I met this band in 1984 in Rochester, NY and hung out with Natalie in the local bars. When I tried to book her band at my college, the school gave me grief for trying to book a "punk" band (perceived by the band's name) to open up for the Violent Femmes (who was actually also opening up for The Fleshtones). My personal favorites from them include "Daktari", "Can't Ignore The Train", "Katrina's Fair" and "What's The Matter Here".
One of the best Hi-NRG production teams around. Some of my personal favorite works they have done include Abbacadabra "Take A Chance On Me", Natalie Powers "Unchained Melody" and Sarah Washington "I Will Always Love You '98".
Ultra-diva. It doesn't get better than this. She's got my vote for overall top performer. Pick up a copy of the Happening In Central Park live concert (in her early days - 1964) and you'll see. There's no best Barbra songs, since she's in a league of her own, but some personal favorites include "Don't Rain On My Parade", "Evergreen", "Memory (from Cats)", and "People".
After having amassed a collection of well over 20,000 vinyl records, the first LP I ever bought was "Trying To Get That Feeling Again". This album featured tracks, in addition to the title song, like "I Write The Songs" and "Bandstand Boogie".
This is the latest addition to the "Diva" category. She's been working with Sunkids and Deepswing doing some fine house records recently. You'll swear you are listening to Aretha. Check out her hits, "Rise Up", "Rescue Me" and "Diva".
A truly gifted individual, singer, writer, performer and person. MCA Records made a mistake not supporting her. Her remake of Aretha's "Ain't No Way" was flawless. Her track "Down With This" had a promo-only house remix by Masters At Work and is one of the best garage house records of all time. I'm currently working with this artist.
The best "camp" covers around. These NYC drag divas are known for their hilarious remakes of songs like "Fuck Me With Your Big Cock" (to "Hit Me With Your Best Shot") and "Just A Sniff Full Of Poppers" (to "Just A Spoonful Of Sugar").
Another band I enjoyed working with. Artsy and retro. Thanks to Dimitry for spinning at my clubs and Lady Miss Kier for dancing to my music. Favorite songs by them are "Groove Is In The Heart", "Good Beat", "What Is Love?" and "Pussycat Meow".
It was this band's early works from 1981-1990 that got me into working in the club scene. They were the epitome of "new wave". I have one of the most extensive pre-1990 vinyl collections around. If you are interested, let me know. My absolute favorite song by them is "Somebody" which is a ballad. Other favorites are "Just Can't Get Enough", "Everything Counts" and "Blasphemous Rumours".
She is the top selling jazz vocalist around and has crossed over to all audiences and is one of my faves. I've had the pleasure to see her perform many times and got to meet her at a private record release party in 2000 (where I have to say, she was quite tipsy). Some of her highlight songs are "Let's Fall In Love", "The Look Of Love", "Peel Me A Grape" and "Let's Face The Music And Dance".
"Fred From Jupiter" is one of the best new wave novelty classics. Electro-pop, euro-disco, analogue synth music. This was an obscure track that was popular on WLIR-FM in the 80's. It was a remake (of sorts) of a German track "Fred Vom Jupiter" by Die Doraus Und Die Marinas. Digette was NY producer Ivan Ivan, who produced Dominatrix "The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight", Book Of Love "Boy", Bow Wow Wow "I Want Candy", Les Rita Mitsouko "Marcia Baila" and remixed Depeche Mode, Devo and more.
I truly love this man for putting heart and soul into club music. He's a master of his profession and is partly responsible for the term "house" music based on his style of spinning in the 70's at the Chicago club, The Warehouse. He is the biggest influence on the house music I enjoy today. He won the first grammy award for non-classical remixing. My favorite tracks or remixes include "The Whistle Song", "Rain Falls", "Tears", Toni Braxton "Unbreak My Heart" and "I Don't Want To", Michael Jackson "You Are Not Alone", Alison Limerick "Where Love Lives", Sounds Of Blackness "The Pressure" and so many more.
This is what I grew up listening to. As a kid, I knew all his songs. Some favorites are "String Of Pearls", "American Patrol", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "In The Mood" and "Little Brown Jug".
A modern day Josephine Baker-esque, disco/new wave icon. I've always been intrigued by her sex appeal and sultry vocals with have hints of attitude and her Jamaican background. I love her earliest disco recordings like "La Vie En Rose", "I Need A Man" and "Do Or Die" along with her new wave songs "Warm Leatherette", "Pull Up To The Bumper", "Slave To The Rhythm" and "Love Is The Drug". Click thumbnail to see a picture of me and Grace that was in some Japanese magazines.
Seein' is believin'... Some of the best live entertainment you can find. This NYC drag queen rock & roller is a star of both stage and screen. She was a top comedienne and a talented singer doing remakes of rock and pop hits, like "We're You Aware I'm A Man" (to "We're An American Band"), "Anal Virgin" (to "Like A Virgin") and "Weenie In Your Butthole" (to "Genie In A Bottle").
Through our mutual friend, Jimi LaLumia, I helped revitalize the career of this legendary, English, transexual, punk-rocker by arranging club appearances in NYC and Long Island. Upon looking at her, she appears to be the corpse of Dusty Springfield. She still performs her hits from when she was Wayne from Wayne County & The Electric Chairs, such as "Fuck Off", "Night Time", "Bad In Bed", "Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl" and "Man Enough To Be A Woman". I'm sorry to say that I was the person responsible for giving Jayne her first bump of K. She currently DJ's in NY. I believe the movie "Hedwig & The Angry Inch" is based on her life.
I met my fave filmwriter when he did his only stand-up comedy routine in NY on June 9, 1994. I recorded the entire show. He's famous for bringing legendary drag icon, Divine, to the public with his movies, "Pink Flamingos", "Hairspray" (now on Broadway), "Desperate Living" and "Female Trouble". I love his holiday greeting on his Christmas CD: "Have a merry, rotten, scary, sexy, biracial, ludicrous, happy little Christmas"
Junior (real name Donald Mattern) probably was one of my biggest DJ influences back in the original Sound Factory days. I rarely missed one of those legendary afterhours events. He really knew how to work the crowd for 12 hours non-stop. I always needed his morning set to wind down, especially when he would play Stevie Wonder "Ribbon In The Sky", Sharon Ridley "Changin'" and Michael Jackson "Man In The Mirror". Click here for my personal favorite Junior classic remixes.
They were the first band I can remember seeing in concert. I loved that he was very lively and had a large percussive funk band with him. My favorite songs included "Keep It Comin' Love", "That's The Way (I Like It)", "Get Down Tonight" and "Boogie Shoes".
I first met Jon Ingle (… ooops, did I just let out a secret?) while she DJ'ing at the Limelight spinning disco in the Shampoo Room. Lady Bunny was born in 1962 (… ooops, sorry) and is the founder of Wigstock. This lovely be-atch, with her Southern drawl, was a great influence in my clubbing days. I have to thank her for helping me out, by making appearances at the many clubs I ran. If you're lucky, you might catch her sing one of her popular songs "The Pussycat Song", "I Feel The Earth Move" and "Shame Shame Shame." Love her. Sorry Bunny.
My all time favorite rock band. In my high school years I was obsessed with this band. I loved they way they mixed classic blues with rock. My friends and I would go to the midnight showings of "The Song Remains The Same" pretty regularly. In 1980 when Bonzo died I cried because I was going to see them at the Philadelphia Spectrum a couple of months later, for the first time. I got to see the remaining members in 1985 during the Live Aid show. My favorite songs are "Hey Hey What Can I Do", "Stairway To Heaven", "Dazed And Confused", "Heartbreaker" and "All My Love". All their songs are great.
I first heard her whilst she was performing in Jeckyll & Hyde on Broadway, in 1997. The most emotional and inspiring singer since Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland. I try to catch all her live performances. Her highlight songs include "Vienna", "Man Of La Mancha", "I Want More", "The Man That Got Away" and "Don't Ask Me Why".
I love her. I had the priviledge to meet and see her a few times. I've seen her on the dancefloor of the original Sound Factory, hosted parties for her and for her brother, went to the infamous Roseland show and I saw her in "Up For Grabs" in London's West End during my June 2002 visit to the UK. There is no other entertainer in history than can market themselves as well as she can. My favorite songs from her are "Like A Virgin", "Into The Groove", "Live To Tell", "Express Yourself", "Deeper And Deeper", "Rain", "Secret" and "Nothing Really Matters". Check out www.MadonnaLife.com for more.
My best friend, Ms. Mead, does the vocals on this classic hard house, bitch track, "Mirror, Mirror".
One of my favorite TV shows as a kid. Carole and Paula were two hippie chicks who would sing simple songs, while swinging from a tree, along with Sherlock, the pink squirrel, the chuckle patch and the story box. I was so excited to finally get the entire album on CD. No, they are not lesbians. I never cared for Flapper. Their more memorable songs were "See Ya", "The Story Box", "The Magic Garden" and "It's Nice To Say Hello".
He is my great-uncle (his first wife, Florence Baum, was my paternal grandmother's sister). He is the funniest comic writer and producer. My favorite movie is "History Of The World, Part 1". Other favorite films were "Young Frankenstein", "High Anxiety" and "The Producers". I loved the TV show "Get Smart" he produced and his spoken word comedy album with Carl Reiner, "The 2000 Year Old Man". The Broadway production of "The Producers" is without a doubt my favorite all time Broadway show.
I probably have to say he is the person I am most proud to have met in my music career. Let's face it, music since the 70's has all evolved around this gentleman. I savor the photo I have with him that appeared in Billboard magazine. It's unbelievable the amount of big hits he has performed, written or produced. My favorite hits from him are "I Want Your Love", "Good Times", "Le Freak", David Bowie "Let's Dance", Madonna "Like A Virgin", Diana Ross "Swept Away", Sister Sledge "We Are Family" and "He's The Greatest Dancer" along with works of Al Jarreau, Jeff Beck, Cyndi Lauper, INXS, Carly Simon, Grace Jones, Debbie Harry, Mariah Carey, etc.
Without a doubt, the finest vocalist I have ever encountered !!! This girl is no joke. If you think her albums are great...she's 10 times better LIVE !!! Check her vocal range out. Her best songs are "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Inchworm", "Sista" and "'Til You Come Back To Me".
It was a clubbing highlight of mine to perform with her during the Pride Day party at the Sound Factory in 1993. I performed with IMT, which is misspelled on the pass, which opened up for Robin S. Her best songs are "Show Me Love", "I Want To Thank You" and "Luv 4 Luv".
To think I knew Ms. Star Booty back in the day when she was only making a $100 a night performing at the Pyramid in NY. I met RuPaul at Larry Tee's party "Love Machine" and I worked with Ru and her Southern gal pals, LaHoma Van Zandt (Jon Witherspoon) and Larry Tee at the Limelight for Disco 2000. Ru's hits include "Supermodel" (written by Larry Tee), "Back To My Roots", "House Of Love", "Strüdelmodel" (parody of her own song) and her Christmas hits "I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus" and "RuPaul the Red Nosed Drag Queen".
"Around My Dreams" is my all-time favorite new wave club classic. This Italian dance record had the style of "Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung with a mix of ABC and Naked Eyes. None of his other tracks were near as good.
It was a great opportunity to hang out with Siouxsie back in 1985, when Robert Smith was hanging out at the same time, after she played at my club, Idol's in Rochester, NY. Their music was always played on my radio shows and in my early club gigs. I enjoy listening to their darker stuff on the first Creatures album as well. Their best hits are "Christine", "Cities In Dust", "Happy House", "Spellbound", "Dear Prudence", "The Passenger" and "Right Now" by The Creatures.
"Ribbon In The Sky" is my favorite song of all genres of music. Stevie has done some amazing work, but that song is his best. Other favorites include "As", "Another Star", "Master Blaster", "These Three Words", "For Your Love", "Higher Ground" and "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life".
The most memorable person I ever had to interview for the radio. This man apparently slept with a helluva lot more girls than Gene Simmons of KISS. He was part of the California punk band, The Dead Boys and the 80's group, Lords Of The New Church. He discovered my friend Betsy Palmer's group, The Raunchettes and got them a deal with Bomp records. He was unfortunatley killed by getting hit by a car. Rest in peace. My favorite tracks are "Russian Roulette", "Like A Virgin" (cover of Madonna's hit), "Method To My Madness" and "Live For Today" (cover of Grass Roots' classic).
"Rapper's Delight" was the very first 12" single I ever bought, in 1979. Only another 20,000 to follow behind it. Though not a big fan of hip hop, this track set an unprecedented course in music history. Not to mention their use of Chic's "Good Times" beat to popularize it. Other hits are "Apache" and "Jump On It".
The origination of the "bitch track" came with Candy J doing the vocals on the Hateful Head Helen track, "Sweet Pussy Pauline". All you need is her original acappella to turn that mutha out! Often imitated, never duplicated… and very often sampled.
I first saw them in 1984 at Stony Brook University. While I was in Rochester, NY, they were regular guests on my radio show and I would help out their road crew setting up lights for local shows. Their concert at my school in 1986 was one of their best. I'll never forget hearing Johnny start each song with "1, 2, 3, 4…" RIP Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee. Gabba Gabba Hey. Their best songs are "I Wanna Be Sedated", "Spiderman", "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "Do You Wanna Dance", "Rock & Roll High School", "Time Has Come Today" and "Howling At The Moon".
Legendary jazz vibist Vince Monatana assembled some of the best orchestras known to dance music and the luxurious label that everyone has sampled from. His music was the best disco blend of jazz, Philly soul, funk and Latin rhythms. The first disco track I can remember hearing was "Tangerine" in 1975. Some of my favorite tracks include "Ooh I Love It (Love Break)", "Christmas Medley", "Magic Bird Of Fire" and hits from Inner Life "Moment Of My Life" (feat. Jocelyn Brown) and "I'm Caught Up", Skyy "Call Me", Loleatta Holloway "Love Sensation" and Double Exposure's "Ten Percent".
Vindaloo
Summer Special (a/k/a Fuzzbox)
It took me years to find their track "Rockin With Rita". This one-off
track with it's rockabilly sound was played on WLIR as a novelty track
in the 80's and featured Ted Chippington and The Nightingales. Fuzzbox
was a cross between Nina Hagen, The Bangles and The Go-Go's. Their other
hits are "Love Is The Slug" and "Rules And Regulations".
