Dave McAleer


David James "Dave" McAleer is the main contributor for the Virgin Book of British Hit Singles, The Virgin Book of British Hit Albums and the Virgin Book of Top 40 Charts and was the sole Music Consultant for the Guinness World Records between 1998 and 2011. Is currently the OCC to the Official Charts Company. He was the Chief Consultant/Contributor for the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums for nine years, and has written or co-written over forty published music books.
One of the UK's first club DJs, before spending 25 years in the record business – Dave was working in A&R for labels including RCA Records, Pye Records, DJM Records, Stax Records, Chess Records, Disco Demand, Sugarhill, Calibre, Champagne, Hi, Solar, CTI Records, TMT and Buddah Records, and was managing director of Barry White's label, 20th Century Records. During this period he was responsible for many chart entries, and helped introduce Disco, Northern Soul, Rap and Hip Hop in the UK. He was the UK record executive behind the first rap hit, “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, as well as the one who released the first British rap and hip hop records. He managed the RAH Band and gave the first production jobs to noted DJs Paul Oakenfold and Ian Levine. In 1976, was the organiser of the first UK music industry pop quiz.

Author

He has also co-written books including The NME Rock ’n’ Roll Years, The Guinness Who Who of 50s/60s/70s and Soul Music, The NME Who’s Who of Rock, Guinness Rockopedia, The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, The Virgin Ultimate Rock Encyclopedia, This Day in Rock, The Virgin Who Who of 50s/60s/70s and Soul Music.
In addition he has compiled/sequenced/written sleeve notes for over 1500 albums for companies such as Universal, EMI, Sony/BMG and Time Life.