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"Little" Louie Vega

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Louie's choice track [to remix], however, was 'Salsa House', a Nu Groove release that combined a sample from Celia Cruz's 'Kimbarra' with a fragment from 'I Need You' by Sylvester. "It had this nice Latin house groove," says Vega, "and all of a sudden it went into these great R&B disco changes. I really liked the song, but I also wanted this one part to run longer." The prospect of doing a remix became a real possibility thanks to Terry. "I told Todd that I liked the track and he said, 'Hey, I know the guy who made it [Kenny Gonzalez. I'll introduce you to him.'"

At the same time the sound of the emerging New York underground was always within earshot thanks to two of Vega's older sisters, Myrna and Edna, who were regulars at David Mancuso's influential Loft parties, as well as derivatives such as the Gallery and the Paradise Garage. "They were heavy party girls," says Vega. "They loved the scene and they taught me about club music." Illicit recordings came to play an important role. "They'd come back with tapes. I started listening to all of these records and I was like, 'Wow, this music is great.'"

"Little" Louie Vega is an icon of the New York house music community and the sounds he and partner Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez have produced over the years have changed the way house music is made, produced, promoted and sold. With a solid army of believers running their Masters At Work label among other entrepreneurial endeavors, Vega and Gonzalez continue on their mission to explore music on their own terms.

Louie seemed destined for a career in music from birth as he comes from a family deep in musical tradition. His father, Louie Vega, Sr., is an accomplished Jazz and Latin sax player, and his uncle, Hector La Voe, was a famed Salsa singer. While still in his teens, Louie started spinning at the Devils Nest, Heartthrob and Studio 54. By the time he stated doing production work, he had worked in nearly every club in New York City and had reached near legendary status as a DJ in the dance music community.

  • Louie's all-time favourite records
    1. DINOSAUR L. "GO BANG"
      [Arthur Russell] Fond memories of my friends and I partying at The Garage, Loft and Funhouse. This is a record I can always play at any club and people still ask what it is. Big up to François for a classic mix.
    2. CANDIDO "THOUSAND FINGER MAN"
      Another record with unforgettable times at The Garage with Larry Levan jammin’ away. Timmy Regisford's parties at Studio 54 in the mid 80's, and Zanzibar with Tony Humphries, were my memories of this song. This record is still in my crates.
    3. BOOKER T. & THE M.G's 'MELTING POT'
      I remember my sister playing this at home in the early 70's. One of my all time favourites. This record is perfection to me.
    4. BARRABAS 'WOMAN'
      My older sisters were a big influence for me as a DJ. These records were always on my mind at 6 or 7 years old. My sisters would come home with tapes and I would hear this great music pumping from their bedrooms."Woman" is one of my favourite songs. It's the right song to dedicate to your woman. I did.
    5. GERALDINE HUNT "CAN'T FAKE THE FEELING"
      This is a pure R& B Dance. I used to roller skate from 1979-82, heavily. This was a record that made me rock the floor at Laces, Long Island, with DJ Danny Krivit, DJ Big Bob at the Roxy and DJ Mad Wayne at Skate Key. I love her voice, it's one of a kind.

    Various Artists Mad Styles & Crazy Visions Mixed Live by Little Louie Vega (BBE)

    Barely Breaking Even (BBE) release an album to highlight the fact that hi-energy disco music that has graced the club dance-floors since the mid-seventies is still alive and kicking.

    No dark and moodiness lives here. This is music influenced by pioneering producers Arthur Baker, Larry Levan and Patrick Adams. Not only is this album brilliantly mixed by one of the hottest contemporary DJ talents, but it offers the listener a sprinkle of African, Latin, jazz, funk and electro-pop rhythms that together have given direction to and influenced today's disco music.

    Tracks include Mateo & Matos "New York Style", Roy Davis Jnr "Watch Them Come", NYC Live & Direct "Move Like This" and Lil Louis own "Clap Your Hands".

    For more information contact:
    Benjolly@aol.com
    www.bbemusic.demon.co.uk
    http://www.freebase.com/reviews/a66.html

    SHOPPING:
  • Mad Styles & Crazy Visions [DOUBLE CD] [Amazon US]

    jahsonic@yahoo.com