Gilles Peterson

Gilles Peterson is a British DJ, record collector, and broadcaster renowned for his eclectic taste and influential presence in the global music scene. Born in 1964 in Caen, France, and raised in London, Peterson grew up immersed in jazz, soul, and world music, which laid the foundation for his boundary-pushing musical style. He began his career in the early 1980s with pirate radio, quickly making a name for himself as a passionate champion of underground sounds.

Peterson founded influential labels such as Acid Jazz, Talkin’ Loud, and later Brownswood Recordings, helping launch the careers of numerous groundbreaking artists and fostering the development of genres like acid jazz, broken beat, and nu jazz. His long-running BBC Radio 1 show, Worldwide, became a global beacon for diverse, forward-thinking music, while his Worldwide Festival in France and other ventures have cemented his impact as a tastemaker and connector of cultures. Gilles Peterson’s relentless curiosity and pioneering spirit continue to drive musical discovery across genres and continents, earning him recognition as one of the most important and adventurous figures in contemporary music.