DJ 47 is one of the finalists in the hunt for the 2010 Heineken Green Synergy Championship. The winner will be announced at the grand finals this Friday, October 29, at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.

Christened Barri Taffe, DJ 47 hails from Mandeville, Manchester where he attended Manchester High and Northern Caribbean University. From a very young age he developed a passion for music and started to build his personal collections. His interest turned to deejaying after listening to mixes by Delano of Renaissance. “I was fascinated by his (Delano’s) turntable skills. I also admired international DJs such as DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ AM and Mix Master Mike,” DJ47 disclosed.

“I started deejaying about 2000, I was forced into it because I couldn’t get a job. It was a means of earning an income to take care of my family. I got really serious about it two years ago when I started buying equipment.”

It wasn’t an easy road for DJ47 at the start of the competition as he had a lot of ‘hiccups’ including being scared to death by the cameras on the set of the show. “I am basically a shy person and it took me a time to get used to all these cameras on me and being in the limelight,” 47 explained.

However, as the show progressed, with the help of tutoring by the Celebrity Guest Judge Grand Master Flash as well as the shows other judges, Colin Hinds, Alric and Boyd, he became more focused and relaxed.

Being more relaxed saw DJ 47 shining. He came out on top in the last three challenges, which included doing a live remix and playing an awesome six minutes. Boyd, after being very impressed by DJ47’s display after the six-minute set, jokingly said, “We have created a monster.”

Speaking about what the competition has done for him he said, “I have grown as a DJ. It has also given me invaluable exposure. I can’t walk on the streets in peace, everybody coming up to me and asking me questions. I really appreciate the support that I am getting. This is not for me though, it’s for my family, to help me to secure some form of future for them.

DJ 47 has two children — a nine-year-old daughter Aaliyah and his 6-month-old son Tristan.