Question: How and when did you get started in the music scene?
Answer: I first started back in 1979 promoting house music parties with my group Vertigo.
Question: When did you first fall in love with house music?
Answer: Well lets just say in my world, that’s all you really knew, you have to remember most of the old school classics that we listen to today were just regular songs being played everyday on the radio and in your parents home when I was coming up and it just evolved. So to answer our question lets say all my life..lol
Question: When you aren’t busy djing and promoting; what do you like to do in your free time.
Answer: I also write and produce. I spend a lot of time in my studio. . and on another note, I own an interior design company and I build furniture for night clubs and salons…I really enjoy that.
Question: What is your most memorable moment in your career as a Dj/Promoter?
Answer: Believe it or not, the most memorable moment in my career even after traveling the world, happened right here in my own hometown. It was the day, I played for Frankie Knuckles 2008 fourth of July party at the Green Dolphin.. That was the year that Frankie got sick and I had to play the whole night…It was a very deep and rewarding experience.
Question: If you could go back into time, when you first started in the industry, what advice would you give yourself?
Answer: Stay focused and don’t let anyone distract you, until you reach your goals, no matter what they are and be true to yourself and know that you can’t please everyone all the time.
Question: You worked with the Legendary Frankie Knuckles for many years as a sound engineer, opening dj and with the production company, Power Plant. The Power Plant produced legendary house music recording artist, Jaime Principle. How did Power Plant discover Jaime Principle?
Answer: Back in that time local artists use to bring us music that they were working on to the Power Plant and one day Jamie just walked in and handed us a reel to reel of his music. It was a perfect fit to what Frankie and I was doing at the time and history was made.
Question: While with DJ International, you engineered, mixed and produced for many great djs, just to name a few, Fast Eddie, Tyree Cooper, Julian Perez, Bad Boy Bill, Hollywood Rodriguez, Joe Smooth, Sterling Vlod, Pans Brightledge and Mike Dunn. How was it working with these talented djs during the forefront of house music?
Answer: Just like you imagine it was..LOL.. We had a ball. All of us in one house working at the same time…come on now…!! house heaven
Question: You have worked with many great artists, such as, Loletta Holloway, Byron Stingley ,Darryl Pandy, Rochelle Fleming, and while at Slang Record Group, you worked on remixes for Pink, Kelly Price, R-Kelly, Backstreet Boys, Whitney Houston, and many more . Is there anyone you would like to work with, if you would be given the opportunity?
Answer: There is not really anyone that comes to mind right now..I just wish the majors would see how important house music is and give us..the house music producers and remixers more opportunity to work with them.
Questions: For many years, you were known as a Dj and promoter, in 2002 you started your own record label, Loftwerks Records Chicago. Your first release was “Dreamin” in February of 2002. Then in 2003, you had a second record release “You are all I need”. In 2004 you reinvented yourself and the Grand High Priest was born and with that renewal you released a number 1 worldwide single “Mary Mary”. How did that transition take place?
Answer: It was just time to do something different to evolve and nothing good ever stays the same, but to keep it good you just have to reinvent it for the time that you are in now…I hope the reader caught that…lol
Question: How has the House Scene in Chicago
Answer: In some ways it has gotten a little more complicated. What made house music what it was back in the day was its simplicity. But with the advent of such great new technology the sky is the limit these days, and I think that some producers may take it a little too far and it becomes too polished, this is just a music perspective. As for the scene, I really think that it has become too closed minded and too divided.. You have some house heads that only what to hear classics and some that only want to hear new music…Back in the day everything was new and househeads where open for new experiences and that’s what made house music great. I try to give a little of both when I play.
Question: Do you believe House music would still be as popular without promoters?
Answer: No not at all, you need the promoter and the djs to bring the message to the people. That’s like asking would a church be as strong without the pastor and the choir..lol
Question: How has the internet impacted the way you promote parties compared to when you first started in the industry?
Answer: In some ways it as made it easier, it allow you to reach more people and even people that you may not see out or on a regular basis. But on another note, it has taken away the personal aspect of inviting someone to an event and that can make all the difference sometimes in the world.
Question: You have been in the music industry for over thirty years, and this Saturday, December 11, 2010, there is going to be a House Event “Passing of the Torch” , where Legends will pass the torch to Legends. .You will pass the torch to Mike Dunn and Andre Hatchett will pass the torch to Dj Emanuel. What does the “Passing of Torch”, event symbolize for you?
Answer: It is just my way of honoring a few djs that I feel have paid their dues in the Chicago house music market. Mike Dunn and Dj Emanuel have made very good names for themselves with their music and their skills and even though some people already consider them legends its just my way of saying ..ok I see you..lol
And its just a way we can all come together and have some fun!!
Question: What do you see in the future of house music?
Answer: At this time I really couldn’t say…there is no money in house music sales, unless you got a big hit on your hands, these days. Its not like back in the vinyl days, where you could sale 300 to 500 copies of a song and do well. With the advent of digital downloads the price profit margin as dropped significantly . A lot of people just are in the business as a hobby and this is one of the reasons,the majors don’t take our genre of music seriously , there’s no big money in it for them. So to answer your question only time will tell.
Question: Have you any plans (personal or business) that you can share with us about your future plans or goals?
Answer: It’s a secret…lol
Question: Is there anything else, you would like to share with us?
Answer: Yes, I would like everyone to come out and support this event. It's going to be a great time and it is also a fundraiser for Senator Emil Jones III, who is a very strong house music advocate . We need strong friends in high places to help keep our scene alive.
http://www.myspace.com/loftwerkproductions
http://www.myspace.com/grandhighpriest
csldesign@facebook.com
csldesign@myspace.com
Thank you for the interview and much success in all your future endeavors.
Interviewed by: Mz House Diva
Peace, Love and House
Passing of Torch House Music Event
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Loft 74 The Empowerment Center
7445 South Chicago , Illinois
10:00 p.m. -3:30 a.m.
THIS WILL BE A HOUSE MUSIC EXPERIENCE!!!
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