Died On This Date (October 25, 2004) John Peel / Influential English Disc Jockey
John Peel (born John Ravenscroft)
August 30, 1939 – October 25, 2004

John Peel was an extremely influential British disc jockey and journalist. For nearly 40 years, he hosted a program on BBC Radio that featured an eclectic mix of psychedelic rock, punk, reggae, pop, alternative rock, hip-hop and death metal. It was the first place many listeners heard future superstars. He was also a frequent host of BBC Television’s popular Top of the Pops program during the ’80s. A popular segment in Peel’s radio show was the John Peel Sessions during which artists would perform a handful of songs live in the studio. Over the course of his career, over 2000 acts recorded over 4000 sessions. Many have been made available on album or CD. A thorough list of artists who have been featured on the John Peel Sessions can be found here. John Peel, 65, died of a heart attack on October 25, 2004.

Mr. Magic was a New York City disc jockey who helped bring hip-hop and rap to a much wider audience during the early ’80s. Premiering on WBLS in 1983, Mr. Magic’s “Rap Attack” program was the first to ever play hip hop exclusively on any major radio station in the U.S. For the next six years, the show helped launch the careers of such artists as Whodini, Marley Marl and Boogie Down Productions. He was also noted as an influence on the likes of 
Alison Steele was a popular disc jockey at New York’s WNEW, one of the country’s first FM stations to switch to a progressive album-track oriented format during the ’60s. For many years, Steele hosted the night shift, becoming known as “The Nightbird” to her many fans, most of whom were young male adults attracted to her sexy smoky voice.
Roc Raida was a DJ / Turntablist primarily known for his work with the X-Ecutioners, a crew of New York DJs who gained popularity in the ’90s. They collaborated with many hip hop greats including Cypress Hill and Kool G Rap. In 2002, the X-Ecutioners released Built From Scratch on Loud Records. An innovator on the turntable, Raida worked on recordings by the likes of 
