DJ Lepke

DJ Lepke, born Leroy Anderson Lepke, is the founder of the Dread Broadcasting Corporation (DBC).

DJ Lepke formed DBC in 1980 as the first black-owned UK pirate radio station broadcasting a wide range of black music. Based in West London DBC played reggae on Friday nights in a format based on sound systems style and using heavy dub echo and reverb in the links. DBC also broadcast soul, funk, R&B, Afrikan (South African black music), jazz, and soca (upbeat calypso). DBC was unique among radio stations in the UK at the time, a black-run station broadcasting black music to a mixed audience. Ranking Miss P, who later dj the first reggae show on BBC Radio 1, commented: "There's never been a station run like DBC. Our format allows us to play music that would otherwise never be heard publicly. We create movement within the industry." DBC was the first black owned and controlled radio station in Europe.

Through DBC DJ Lepke is credited with helping to kick-start the careers of artists such as Lloyd Bradley, Neneh Cherry, and Ranking Miss P.

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