Joseph Saddler, or better known as Grand Master Flash, was born in Barbados on January 1, 1958. Saddler gained the nickname “Flash” because of his quick hands on the turntables. Saddler’s family travelled to the United States and resettled in New York City where he grew up. Saddler didn’t have the best childhood while growing up. His father was very aggressive and his mother was in and out of mental institutions. He went to a vocational high school, Samuel Gompers High School, where he learned to restore electronic equipment. Saddler’s father had an interest in Caribbean and African American records. At a young age, he showed interest in his father’s record collections. It was his fascination in his father’s records and the love of repairing electronic equipment that compelled him to begin a career in DJing. When Saddler graduated from high school, he began DJing in New York City clubs and parties. At this point, he was spinning records in clubs as night, and attending technical school courses during the day.…show more content… Their most remarkable hit was “The Message” which was produced by Clifton “Jiggs” Chase under the Sugar Hill Label. “The Message promoted a harsh story about inner city drugs poverty and violence. This was the first hip hop record to ever to be added to the National Recording Registry. That same year Grand Master Flash made an appearance in the movie “Wilde Style” and he sued his record label for not paying him. Melle Mel and Grand Master Flash’s relationship ruptured because of the popularity of “The Message.” Soon after, the rest of Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five broke up. Grand Master Flash, Kid Creole, and Rahiem left their old record label, joined Elektra Records, and continued to go by "Grandmaster
