And Yes…. They broke the mold when they made Dave!

Dave Tripper was a former host at Fusion Radio.  He hosted a Friday Night Show entitled “Dave Tripper Live.”  Dave suffered a stroke two weeks ago and was recovering.   However, he recently suffered a second one.

Now, many may be asking why  I am mentioning a DJ who is not on one of the Sobel Nation Radio Stations, and let me tell you why.

Dave Tripper is a friend and a good person.  In this industry, especially the dance industry there is so much drama and cliques it is unreal.  That is why the dance music industry is failing…. because people can’t work together.   Rivalry is more important than the music.   I can say that promoters, artists and DJ’s have said more than once that if people associate with Sobel Nation, then they can’t associate with them.   How  childish.  It reminds me like it was back in the 80′s when one could not like Culture Club and Duran Duran.  But that is the reality of the business.  Nobody has concern about people outside of their cliques, and it isn’t about the music.

Well I am here to say, Dave Tripper, I consider you a friend.   I want you to get better so I can torture you more.  It doesn’t matter who you associate with or what station you are on.   You are one of the good guys…. now get out of that bed and back to work!

For those in the business who know Dave Tripper and want to send him get well wishes, please mail it to Fusion Radio and they will ensure Dave gets it.

Thanks everybody and thanks Fusion Radio for remaining true to your staff, whether they continue to work there or not.  A perfect example of what the business should be.

 Please mail any cards or gifts for Dave to Fusion Radio at:

Fusion Radio
3340 North Clark Street Ste. 215
Chicago, IL, 60657

Sobel Promotions is proud to present the legendary KC & The Sunshine Band!

Sobel Promotions is thrilled to have Robbie Leslie become part of Sobel Nation!

Widely recognized as one of the top disc jockeys in the nation, Robbie Leslie has been performing on the international circuit for over 30 years.

Leslie started his career on Fire Island at the legendary Sandpiper (now the Pavilion) in the Pines. From there he moved on to New York City, where the list of clubs at which he regularly performed reads like a “Who’s Who’ of Big Apple nightspots: The Saint (and subsequently the Saint-At-Large), Studio 54, Underground, Private Eyes, Palladium, the Red Parrot, 12 West and the Ice Palace. He also made numerous guest appearances at Trocadero Transfer and Dreamland in San Francisco; Axis, Probe and Studio 1 in Los Angeles; Numbers and Heaven in Houston; Club St. John in San José; the Pavilion, Botel, Ice Palace, and Island Club on Fire Island; Roxy and Octagon in New York; Heaven in London, and clubs in Moscow, Sydney, Copenhagen, Toronto, and San Juan. For ten years he has been the Resident DJ for RSVP Vacations.

Leslie is perhaps most renowned for spinning his magic at special Circuit Parties – Extravagant theme parties and benefits created for one night in anything from abandoned warehouses to famous museums. Events of note include the Saint-at-Large White parties, the White Party at Vizcaya in Miami, The Red Party in Columbus, A.P.L.A. Garden Parties in Griffith Park and at Universal Studios Backlot, Spring to Life at the Post Office Pavilion in Washington D.C., All That Glitters in San Diego, the Hotlanta River Expo in Atlanta, Pride at The Pier in Ft. Lauderdale, Fantasy Fest in Key West, Pride Pier Dance in New York, Winter Party in Miami, Saturday Night Fever in New Orleans, Remember the Party in San Francisco, “Souvenirs” in New York, and a wide variety of major events in venues such as the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles and the Civic Center and Galleria in San Francisco. He has also appeared at events in Long Beach, Maui, Boston, Houston, Aspen, Tampa, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Portland, Rehoboth Beach, Hartford and Charleston. In 1988 he had the honor of playing the final set at The Saint’s forty hour closing party.

As the disc jockey for New York City’s Pier Dance 2004, Leslie played to a record breaking crowd of over 12,000! He topped that number in 1997 while playing the post-parade celebration at San Francisco’s Embarkadero– 20.000! Recently he was honored by the industry and his peers with the National Hi-Energy D.J. of the Year award, sponsored by Dance Music report. He received the Dixie Award for D.J. of the Year in 1993. In October 1999 Leslie was presented with the third annual DJ Music Award for his lifetime contribution to the world of dance music.

Robbie’s music is broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio’s “STUDIO 37″ Mixshows.

He is a nine-year veteran of the original Copa Ft. Lauderdale and was the Friday DJ at Twist, South Beach for three years. Featured in the book Looking For The Perfect Beat — the art and culture of the DJ, by Kurt B. Reighley (ISBN 0-671-03869-9), and Love Saves the Day: A History of Dance Music Culture, 1970-1979, by Tim Lawrence (ISBN 0-8223-3198-5), and “Turn the Beat Around” by Peter Shapiro (ISBN 0-571-21194-1).

Robbie Leslie currently spins his magic at various South Florida clubs and national circuit events on a regular basis.

Sobel Promotions Is Proud To Present In Association with Promo Rush Kurt Maloo (Double)

Kurt Maloo better known as “Double” is back!

In the 1980s, as one half of the brilliant pop duo Double, he coauthored and sang the most enduring hit Switzerland has ever produced: “The Captain of Her Heart.”

In the mid 1970s, in Zurich, Kurt Maloo stood out not just as a singer and guitar player but as a painter and member of the Performance Art Group MAEZ, the predecessor of the nine piece art-punk cult band Troppo, Maloo’s first playground for his songwriting. In the late 1970s, he met drummer Felix Haug at a jam session. The chemistry was right: Maloo and Haug teamed up with bass player Hazel Pazzi to form a trio, Ping Pong.

Soon the group had outgrown the Zurich scene. They were feted at the Montreux Jazz Festival as the next Big Thing. Then the big thing turned into Double – as Haug and Maloo named their new project after Pazzi’s departure. Their debut album, Blue, became a bestseller first in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, then France, Italy, Spain, and Scandinavia, caught on in England, then the USA, Canada, and South America, finally reaching Asia and Oceania. Their hit single “The Captain of Her Heart” sold millions, and Double went on to sell a million copies of the album. To the industry’s bemusement, their second work was titled Dou3le- pronounced “double three.” Double never did the expected thing, and, after releasing Dou3le, Kurt and Felix were already going their separate ways. Sporadic later sessions never led to another joint album.

“The Captain Of Her Heart” remains a firm favourite and is still part of Maloo’s live repertoire. Internationally the most successful Swiss song of all time, it has long been a radio standard from Canada to Kathmandu, and regularly makes it into the jazz and pop download charts throughout the world. The song captures the moment when a woman realizes she can no longer wait for the man who has won her heart, but must move on to a new life, “as the day comes up.” This melancholic optimism is central to both Maloo’s poetry and his music.

Had Double adopted the cool exterior of the 1980s, the “Captain” might not have lasted for as long as it has. But there is a human understanding in the story it tells, which goes straight to the heart and has touched so many. Certainly there are the gentle, velvet echoes of the 1980s pop jazz in Summer Of Better Times, yet Kurt Maloo’s new songs are never cooled to the point of chill. The fire blazes on, warm and comforting. And his reflection, which keeps these new songs true to life, is always there, cheerful and gracious.

Chris Cox – record producer, remixer, DJ, mix engineer, and multi-instrumentalist – is one of the most talented and successful dance music artists in the United States. With a regular rotation of sold-out international DJ performances and studio productions that yield nothing but chart-topping hits, Chris Cox is a symbol of the superstar power in dance music today.

There are few who have done more for dance music and the DJ industry than Chris Cox. With a discography of more than 400 productions, remixes, mix compilations, and a string of 43 #1 Billboard Dance Club Hits, this Nevada native has left a permanent mark. Certainly more than any other producer, Chris Cox is defined by his stand-out remixes that have made him a global phenomenon.

Chris comments, “Until recently, most of my time in the studio has been spent on reinterpreting the work of other artists. Now, I am spend more time interpreting my own music via songwriting and original production. While I still love synth programming, making beats, and mixing, I dedicate much more time to playing guitars and using the studio as a vehicle to explore my own musical vision and twisted sense of humor.”

Rising to prominence in the late 90’s as one-half of the remix/production duo Thunderpuss, Chris Cox has mixed tribal-tipped rhythms into the potent vocals of artists like Madonna, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Enrique Iglesias, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Shakira, Janet Jackson, and the Pet Shop Boys.

In 2004 Cox received a Best Dance Recording GRAMMY Nomination for his co-production of the Cher song “Love One Another.” He was also a two-time IDMA Award winner in 2000 and 2002 for “Remixer of the Year,” and the recipient of the IDMA Award for “Best Underground 12” Dance Record For The Year 2001”.

As a solo-artist Cox continues to create mind-blowing mixes for such chart-topping artists like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Rhianna, Fall Out Boy, Kelly Osbourne, Celine Dion, and vocal legend Shirley Bassey. In 2008 Cox produced and remixed the #1 Billboard Electronic Album “Hannah Montana 2 Non-Stop Dance Party” for Disney sensation Hannah Montana.

Out of the studio Chris Cox is a world-class DJ who has logged over 2 ½ million miles headlining parties, festivals and residencies performing his signature celebratory, bigger-than-life sets in nightlife capitals such as Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Prague, London, Las Vegas, New York City, Mexico City, Montreal, Chicago, and Atlanta.

As a musical entertainer in the role of the DJ, Cox adapts a unique and personal musical journey for every venue, crowd, and night. The drums are incredibly important and incredibly varied. From primal tribal-rhythms to rattling militant-stompers, these beats provide the backbone of his boundary-breaking and chance-taking mixes. His musical vision is translated to the dance floor via a format of spectacular live programming, Chris Cox productions, and subliminally sexy arrangements that surpass expectations and surprise even the most seasoned dance music lover. Clubs that made an impact on his sound include Nation in D.C., Universe in San Francisco, and Crobar in Miami. As Chris recalls, “Those particular clubs had the entire show, the entire vibe, and everything was just perfect.”

Chris’ dedication to delivering an unforgettable night is indisputable. He knows when and how to play the funk out of a record, how to summon the soul from a crowd, and how to provide the attitude and magic they desire, crave, and deserve!

Sobel Nation is thrilled that the incomparable France Joli has join the Sobel Nation Family!

On July 17, 1979, an unknown, 16-year-old French Canadian female vocalist named France Joli performed her new single Come to Me for the first time before a throng of 5,000 on Fire Island at a benefit now infamously known as Beach 79. Joli left the stage a star and became a media darling who appeared in all the popular publications and on all the hot TV shows of the day. Come to Me became a smash hit that sold 3 million copies globally, rose to number one on disco charts around the world, and reached number 15 on Billboard magazine’s pop chart. Befitting this fairytale, Joli portrayed Cinderella in the 1980 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. More than 32 years following that incredible debut, Joli still performs Come to Me and subsequent hits such as Gonna Get Over You, The Heart to Break the Heart, and Feel Like Dancing on the dance music circuit. Predominantly booked in New York City and Miami, she draws a crowd at every performance. Even those of a younger generation—who may not know her by name—realize they’re fans of Come to Me once they hear Joli’s first few bars. Her new single, a dance cover of Leonard Cohen’s iconic ballad Hallelujah, which Joli produced is available on iTunes, CDBaby, Amazon, etc. The song’s music video—which was shot in the High Desert of Southern California near Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park—is coming soon. Remixes have been done courtesy of Julian Marsh. More are to come.

Xavier Toscano’s latest release, X, can be described as a sizzling hot slice of dancefloor groove pie. potentially chart topping artist, Xavier has created music that makes him is a shoe-in for any dance club DJ’s rotation. With a number of live shows lined up forsummer 2012, including a June performance in our nation’s capital of Washington DC,this San Jose based artist is establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with amongst some of today’s top DIY Pop musicians.

My favorite track by Xavier is “To The Sky” (check out the music video above). This song is a Top 40 radio smash waiting to happen. Reminiscent of the craze created when J-Lo released, “Waiting For Tonight”, and easily fits into the same rotations as artists like Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull. The vocals, music and overall production is right on the money and I can see this song taking the Dance charts by storm. As with any potential hit, all this song needs is the right media and club DJ support and everyone in the world will be all over this track. This could sell 50,000 downloads independently if done right.

In the dance music genre the beat, melodies and effects used in the final mix are huge to a song’s success, and some of the tracks on Xavier’s project that really stood out in these key areas were “Mighty Real”, “Do It All Tonight” and “Can’t Believe”. Overall, X is a competitive dance/pop album that could see Xavier reach his ultimate goal for 2012.

MUSICAL GOAL: “I would like to have a Top 40 hit on the Billboard charts by the summer of 2012.” – XAVIER TOSCANO

Review by: Senseitional
“X”
Artist: Xavier Toscano
3.5
RATING

http://www.iaemagazine.com/music/2012/042012/xavier-toscano.html#.T4WpE66afGE.twitter

Matt Alber is a two-time Grammy® Award-winning vocalist and professional singer/songwriter based in Seattle, Washington. He is currently touring his latest solo album, Constant Crows, following a debut at No. 2 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Chart.

Alber’s touring career was jumpstarted in 2009 with the release of his first album, Hide Nothing (Tommy Boy Records) and it’s soaringly romantic music video for the single, End Of The World. The video went viral on the internet and won an OUT Music Award and 500K views. Following the groundswell around Alber’s single, OUT Magazine featured him in their OUT 100 which which sparked sold-out concerts nationwide.

Alber teamed up with remixer/producer, Saul Ruiz for the first remix of the single which quickly became an underground hit. Ruiz and Alber’s latest release, a sexy remake of Stevie Nick’s Dreams, topped the Music One chart for 7 straight weeks and caught the attention of Matt Consola at Swishcraft. Consola greenlit a remix EP for the song which features tracks by Saul Ruiz, SpekrFreks, Paul Goodyear and Consola’s own remix. Dreams – The Remixes is due out Spring 2012 on Swishcraft.