Joey Negro
Encyclopedia
Dave Lee is a British DJ
and house music
producer, also known by the stage name Joey Negro. Lee was born on the Isle of Wight
. He has released music under a variety of pseudonyms, including the name Jakatta. Lee as Joey Negro compiled the Disco Not Disco
series.
tracks as part of the M-D-Emm production team, he became one of the first to incorporate disco
samples
starting with "Together Forever", a cover of a track by disco band Exodus produced under the name Raven Maize, with assistance from Blaze
. In 1990, he released the first track under the name Joey Negro, which catapulted Lee to underground stardom. Not being able to play an instrument, Lee also started working with keyboard players Andrew 'Doc' Livingstone
and Viv Hope-Scott. He also closed Republic Records and started a new label, Z Records, to promote his new artistic leanings.
Since then, Joey Negro has become one of the most sought-after producers and remix
ers, and has worked under a variety of alias
es, including Doug Willis, Z Factor, Sessomato and Mistura. In 1998, he created his first session band Sunburst Band with Michele Chiavarini, Julian Crampton, Thomas Dyani-Akuru and Tony Remy, as well as his regular vocalist Taka Boom
, sister of Chaka Khan
, recording his first real album, Here Comes The Sunburst Band (Lee previously released two singles collections, Universe Of Love and Get Down Tonight).
He later achieved more mainstream success under the name Jakatta, in 2000, when he released the single American Dream, sampling two Thomas Newman
pieces ("Dead Already" and "American Beauty/Paper Bag") from the soundtrack for the film American Beauty and reached #3 in the UK. He also had hits with "So Lonely" (UK #8) and "My Vision" (UK #6), also sampling Thomas Newman for the latter (by using this time "Brooks was Here," from The Shawshank Redemption
soundtrack). Unlike his previous disco-laced productions, Jakatta's works were closer to the Ibiza-influenced chill-out sounds
and Germany-based progressive house, so Lee moved this alias from Z Records to Rulin Records, a sublabel of the Ministry of Sound
. He also resurrected the Raven Maize alias, incorporating samples from rock 'n' roll and synth pop.
Negro continues to release house music under a variety of names, as well as running Z Records. For the first time, he also released a record under his real name Dave Lee called "You're Not Alone".
Jakatta
Raven Maize
The Sunburst Band
Doug Willis
Prospect Park
Mistura
Sessomatto
Z Factor
Foreal People
Akabu
M-D-Emm productions
Other aliases
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
producer, also known by the stage name Joey Negro. Lee was born on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. He has released music under a variety of pseudonyms, including the name Jakatta. Lee as Joey Negro compiled the Disco Not Disco
Disco Not Disco
-Personnel:"Walking On Thin Ice" *Engineers: Lee DeCarlo, Sam Ginsberg*Drums: Andy Newmark*Bass guitar: Tony Levin*Rhythm guitar: Earl Slick, Hugh McCracken*Editing: Joseph Watt*Producers: Jack Douglas, John Lennon, Yoko Ono"Cavern"...
series.
Career
Lee began producing in 1988, after founding his first label, the now defunct Republic Records. After creating a string of acid houseAcid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
tracks as part of the M-D-Emm production team, he became one of the first to incorporate disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
starting with "Together Forever", a cover of a track by disco band Exodus produced under the name Raven Maize, with assistance from Blaze
Blaze (band)
Blaze is a house-music group formed in 1984 in New Jersey, USA.-Career:It was formed by Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge, and Chris Herbert, when Herbert introduced Milan, a member of his church choir, to Hedge, his childhood friend...
. In 1990, he released the first track under the name Joey Negro, which catapulted Lee to underground stardom. Not being able to play an instrument, Lee also started working with keyboard players Andrew 'Doc' Livingstone
Bamboo (production act)
Bamboo was a short-lived British house production act formed by producer Andrew Livingstone, formerly of Hed Boys . It had a #2 hit in the UK Singles Chart with "Bamboogie" in 1998, which was based on a sample from the KC and the Sunshine Band song "Get Down Tonight". The act's other hit single,...
and Viv Hope-Scott. He also closed Republic Records and started a new label, Z Records, to promote his new artistic leanings.
Since then, Joey Negro has become one of the most sought-after producers and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ers, and has worked under a variety of alias
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
es, including Doug Willis, Z Factor, Sessomato and Mistura. In 1998, he created his first session band Sunburst Band with Michele Chiavarini, Julian Crampton, Thomas Dyani-Akuru and Tony Remy, as well as his regular vocalist Taka Boom
Taka Boom
Taka Boom is a female R&B and dance music singer and is the younger sister of Chaka Khan and Mark Stevens of Aurra. She sang background vocals for several Parliament albums in the 1970s...
, sister of Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, recording his first real album, Here Comes The Sunburst Band (Lee previously released two singles collections, Universe Of Love and Get Down Tonight).
He later achieved more mainstream success under the name Jakatta, in 2000, when he released the single American Dream, sampling two Thomas Newman
Thomas Newman
Thomas Montgomery Newman is an American composer and conductor, best known for his many film scores. He is one of the more respected and recognized composers for modern film and has scored over fifty feature films in a career which spans nearly three decades.Newman has received a total of ten...
pieces ("Dead Already" and "American Beauty/Paper Bag") from the soundtrack for the film American Beauty and reached #3 in the UK. He also had hits with "So Lonely" (UK #8) and "My Vision" (UK #6), also sampling Thomas Newman for the latter (by using this time "Brooks was Here," from The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman....
soundtrack). Unlike his previous disco-laced productions, Jakatta's works were closer to the Ibiza-influenced chill-out sounds
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
and Germany-based progressive house, so Lee moved this alias from Z Records to Rulin Records, a sublabel of the Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
. He also resurrected the Raven Maize alias, incorporating samples from rock 'n' roll and synth pop.
Negro continues to release house music under a variety of names, as well as running Z Records. For the first time, he also released a record under his real name Dave Lee called "You're Not Alone".
Albums
- 1993 Universe Of Love
- 1997 Get Down Tonight (with Andrew LivingstoneBamboo (production act)Bamboo was a short-lived British house production act formed by producer Andrew Livingstone, formerly of Hed Boys . It had a #2 hit in the UK Singles Chart with "Bamboogie" in 1998, which was based on a sample from the KC and the Sunshine Band song "Get Down Tonight". The act's other hit single,...
) - 1998 Here Comes The Sunburst Band (as The Sunburst Band)
- 2002 Visions (Jakatta album)Visions (Jakatta album)-Track listing:-Vocals:*American Dream [Intro] - Swati Natekar*My Vision - Seal*I Don't Know - Ty*American Dream - Swati Natekar*One Fine Day - Beth Hirsch*Ride The Storm - Linda Clifford*Home Away From You - Beth Hirsch...
- 2004 Until The End Of Time (as The Sunburst Band)
- 2008 Moving with the Shakers (as The Sunburst Band)
Singles
Joey Negro- 1990 "Do It, Believe It"
- 1991 "Above & Beyond EP" (with Andrew LivingstoneBamboo (production act)Bamboo was a short-lived British house production act formed by producer Andrew Livingstone, formerly of Hed Boys . It had a #2 hit in the UK Singles Chart with "Bamboogie" in 1998, which was based on a sample from the KC and the Sunshine Band song "Get Down Tonight". The act's other hit single,...
and Viv Hope-Scott) - 1991 "Do What You Feel" (with Andrew Livingstone, Viv Hope-Scott and Debbie French) - #36 UK
- 1991 "Reachin'" - #70 UK
- 1992 "Enter Your Fantasy EP" - #35 UK
- 1993 "What Happened To The Music" (with The Trammps and Andrew Livingstone) - #52 UK
- 1993 "What A Life/Universe Of Love" (with The TrammpsThe TrammpsThe Trammps were an American disco band, who were based in Philadelphia and were one of the first disco bands. The band's first major success was with their 1972 cover version of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart". The first disco track they released was "Love Epidemic" in 1973...
) - 1997 "Can't Get High Without U" (with Pete Z. and Taka BoomTaka BoomTaka Boom is a female R&B and dance music singer and is the younger sister of Chaka Khan and Mark Stevens of Aurra. She sang background vocals for several Parliament albums in the 1970s...
) - #1 US Dance - 1999 "Must Be The Music" (with Taka Boom) - #8 UK
- 2000 "Saturday" (with Taka Boom) - #41 UK
- 2005 "Make A Move On Me" (with Taka BoomTaka BoomTaka Boom is a female R&B and dance music singer and is the younger sister of Chaka Khan and Mark Stevens of Aurra. She sang background vocals for several Parliament albums in the 1970s...
) - #11 UK, #59 Australia, #40 Ireland, #1 US Dance - 2005 "Scattering Stars"
Jakatta
- 2000 "American DreamAmerican Dream (Jakatta song)"American Dream" is a 2000 song by Jakatta. The track samples two Thomas Newman pieces from the soundtrack for the film, American Beauty; "American Beauty" and "Dead Already". A re-release "American Dream " was released in 2001...
" - #3 UK, #63 Australia - 2001 "American DreamAmerican Dream (Jakatta song)"American Dream" is a 2000 song by Jakatta. The track samples two Thomas Newman pieces from the soundtrack for the film, American Beauty; "American Beauty" and "Dead Already". A re-release "American Dream " was released in 2001...
(Remix)" - #63 UK - 2001 "So Lonely" (with MonsoonMonsoon (band)Monsoon was an early to mid 1980s UK progressive rock trio that consisted of singer Sheila Chandra, record producer Steve Coe, and bass guitarist Martin Smith...
) - #8 UK, #51 Australia - 2002 "My Vision" (with Seal) - #6 UK
- 2002 "One Fine Day" (with Beth HirschBeth HirschBeth Hirsch is a singer-songwriter from Tampa, Florida, born in . Hirsch is best known for her collaboration with Air on their critically acclaimed album Moon Safari. Her first solo album, Early Days, was released in 1999, followed by Titles & Idols in 2001...
) - #39 UK - 2004 "Visions EP"
- 2005 "Shimmering Stars" (with Michele Chiavarini)
Raven Maize
- 1989 "Together Forever" (with Romana Brooks and BlazeBlaze (band)Blaze is a house-music group formed in 1984 in New Jersey, USA.-Career:It was formed by Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge, and Chris Herbert, when Herbert introduced Milan, a member of his church choir, to Hedge, his childhood friend...
) - #67 UK - 1996 "Together Forever '96"
- 2001 "The Real Life" - #12 UK
- 2002 "Fascinated" (with Michele Chiavarini and Katherine EllisKatherine EllisKatherine Ellis is an English dance music vocalist and songwriter. A mainstay of the genre past and present, she has been making records since 1990.-Background:...
) - #37 UK
The Sunburst Band
- The band includes Michele Chiavarini, Julian Crampton, Thomas Dyani-Akuru, Tony Remy, Michael J. ParlettMichael J. ParlettMichael J. Parlett is an English jazz saxophonist producer and radio host.-Career:Michael J. Parlett is a prominent British saxophonist and bandleader whose musical abilities were borne of the 1980 jazz music genre...
& Colin Graham- 1998 "Sunburn EP" (with Jessica Lauren)
- 1998 "Ease Your Mind"
- 1999 "Garden Of Love"
- 1999 "Radiant EP" (with Michele Chiavarini)
- 2004 "Far Beyond" (with Michele Chiavarini)
- 2004 "Fly Away" (with Pete Simpson)
- 2004 "Just Do It/Every Day" (with Luci Martin, Norma Jean WrightNorma Jean WrightNorma Jean Wright was the lead vocalist of the soul, R&B and disco group Chic, from 1977 to 1978. Before joining Chic in 1977, she sang in the female trio, the Topettes, and toured for a short time with The Spinners...
and Taka Boom) - 2004 "Thin Air EP" (with Taka Boom)
- 2005 "He Is/Fly Away (Remixes)"
- 2005 "U Make Me Hot"
- 2006 "For All Eternity/Twinkle"
- 2008 "Rough Times" (with Yolanda Wyns)
- 2008 "Fashion/Journey to the Sun" (with Pete Simpson and Katherine Ellis)
Doug Willis
- 1993 "Syndrum Syndrome EP"
- 1995 "Bodyshine"
- 1996 "Down To The Disco EP"
- 1997 "Doug-Ism EP"
- 1998 "Armed And Extremely Douglas" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taka Boom)
- 1998 "Doug Shit EP" (with Michele Chiavarini and Carolyn Harding)
- 2000 "Skate Dancer" (with Taka Boom)
- 2003 "Get Your Own"
- 2007 "Doug Dastardly" (with Michele Chiavarini and Pete Simpson)
- 2007 "Dougswana" (with Zeke Manikiya and Michele Chiavarini)
- 2008 "Doug's Disco Brain" double CD
Prospect Park
- 1997 "Movin' On" (with Carolyn Harding) - #55 UK
- 1999 "ESP" (with Bernard ThomasBernard ThomasThe Ven Elwyn Bernard Thomas B.Sc., BD is the current Archdeacon of St Asaph .He was born in 1945, educated at Swansea University and St. Michael's College, Llandaff and ordained in 1972. After curacies at Aberdare and Merthyr Dyfan he held incumbencies in Dowlais, Llangynwyd with Maesteg...
and Carolyn Harding) - 2001 "Surrender" (with Mr. Pink)
- 2002 "I Got This Feelin'" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taka Boom)
- 2003 "Spinnin'" (with Michele Chiavarini and Linda CliffordLinda CliffordLinda Clifford is an American R&B, disco and house music singer and actress, who scored hits from the 1970s to the 1980s, most notably "If My Friends Could See Me Now", "Bridge over Troubled Water", "Runaway Love" and "Red Light"....
) - 2005 "Get Down Tonight"
Mistura
- 1993 "Coast To Coast"
- 1998 "Tonight" (with Maxine McClain)
- 1999 "Think Positive" (with Michele Chiavarini, Viv Hope-Scott and Carolyn Harding)
- 1999 "Runnin'" (with Luke Smith, Viv Hope-Scott and Carolyn Harding)
- 2002 "Sweet Magic" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taana GardnerTaana GardnerTaana Gardner is an American disco and post-disco singer who found her success through West End Records from 1979 to the present day. She is also a former member of the Aural Exciters....
)
Sessomatto
- 1996 "I'm Back"
- 1996 "Can't Fight The Feeling" (with Taka BoomTaka BoomTaka Boom is a female R&B and dance music singer and is the younger sister of Chaka Khan and Mark Stevens of Aurra. She sang background vocals for several Parliament albums in the 1970s...
) - 2000 "Moody" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taka Boom)
- 2003 "I Need Somebody" (with Thelma HoustonThelma HoustonThelma Houston is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1976 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.-Early life & career:Houston is the daughter of a cotton picking mother...
) - 2006 "Movin' On" (with Michele Chiavarini and Carolyn Harding)
- 2007 "You're Gonna Love Me" (with Carolyn Harding)
Z Factor
- 1996 "Gotta Keep Pushin'"
- 1999 "Give It On Up"
- 1999 "Make A Move On Me"
- 2001 "Ride The Rhythm"
- 2002 "Rock Ur Body"
- 2007 "Bang"
- 2008 "We'll Keep Climbing/Somebody" (with Dawn Tallman and Manfred Orange)
Foreal People
- 1998 "Does It Feel Good 2U?" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taka Boom)
- 1999 "Discotizer" (with Michele Chiavarini, Taka Boom and Dave Clarke)
- 1999 "Shake" (with David GrantDavid Grant (singer)David Grant is an English pop singer and celebrity vocal coach.-Career:Grant became famous in the early 1980s as a member of UK soul/funk duo, Linx, whose biggest hit was Intuition in 1981. He began a solo career in 1983 with the Top 40 hit "Stop and Go"...
) - 2001 "Gotta Thing" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taana Gardner)
Akabu
- 2000 "Your Wildest Dreams" (with Michele Chiavarini and Viv Hope-Scott)
- 2001 "Ride The Storm" (Michele Chiavarini and Linda Clifford) - #69 UK
- 2003 "The Way"
- 2004 "Don't Hold Back" (with Michele Chiavarini and Steve BurtonSteve BurtonJack Stephen "Steve" Burton is an American actor who played Jason Morgan on General Hospital from 1991 to 2000 and subsequently since 2002...
) - 2005 "Phuture Bound" (with Michele Chiavarini)
- 2006 "I'm Not Afraid Of The Future" (with Michele Chiavarini, Pete Simpson and Yoland Wyns)
M-D-Emm productions
- 1988 "Get Acidic EP", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder)
- 1988 "Burn It Down", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder)
- 1988 "Don't Stop (We're So Hot)", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder)
- 1988 "Fanning The Flames", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder)
- 1988 "Get Busy (It's Party Time)", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder) - #100 UK
- 1988 "Playin' With Fire EP", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder) - #98 UK
- 1989 "Get Hip To This", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal, Mark Ryder and Nasih)
- 1989 "Do You Want Me", as Skeletor (with Mark Ryder)
- 1989 "Check It Out", as Masters Of The Universe (with Mark Ryder)
- 1989 "I Wanna Do It", as 2 The Max (with Mike Cheal)
- 1990 "Space Talk", as Masters Of The Universe (with Mark Ryder)
- NOTE: Dave Lee left M-D-Emm after 1990, the name was continued by Mark Ryder
Other aliases
- 1990 "Report To The Dancefloor", as Energise
- 1990 "Can't Give You Up", as Life On Earth (with Andrew Livingstone, Pat Leacock and Winston Marvaya)
- 1991 "Nighttime", as Hookline & Singer (with Andrew Livingstone, Pat Leacock and Judge JulesJudge JulesJudge Jules is a British dance music DJ and producer, known for his DJ activities and popular radio show which achieved global success.-Education:...
) - 1991 "One Kiss", as Pacha (with BlazeBlaze (band)Blaze is a house-music group formed in 1984 in New Jersey, USA.-Career:It was formed by Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge, and Chris Herbert, when Herbert introduced Milan, a member of his church choir, to Hedge, his childhood friend...
and Debbie French) - 1994 "Latin Connection EP", as Agora
- 1994 "Our Love", as The Away Team (with Andrew Livingstone and Gerideau)
- 1994 "Girls & Boys", as Hedboys (with Andrew Livingstone)
- 1995 "Mutual DIY EP", as Hedboys (with Andrew Livingstone)
- 1995 "Stargazer EP", as Jupiter Beyond
- 1995 "On My Mind", as The Away Team (with Andrew Livingstone)
- 1995 "Life On Mars EP", as Men From Mars (with Andrew Livingstone)
- 1995 "Sun Power EP", as Men From Mars (with Andrew Livingstone)
- 1999 "The Loving Game/Sweet Embrace", as Raw Essence (with Michele Chiavarini and Maxine McClain)
- 2000 "Do U Love What U Feel", as Raw Essence (with Maxine McClain)
- 2001 "Love & Affection", as Mr. Pink presents The Program (with Mr. Pink) - #22 UK
- 2002 "That’s How Good Your Love Is", as Il Padrinos (with Danny RamplingDanny RamplingDanny Rampling is a British House Music DJ and is widely credited as one of the original founders of the UK's rave/club scene. His long career began in the early 1980s playing hip-hop, soul and funk around numerous bars and clubs in London.-Ibiza:...
and Jocelyn BrownJocelyn BrownJocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer...
) - 2004 "Keep On", as Avalanche
- 2005 "You're Not Alone", as Dave Lee (with Michele Chiavarini and Ann SaundersonAnn SaundersonAnn Saunderson is a British dance/soul artist. Ann Nanton met Kevin Saunderson when she went to join her older sister Judy in London in 1987. . Soon afterward, she married him and moved to the US, appearing on several of his recordings as a vocalist...
) - 2007 "What's Happening", as AC Soul Symphony (with Michele Chiavarini and Pete Simpson)
- 2007 "Latronica", as Dave Lee
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States) - 1998Number-one dance hits of 1998 (USA)These are the Billboard magazine Hot Dance Club Play number one hits of 1998.-See also:*1998 in music*List of number-one dance hits *List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart...
, 2006Number-one dance hits of 2006 (USA)These are the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number one hits of 2006.-See also:*2006 in music*List of number-one dance hits *List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart... - List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
External links
- Joey Negro – official website.
- Joey Negro / Dave Lee discographies at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
. - Joey Negro profile at The EndThe End (club)The End was a nightclub in the West End of London, England. Started in December 1995 by DJs Layo Paskin and Mr C, The End was world-renowned. It was also responsible for the label End Recordings....
.