Grandmaster Flash

Born Joseph Saddler on January 1, 1957 in the South Bronx, Grandmaster Flash is inarguably one of Hip Hop’s original innovators. He is recognized as one of Hip Hop’s architects and builder of the culture, the first DJ to make the turntable a musical instrument by the way of his Quik Mix Theory formula and homed devices. Grandmaster Flash’s technical innovations and artistic contributions have earned him numerous accolades. His impact on the music industry extends beyond his own successful career, as his innovative formula and sounds were translated to sound producing technologies
and have inspired generations of DJs, producers and hip-hop artists to push the boundaries of creativity. In the earliest days of the genre, he manipulated music by placing his fingers on the vinyl, perfected beat looping, and discovered many of the most iconic beats still commonly sampled today. It’s no surprise that The New York Times calls him Hip Hop’s first virtuoso.

Today, he’s the voice of an entire generation of 1970s Hip Hop pioneers. From his electric live shows to his production role on Netflix’s “The Get Down”, Grandmaster Flash is at once a historian, a storyteller, and a cultural force. Baz Lurhman’s “The Get Down” is a music-driven drama that documents the emergence of a new art form. Set in the late 1970s, the rise of hip-hop is told through the lives, art, music and dance of a group of young people in the South Bronx.

The music of the 1970s fueled the rise of Hip Hop, but much of that decade’s influence has been lost to time. With access to archival master recordings, images, and videos from the vaults of the major record labels, Grandmaster Flash’s live show is a celebration of Hip Hop’s most formative decade.

ACCOLADES HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREES 2023
On June 1, 2023, Grandmaster Flash received his second Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lehman College in The Bronx. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Music. His first, the SUNY Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts, was received from Buffalo State University on May 21, 2022.

GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD 2021
Grandmaster Flash was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy in 2021.

POLAR MUSIC PRIZE 2019
Grandmaster Flash was named one of the 2019 laureates for Sweden’s Polar Music Prize which is comparable to the Nobel Peace Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious music awards. The award was presented by Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf on June 11, 2019 and was broadcast live on Swedish national television.

GRAMMY For Hit Song The MESSAGE 2014
Grandmaster Flash took the stage during the Grammy Nominee Special and was joined by Common, LL Cool J, Lupe Fiasco and Rick Ross for a special performance.

GRAMMY HALL OF FAME 2012
Grandmaster Flash’s musical contribution was inducted into the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ Grammy Hall of Fame by one of his good friends JayZ. ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME 2007 Grandmaster Flash along with the Furious Five were the first hip-hop group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. GMF LIVE Beyond his music career, Grandmaster Flash has been involved in various projects, including teaching and mentoring aspiring musicians. His legacy as a trailer in hip-hop and a cultural icon continues to influence and shape the ever-evolving landscape of popular music.

THE GET DOWN
Baz Lurhman called on Grandmaster Flash to serve as his Associate Producer, providing music supervision and ensuring that the high-concept production is true to the era.

PROCLAMATIONS
On August 4, 2023 The Mayor of New York City, Mayor Eric Adams proclaimed August 4 as Grandmaster Flash Day. On February 20, 2024 The Manhattan Borough President, Mark Levine, proclaimed February 20, 2024 as Grandmaster Flash Appreciation Day.

THE BEATBOX
Grandmaster Flash developed a secret weapon alongside his turntables. It is a manually operated drum box that he called the beatbox. The beatbox inspired artists to recreate the sounds with their mouths.