthems on a party night”. Ralph runs and co-owns the legendary UK soul label Expansion. “It’s been my labour of love and I’ve worked with some great artists, many of whom I have supported at The Jazz Café.

You may have a few of Ralph’s compilations in your collection, from anything in the Soul Togetherness series on Expansion, through to the many artist collections on Streetsounds (Philadelphia Story, Jean Carn, Jones Girls, Keni Burke), Polydor (Roy Ayers), Arista (Don Blackman, Phyllis Hyman), MCI (Curtis Mayfield) and Motown (“Motown Trackin’”). He has also written two books (“Who’s Who In Soul”, “The Story of Soul”) and is a former Assistant Ediotr of Blues & Soul magazine.