DJ Ruby - New Years Eve - 2003 - Video

Biography of DJ Ruby

The beginning
“Maltese Dance Music Culture”, if this means anything to you so should this man – Reuben Grima (AKA) DJ Ruby!

Malta’s finest DJ started life on the little island of Gozo (Malta’s sister Island) on the 29th June 1977. Music has always been a pivotal part of his life as both his parents are professional musicians; this passion for music has been passed on to Ruby and has lead to his phenomenal success, spanning a more than a decade professional DJ-ing career. The rewards for his hard work and raw talent have paid off as Ruby holds the title as Malta’s number 1 DJ on the islands dance music scene.

Ruby’s first experiences as a DJ initiated in 1992, were together with his brother they used to play in small private parties with a mobile disco. Just A few months after his brother passed away and Ruby decided to quit the mobile disco business. From a mobile disco DJ he moved on to become a club DJ and luckily enough he managed to get his first residency at a small club called “The Swiss Chalet”, the primary venue were Ruby gained skill in the art of DJ-ing.

In December 1993 Ruby’s dream came true - David Dee an “Old Skool” top DJ (in Malta), recognized the potential in Ruby and quickly signed him up as a resident DJ at then new club “Generator”. In 1994 Ruby transferred to “Tremors” and after he moved onto “Miracles” and “Places”.

With a unique mixing style and with the positive, energetic, party atmosphere he created Ruby not only captivated his audience but also promoters and club owners. He soon found himself catapulted into the limelight, playing at Malta’s most renowned dance clubs and ensuring bookings at all major dance events. Alongside his club sets, he began hosting a show on “Live FM”, his new audiences were entranced and his fan base exploded!

Working with big name artists

The next stage in his heaving career, was to play alongside with some of the worlds biggest dance DJ`s & Artist. So far Ruby has played and/or worked closely with: Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, DJ Tiesto, Armand Van Helden, Paul Van Dyk, Judge Jules, Danny Rampling, Tim Deluxe, Sonique, Carl Cox, Erik Morillo, Josh Wink, Sven Vath, Smokin Joe, Nick Warren, David Morales, Jeff Mills, Mr. C, Seb Fontaine, John 00 Fleming, Grame Park, Billy Nasty, Dave Clarke, Frankie Knuckles, Nigel Dawson, Ian Pooley, Steve Lawler, Sander Kleinenberg, Mauro Picotto, and the list goes on. A memorable gig for Ruby was in June 2002 were he made an exclusive warm up for Faithless! However we have to mention that when Ministry of Sound, Naughty but Nice, Cream, Renaissance, Godskitchen, Space and Progress held events in Malta, Ruby played as well!

Awards

Back to 1997, Ruby’s grueling schedule and uncompromising commitment paid off. He was nominated for “Best Club & Party DJ”, “Best Radio DJ” and “Best Radio Show” and snatched the title of “Best Club and Party DJ” from any competition, winning at the one off Malta entertainment awards. Then again in `99 Ruby was awarded “Best Personality DJ 1999” by Buzz Fm. The most prestigious of all awards came later at the 2002 Club DJ awards, when Ruby walked away the winner of “Best Overall DJ”.

Internationally

Ruby’s hypnotic, signature style started to generate attention across Europe and January ’98 bought him, his first major gig outside Malta. Hosted by “Naughty But Nice”, Friday nights at UK`s “Crystal Rooms” in Hereford, became the birthplace of Ruby’s international success. “Naughty But Nice” was a regular gig for Ruby were so far he shared the DJ booth with prominent DJ`s such as John 00 Fleming, Tony De Vit, Judge Jules, Scott Bond, Lisa lashes and many more of Europe’s finest.


In January 2001, with the help of his old friend DJ Joseph Armani (Ministry Of Sound Germany), Ruby started spurring a non-stop schedule of sets across Germany and eastern Europe.

Ruby is also a regular in Plovdiv & Sofia at various clubs and venues for Ellectrica DJ Team, who are Bulgaria’s leading promoters.

The “Millenium Club” in Bournemouth, UK and the “Nightlife Club” in San Antonio, Ibiza, were two other venues Ruby played at internationally.

Media

Publicity and promotion have played a crucial component in the “Ruby success story”. He had numerous features and interviews in local and foreign magazines and many vivid TV appearances. Back in February `98 DJ Magazine (no:10, vol. 2) ran a review on a big event in Malta. The feature named Ruby as “Malta’s favorite DJ” and compiled a top 10 chart of his finest records. Ruby is also writing a monthly editorial about the dance music scene, in the notorious “Dansezee Magazine”.

To top all that, in July 2002, Ruby was also the host of the prestigious 2hr TV show - The Dancefloor Chart - which is aired on Europe's most famous music TV station - MTV.


Pure Promotions

The infamous Pure promotions, whose legendary parties already featured renowned DJ`s & Promoters such as Paul Van Dyk , John 00 Fleming & Renaissance is also co owned and heavily promoted by Ruby. This relatively new company has, in it’s four years proved to be one of Malta’s most successful promotion teams where apart from big one off events, Ruby & co also successfully upheld weekly clubnights @ Q-Dos, Pushca, Caesars and Numero Uno. Moreover Pure Promotions are famous for the monthly nights known as Ruby & friends, which are very popular with the Maltese clubbers.


The present

Today Ruby`s streamlined his schedule to 2 residencies at Places & Poxx Bar. Somehow, he manages to find time for the many guest appearances at parties and clubs across Malta and in other countries in Europe. He continues to host radio show – Rubys Vital Grooves, on the ever-popular 897Bay radio station.


The future

Ruby's next steps will be keeping up his standard as one of Malta's top DJ's, more gigs abroad and producing music in his own studio that he is currently setting up.


What the future holds for Ruby is anyone’s guess, but what we know for sure is that this relentless professional will never stop feeding us the tunes we love and the atmosphere we crave.

DJ Ruby, a DJ that can to take you to proper journey with his sets, no matter what the situation is - 10 people, 400 people or even 2000 people he will always be steady and focused on the decks ready to entertain you. Ruby, as his fans know, stands for quality…. Long may the Maltese dance music legend