A BRIEF HISTORY OF ME - Justin 'TopRock' Mckenzie - IN BITESIZED CHUNKS!!!
West London born, Parents from Trinidad & Grenada.
Started playing instruments at the age of 4 (violin)
Played for various orchestras and played in many concerts as a soloist
Growing up in the church nurtured vocal, harmony and arrangement skills
Also sang for a brief period with the prestigious Harrow Youth Choir
Having an older brother and older cousins around, I grew up listening to gospel, jazz, rare grooves, soul, electro, hip hop, reggae, calypso, funk, boogie
Picked up various instruments throughout youth including bass guitar and guitar
First true soca fete experience as a young lad at Cocoyea (Swiss Cottage) in 1991.
Started Deejaying seriously and collecting vinyl in 1994
In 1996, formed progressive Deejay outfit 'Leaders of the Old Skool' with long time friends Adam Rock and Motet
In 1998, Leaders. started old skool fete 'FLAG PARTY'.
In 1999 'Leaders of' joined with fellow connoisseur music outfit 'The Soulmasters'
(Bunny Bread, Daz i kue and Steve Austin) to form event/promotions organisation
'OldskooltilIdie Productions'
In more recent years started studying and playing world percussion instruments
including Afro Cuban, African, Brazilian and Asian percussion (mainly hand drums)
Also started studying the Chinese flute
In 2000 started record label/production team Uprock Recordings with five musically like-minded friends
In 2003 started Graphic Art/Fine art/Illustration company - TopRockArts
In 2006 expanded the company (TopRockArts) remit, setting up TopRockArts Creative Network agency.
Providing tutors and facilitators from all creative backgrounds, for various projects, schools,
institutions, etc. (see blog section for full run down of TCN).
Presently teaching art/graphics/illustration and music in High schools/secondary Schools
(contracted through my company), working on graphic art projects, illustrating books,
writing, producing, arranging, deejaying, running creative network agency, etc.
Putting a whole heap of effort into TopRockArts, Uprock Recordings, Jazz re:freshed, Futurism and Cashew NutsSTILL KEEPING THE FAITH.
SEE SLIDES BELOW FOR A SMALL SELECTION OF SOME OF THE MUSIC/EVENT RELATED ARTWORK I'VE COMPLETED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
(TOP SLIDES - JAZZ RE:FRESHED RELATED ARTWORK)
(2ND SLIDES - UPROCK FLYER RELATED ARTWORK)
(3RD SLIDES - FUTURISM RELATED ARTWORK)
