Mary Boogaloo

Photo of Mary Boogaloo
© Mary Boogaloo

Backstreet Boogaloo

Mary Boogaloo was born in Florence, Italy, but re­located to Brighton in 1980.

She started col­lect­ing soul, jazz, rhythm & blues, and funk some time in the 1980s and by the early 90s had begun DJing at Backstreet Boogaloo—an in­flu­ential club night she co-hosted in Brighton.

Word soon got out and Mary found her­self in demand as a guest DJ at clubs in London and around the UK.

Front of business card shows gramophone below text reading, 'Proclamation / Mary Boogaloo / Disk-jockey extraordinaire / Smooth, suave, sophisticated, and every man's dream.'
© Mary Boogaloo

The Blue Bar

In 2004, Mary re­turned to Italy and ran the much loved Pre 63 and Blue Bar Rhythm & Blues Club events in Rome. These saw visitors from all over Europe.

Mary moved back to the UK in 2009 and con­tin­ued to DJ at a variety of vintage club nights in Brighton and London.

Boogaloo Design

When not DJing or buying and selling vinyl, Mary Boogaloo works as a graphic designer. Her minimalist designs with a modernist slant have graced record covers and websites as well as innumerous vintage club flyers and posters.