Tom Moulton
Encyclopedia
Tom Moulton is an American
record producer
, and originator of the remix
, the breakdown section
, and the 12-inch single
vinyl
format.
, United States
.
Moulton worked as a model
at the Bookings and Ford
agencies, before beginning his production career. Before that, he had worked in the music industry, holding a sales and promotion job at King Records
(from 1959 to 1961), and similar positions at RCA
and United Artists
. He eventually left due to his disgust at the industry's dishonesty. His music career re-started in the late 1960s, with a self-made tape of overlapping songs created for the Fire Island bar and restaurant, The Sandpiper.
He was responsible for the first continuous-mix album side, on Gloria Gaynor
's disco album, Never Can Say Goodbye
, earning him the title the "father of the disco mix". Among some of his other success in mixing songs are The Three Degrees
' "Dirty Ol' Man", MFSB
featuring The Three Degrees "Love Is The Message", B.T. Express
' "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)
", The Trammps
' "Disco Inferno
", The People's Choice
's "Do It Any Way You Wanna
", Andrea True
's "More, More, More
", plus First Choice
's "Doctor Love" and Claudja Barry
's album, The Girl Most Likely.
Between 1977 and 1979, he produced Grace Jones
' first three albums, including one of the singer's biggest hits, her rendition of Édith Piaf
's "La Vie en rose
".
Moulton's innovative work was honored at the 2004 Dance Music Hall of Fame
ceremony in New York City, when he was inducted for his achievements as a remixer. He is the official archivist of the Bethlehem Jazz and Salsoul
music catalogues, and has overseen all of the digital remastering. In late 2006, Moulton remixed the Brand New Heavies
(featuring N'Dea Davenport
) single "I Don't Know (Why I Love You)".
A Tom Moulton Mix was used as the title of a compilation
of Moulton's remixes on Soul Jazz Records
.
More recently, Moulton was a regular guest on Disco935, an internet radio station which features disco music. He remains working, remixing classics as well as new songs, and has two releases forthcoming in 2012.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and originator of the 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 ....
, the breakdown section
Break (music)
In popular music, a break is an instrumental or percussion section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece....
, and the 12-inch single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
format.
Life and career
Thomas Jerome Moulton was born in Schenectady, New YorkSchenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Moulton worked as a model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
at the Bookings and Ford
Ford Models
The Ford Modeling Agency, or as it is known today Ford Models, is a modeling agency in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen and the late Gerard W. Ford.-Company:...
agencies, before beginning his production career. Before that, he had worked in the music industry, holding a sales and promotion job at King Records
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
(from 1959 to 1961), and similar positions at RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and United Artists
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
. He eventually left due to his disgust at the industry's dishonesty. His music career re-started in the late 1960s, with a self-made tape of overlapping songs created for the Fire Island bar and restaurant, The Sandpiper.
He was responsible for the first continuous-mix album side, on Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
's disco album, Never Can Say Goodbye
Never Can Say Goodbye (Gloria Gaynor album)
Never Can Say Goodbye is a 1975 album by Gloria Gaynor, released on MGM Records in January 1975. It is most notable for including several early Disco recordings...
, earning him the title the "father of the disco mix". Among some of his other success in mixing songs are The Three Degrees
The Three Degrees
The Three Degrees are an American female vocal group. Formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,, the group has always been a trio though there have been a number of personnel changes and a total of fourteen women have represented the group so far. The original members were Fayette Pinkney,...
' "Dirty Ol' Man", MFSB
MFSB
MFSB was a pool of more than thirty studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up such groups as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, the Stylistics, the...
featuring The Three Degrees "Love Is The Message", B.T. Express
B.T. Express
B.T. Express was an American funk/disco group, that had a number of successful songs during the 1970s.-Career:...
' "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)
Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)
"Do It " is the name of a popular song by funk group B.T. Express, written by group member Billy Nichols. Released from the debut album of the same title, the song became a great "crossover" success. The single was rated #1 of the R&B singles chart for a week during the autumn of 1974 and was...
", The Trammps
The Trammps
The 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...
' "Disco Inferno
Disco Inferno
Disco Inferno is a song by The Trammps.Disco Inferno can also refer to:* Disco Inferno , a 1976 disco album recorded by The Trammps featuring the song* Disco Inferno , a band formed in the late 1980s...
", The People's Choice
The People's Choice (band)
The People's Choice was an American funk band formed in 1971 in Philadelphia by Frank Brunson. While they had several vocalists, their biggest hits were instrumentals.-Career:...
's "Do It Any Way You Wanna
Do It Any Way You Wanna
Do It Any Way You Wanna is a 1975 crossover hit by the Philadelphia based R&B/dance group, People's Choice. The single made it to number one on the soul singles chart for one week and crossed over to the pop singles chart, peaking at eleven. "Do It Any Way You Wanna" was also successful on the...
", Andrea True
Andrea True
Andrea True was an American adult film star and singer from the disco era. In addition to her given name, she had multiple stage names, including Inger Kissin, Singe Low, Sandra Lips, Andrea Travis, and Catherine Warren, .She is best known for the disco tune "More, More, More", released in 1976,...
's "More, More, More
More, More, More
"More, More, More" is a song written by Gregg Diamond and recorded by American disco artist Andrea True, who performed under the name "The Andrea True Connection"...
", plus First Choice
First Choice (band)
First Choice was an American girl group vocal music trio from Philadelphia. The group produced the disco hits "Armed and Extremely Dangerous", "Smarty Pants", "The Player", "Love Thang", "Let No Man Put Asunder" and "Dr. Love". They were signed to soul label Philly Groove Records and to disco label...
's "Doctor Love" and Claudja Barry
Claudja Barry
Claudja Barry, is a singer and actress who has performed in the European versions of the stage musicals Hair and Catch My Soul.-Early music career:...
's album, The Girl Most Likely.
Between 1977 and 1979, he produced Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, model and actress.Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits. In the late 1970s, she adapted the emerging electronic music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and...
' first three albums, including one of the singer's biggest hits, her rendition of Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
's "La Vie en rose
La vie en rose
"La Vie en Rose" was the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf.-Signature song of Édith Piaf:Édith Piaf first popularized La Vie en Rose in 1946. The lyrics were written by Piaf and the melody of the song by "Louiguy" . Initially, Piaf's peers and her songwriting team did not think the song...
".
Moulton's innovative work was honored at the 2004 Dance Music Hall of Fame
Dance Music Hall of Fame
The Dance Music Hall of Fame was created in 2003 when music industry veteran John Parker thought that something needed to be done to honor the creators and innovators of dance music...
ceremony in New York City, when he was inducted for his achievements as a remixer. He is the official archivist of the Bethlehem Jazz and Salsoul
Salsoul Records
This article is about the record label. For SalSoul the Puerto Rican Salsa radio station see Cadena Salsoul.Salsoul Records was a New York City based record label founded by brothers Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre . Salsoul released about 300 disco 12-inch singles, and a string of...
music catalogues, and has overseen all of the digital remastering. In late 2006, Moulton remixed the Brand New Heavies
Brand New Heavies
The Brand New Heavies are an acid jazz and funk group formed in 1985 in Ealing, a suburb of London, England.-Biography:The Brand New Heavies began in the 1980s as an instrumental acid jazz group called Brother International....
(featuring N'Dea Davenport
N'Dea Davenport
N'Dea Davenport is an American recording artist, dancer, performer and producer, best known for her work as a vocalist in the UK funk band, The Brand New Heavies, and her pioneering contributions to the genre of acid jazz.-Biography:...
) single "I Don't Know (Why I Love You)".
A Tom Moulton Mix was used as the title of a compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of Moulton's remixes on Soul Jazz Records
Soul Jazz Records
Soul Jazz Records is a British-based record label. The label started in the 1990s, releasing compilation albums of predominantly black music, including reggae, soul, ska, Dub and jazz...
.
More recently, Moulton was a regular guest on Disco935, an internet radio station which features disco music. He remains working, remixing classics as well as new songs, and has two releases forthcoming in 2012.