Short answers, pulled from the story.
Grand Wizzard Theodore, born Theodore Livingston on the 5th of March 1963, is an American DJ and musician from the Bronx, New York. He is widely credited as the inventor of the scratching technique, and is also recognized for his mastery of needle drops and other DJ techniques he invented or perfected.
In 1975, Theodore discovered scratching by accident in his bedroom. While his mother scolded him in the doorway about playing music too loud, he was holding a record still with his hand and rubbing it back and forth, producing a scratching sound. After she left, he practiced the technique and later debuted it publicly at a party.
Theodore was a member of Grandwizard Theodore and the Fantastic Five. The group released "Can I Get a Soul Clap" in 1982.
Theodore appeared in the 1983 film Wild Style and contributed to its soundtrack. He also explained the origin of the scratch technique on camera in the documentary Scratch.
The phrase "Say turn it up" from Theodore's track "Fantastic Freaks at the Dixie" was sampled by Public Enemy on "Bring the Noise." It was also used by Bomb the Bass on "Megablast" and by many other hip hop and rap acts.
Theodore's older brother Mean Gene taught him the technique of DJing at an early age and served as his mentor.