The Whiz Kids
Encyclopedia
The Whiz Kids are a production, DJ, and editing team popular in the late 1980s American underground dance music scene. The team was made up of Wayne "Cutmaster Crash" Walters, and Kevin "Boy Wonder" Fluornoy. The two men began their careers in the early 1980s as local DJ's in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Boy Wonder started as the founder of an open air mobile DJ crew named the CS Express in the housing project he resided in. He often spent time on and around the active turntables in the Royal Sounds record store in the Lauderhill Mall, which morphed in the 4-Sight record label. Once the label was underway, Boy Wonder became the performing DJ for the owner's son, MC ADE
. Unhappy in this role, the position was soon filled by DJ Eddie B.
Cutmaster Crash is most famous for being the DJ to fellow 4-Sight Records artist Gigolo Tony, but he was also working with Boy Wonder on demos and production the entire time. Tony's second album, Ain't it Good to Ya, was actually produced by both Crash and Boy Wonder, although only Crash was credited.
Their sound as Miami Bass
producers during this period was marked by the introduction of the E-mu SP1200 drum sampler in 1987, which was not only a new sound for the label, but for all of rap music between 1987 and 1989. Since they debuted their "SP1200-tonal-bass-plus-looped-samples" sound in early 1988, they did not find immediate success as it proved too new for the audience. But as the sound was embraced the following year, their skills became a commodity. They produced songs for the 1989 follow up album for MC ADE
, but the financial negotiations became extremely difficult. The team left the company as a result, which resulted in their credit stripped from the album.
They continued on, making more of a mark by constructing radio shows that were remarkable works of art. In the late 1980s, very few late night mix-show DJ's mixed live on air, but rather, pre-recorded their mixes beforehand. The Whiz Kids took this opportunity to show the world their editing skills learned from fellow radio DJ/editor Phil Jones
, creating unique version of tracks all within a seamless mix of songs. This gained them attention from labels local and abroad to perform post-production edits on other artists' records.
One of the most famous post-production and editing jobs they did was the Electro Bass track Security by The Beat Club
in 1989, which was picked up by Atlantic Records
, and marketed internationally. The song became a hit in the famed Hacienda club in Manchester
, UK, right in the midst of the UK Acid House
/Madchester
craze. They also produced tracks for BVSMP's debut album, which was being recorded in 1988 to cash in on the group's hit, I Need You, on Suntown Records. However, negotiations between Suntown Records and the major label who would be releasing the album caused the project to be shelved.
This success earned them national attention from IRS Records/Island Records
. Crash and Boy Wonder formed a full fledged group with other performers, enetering a contract with IRS. The crew moved to New York to begin production on their debut album in the early 1990s. After a short stay, Crash decided to leave the deal behind and move home to Florida
, prematurely ending the group's career. Between this event and the BVSMP project's demise, Boy Wonder became soured on the industry, and decided to keep a low profile.
Crash currently lives in South Florida where he continues to DJ in clubs and produce music. Kevin (now known as "Life Walks") continues to live and DJ clubs in New York City, often guesting at a new party entitled The Beat Club
, named in honor of the track he's famous for.
Boy Wonder started as the founder of an open air mobile DJ crew named the CS Express in the housing project he resided in. He often spent time on and around the active turntables in the Royal Sounds record store in the Lauderhill Mall, which morphed in the 4-Sight record label. Once the label was underway, Boy Wonder became the performing DJ for the owner's son, MC ADE
MC ADE
M.C. A.D.E. is an American music producer and rapper who helped pioneer the hip hop sub-genre of Miami bass music. His 1985 single, "Bass Rock Express", a collaboration with Amos Larkins, is often considered to be the start of Miami bass. His single "Bass Mechanic" is also considered a seminal...
. Unhappy in this role, the position was soon filled by DJ Eddie B.
Cutmaster Crash is most famous for being the DJ to fellow 4-Sight Records artist Gigolo Tony, but he was also working with Boy Wonder on demos and production the entire time. Tony's second album, Ain't it Good to Ya, was actually produced by both Crash and Boy Wonder, although only Crash was credited.
Their sound as Miami Bass
Miami bass
Miami bass , is a type of hip hop music, that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Its roots are directly linked to the Electro-funk sound of the early 1980s, pioneered by Afrika Bambataa & The Soulsonic Force and later on by UK-based musician Paul Hardcastle...
producers during this period was marked by the introduction of the E-mu SP1200 drum sampler in 1987, which was not only a new sound for the label, but for all of rap music between 1987 and 1989. Since they debuted their "SP1200-tonal-bass-plus-looped-samples" sound in early 1988, they did not find immediate success as it proved too new for the audience. But as the sound was embraced the following year, their skills became a commodity. They produced songs for the 1989 follow up album for MC ADE
MC ADE
M.C. A.D.E. is an American music producer and rapper who helped pioneer the hip hop sub-genre of Miami bass music. His 1985 single, "Bass Rock Express", a collaboration with Amos Larkins, is often considered to be the start of Miami bass. His single "Bass Mechanic" is also considered a seminal...
, but the financial negotiations became extremely difficult. The team left the company as a result, which resulted in their credit stripped from the album.
They continued on, making more of a mark by constructing radio shows that were remarkable works of art. In the late 1980s, very few late night mix-show DJ's mixed live on air, but rather, pre-recorded their mixes beforehand. The Whiz Kids took this opportunity to show the world their editing skills learned from fellow radio DJ/editor Phil Jones
Phil Jones
Philip D. Jones is a climatologist at the University of East Anglia, where he works as a Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences. Jones holds a BA in Environmental Sciences from the University of Lancaster, and an MSc and PhD from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne...
, creating unique version of tracks all within a seamless mix of songs. This gained them attention from labels local and abroad to perform post-production edits on other artists' records.
One of the most famous post-production and editing jobs they did was the Electro Bass track Security by The Beat Club
The Beat Club
The Beat Club is a mostly techno music group that was founded in the late '80s by Ony Rodriguez and Mirey Valls in Miami, Florida.- History :...
in 1989, which was picked up by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, and marketed internationally. The song became a hit in the famed Hacienda club in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, UK, right in the midst of the UK Acid House
Acid 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...
/Madchester
Madchester
Madchester was a music scene that developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed alternative rock, psychedelic rock and dance music...
craze. They also produced tracks for BVSMP's debut album, which was being recorded in 1988 to cash in on the group's hit, I Need You, on Suntown Records. However, negotiations between Suntown Records and the major label who would be releasing the album caused the project to be shelved.
This success earned them national attention from IRS Records/Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. Crash and Boy Wonder formed a full fledged group with other performers, enetering a contract with IRS. The crew moved to New York to begin production on their debut album in the early 1990s. After a short stay, Crash decided to leave the deal behind and move home to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, prematurely ending the group's career. Between this event and the BVSMP project's demise, Boy Wonder became soured on the industry, and decided to keep a low profile.
Crash currently lives in South Florida where he continues to DJ in clubs and produce music. Kevin (now known as "Life Walks") continues to live and DJ clubs in New York City, often guesting at a new party entitled The Beat Club
The Beat Club
The Beat Club is a mostly techno music group that was founded in the late '80s by Ony Rodriguez and Mirey Valls in Miami, Florida.- History :...
, named in honor of the track he's famous for.