WHAT’S the sound of summer? While DJs across the county recycle reggae and dancehall hits from the past decade, one man is quietly (via BBC radio) educating a new generation on the evolution of this urban brand.

His name is David Rodigan, MBE, don’t you know, and he is making an unprecedented stop in Bournemouth tonight.

Fresh from New Zealand and Japan, he plays Canvas tonight (Friday March 15) for a one-off dance masterclass that has other Djs twerking in their seats. Oh and last week he played the Royal Albert Hall. Talk about breaking breakbeat boundaries...

He told his (impressive) number of followers that he has been “having a ball touring in Australia on the Good Times Trail” with Norman Jay (also MBE) and friends. Yes, this DJ is on Twitter, and gaining more followers by the second, representing the very best of dance music across the UK. Next week, he’s off to Japan. I can’t think of a better ambassador for dancehall than DJs that have their fingers on the pulse like Sir Rodigan.

It took until 2012 for him to get the official royal approval. It took until Diamond Jubilee year for David Rodigan to learn that Prince Charles shares his love for reggae music - “a disclosure that the Prince of Wales made when the broadcaster recently attended Buckingham Palace to be given an MBE” according to the Independent.

“You really love this music don’t you?” said the Prince, as he conferred the gong. “So do I.” As do we all. Don’t miss this Palace-approved, pioneer and ambassador DJ at Canvas tonight.

In an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner, Rodigan said: "I was asleep in a Berlin hotel room on Saturday morning, having performed at an all-night reggae jam at the Yaam Club, when my phone just went crazy, buzzing with text messages and then my wife called me from London to tell me that it had been announced on the BBC that I had been awarded an MBE."

Also, catch David Rodigan MBE on BBC Radio 1xtra. Previous mixes are also available online.

For tickets to tonight’s gig, email call info@canvasbournemouth.com or call 01202 556113.