Joey Negro is the pseudonym of British DJ and house music producer Dave Lee, born on the Isle of Wight.

Career

Lee began producing in 1988, after founding his first label, the now extinct Republic Records. After creating a string of acid house tracks as part of the M-D-Emm production team, Lee became one of the first to incorporate disco samples starting with "Together Forever", a cover of a track by disco band Exodus, produced under the name Raven Maize, with some assistance from Blaze. In 1990, he released the first track under the name Joey Negro, which catapulted Lee to underground stardom. Not being able to play any instruments, Lee also started working with keyboard players Andrew 'Doc' Livingstone and Viv Hope-Scott. He also closed Republic and started a new label, Z Records, to promote his new artistic leanings.

Since then, Joey Negro has become one of the most sought-after producers and remixers, and has worked under a variety of aliases, including Doug Willis, Z Factor, Sessomato and Mistura. In 1998, Joey Negro created his first session band, known as The Sunburst Band, with Michele Chiavarini, Julian Crampton, Thomas Dyani-Akuru and Tony Remy, as well as his regular vocalist Taka Boom, sister of Chaka Khan, recording his first real album, Here Comes The Sunburst Band (Lee had previously released two singles collections, Universe Of Love and Get Down Tonight).

He later achieved more mainstream success under the name Jakatta, in 2000, when he released the single American Dream, sampling two Thomas Newman pieces from the soundtrack for the film American Beauty and reached #3 in the UK. He also had hits with "So Lonely" (UK #8) and "My Vision" (UK #6), also sampling Thomas Newman for the latter (by using this time "Brooks was Here," from The Shawshank Redemption soundtrack). Unlike his previous disco-laced productions, Jakatta's works were closer to the Ibiza-influenced chill-out sounds and Germany-based progressive house, so Lee moved this alias from Z Records to Rulin Records, a sublabel of the Ministry of Sound. He also resurrected the Raven Maize alias, incorporating samples from rock 'n' roll and synth pop.

Currently, Joey Negro continues to release house music under a variety of names, as well as running Z Records. For the first time, he also released a record under his real name of Dave Lee, "You're Not Alone".

Discography

Albums

• 1993 Universe Of Love
• 1997 Get Down Tonight (with Andrew Livingstone)
• 1998 Here Comes The Sunburst Band (as The Sunburst Band)
• 2002 Visions (as Jakatta)
• 2004 Until The End Of Time (as The Sunburst Band)
• 2008 Moving with the Shakers (as The Sunburst Band)

Singles

Joey Negro

• 1990 "Do It, Believe It"
• 1991 "Above & Beyond EP" (with Andrew Livingstone and Viv Hope-Scott)
• 1991 "Do What You Feel" (with Andrew Livingstone, Viv Hope-Scott and Debbie French) - #36 UK
• 1991 "Reachin'" - #70 UK
• 1992 "Enter Your Fantasy EP" - #35 UK
• 1993 "What A Life/Universe Of Love" (with The Trammps)
• 1993 "What Happened To The Music" (with The Trammps and Andrew Livingstone) - #52 UK
• 1997 "Can't Get High Without U" (with Pete Z. and Taka Boom) - #1 US Dance
• 1999 "Must Be The Music" (with Taka Boom) - #8 UK
• 2000 "Saturday" (with Taka Boom) - #41 UK
• 2005 "Make A Move On Me" (with Taka Boom) - #11 UK, #59 Australia, #40 Ireland, #1 US Dance
• 2005 "Scattering Stars"

Jakatta

• 2000 "American Dream" (with Swati Natekar) - #3 UK, #63 Australia
• 2001 "American Dream (Remix) - #63 UK
• 2001 "So Lonely" (with Monsoon) - #8 UK, #51 Australia
• 2002 "My Vision" (with Seal) - #6 UK
• 2002 "One Fine Day" (with Beth Hirsch) - #39 UK (reached peak position in 2003)
• 2004 "Visions EP"
• 2005 "Shimmering Stars" (with Michele Chiavarini)

Raven Maize

• 1989 "Together Forever" (with Romana Brooks and Blaze) - #67 UK
• 1996 "Together Forever '96"
• 2001 "The Real Life" - #12 UK
• 2002 "Fascinated" (with Michele Chiavarini and Katherine Ellis) - #37 UK

The Sunburst Band

The band includes Michele Chiavarini, Julian Crampton, Thomas Dyani-Akuru, Tony Remy and The London Horns

• 1998 "Sunburn EP" (with Jessica Lauren)
• 1998 "Ease Your Mind"
• 1999 "Garden Of Love"
• 1999 "Radiant EP" (with Michele Chiavarini)
• 2004 "Far Beyond" (with Michele Chiavarini)
• 2004 "Fly Away" (with Pete Simpson)
• 2004 "Just Do It/Every Day" (with Luci Martin, Norma Jean Wright and Taka Boom)
• 2004 "Thin Air EP" (with Taka Boom)
• 2005 "He Is/Fly Away (Remixes)"
• 2005 "U Make Me Hot"
• 2006 "For All Eternity/Twinkle"
• 2008 "Rough Times" (with Yolanda Wyns)
• 2008 "Fashion/Journey to the Sun" (with Pete Simpson and Katherine Ellis)

Doug Willis

• 1993 "Syndrum Syndrome EP"
• 1995 "Bodyshine"
• 1996 "Down To The Disco EP"
• 1997 "Doug-Ism EP"
• 1998 "Armed And Extremely Douglas" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taka Boom)
• 1998 "Doug Shit EP" (with Michele Chiavarini and Carolyn Harding)
• 2000 "Skate Dancer" (with Taka Boom)
• 2003 "Get Your Own"
• 2007 "Doug Dastardly" (with Michele Chiavarini and Pete Simpson)
• 2007 "Dougswana" (with Zeke Manikiya and Michele Chiavarini)
• 2008 "Doug's Disco Brain" double CD

Prospect Park

• 1997 "Movin' On" (with Carolyn Harding) - #55 UK
• 1999 "ESP" (with Bernard Thomas and Carolyn Harding)
• 2001 "Surrender" (with Mr. Pink)
• 2002 "I Got This Feelin'" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taka Boom)
• 2003 "Spinnin'" (with Michele Chiavarini and Linda Clifford)
• 2005 "Get Down Tonight"

Mistura

• 1993 "Coast To Coast"
• 1998 "Tonight" (with Maxine McClain)
• 1999 "Think Positive" (with Michele Chiavarini, Viv Hope-Scott and Carolyn Harding)
• 1999 "Runnin'" (with Luke Smith, Viv Hope-Scott and Carolyn Harding)
• 2002 "Sweet Magic" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taana Gardner)

Sessomatto

• 1996 "I'm Back"
• 1996 "Can't Fight The Feeling" (with Taka Boom)
• 2000 "Moody" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taka Boom)
• 2003 "I Need Somebody" (with Thelma Houston)
• 2006 "Movin' On" (with Michele Chiavarini and Carolyn Harding)
• 2007 "You're Gonna Love Me" (with Carolyn Harding)

Z Factor

• 1996 "Gotta Keep Pushin'"
• 1999 "Give It On Up"
• 1999 "Make A Move On Me"
• 2001 "Ride The Rhythm"
• 2002 "Rock Ur Body"
• 2007 "Bang"
• 2008 "We'll Keep Climbing/Somebody" (with Dawn Tallman and Manfred Orange)

Foreal People

• 1998 "Does It Feel Good 2U?" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taka Boom)
• 1999 "Discotizer" (with Michele Chiavarini, Taka Boom and Dave Clarke)
• 1999 "Shake" (with David Grant)
• 2001 "Gotta Thing" (with Michele Chiavarini and Taana Gardner)

Akabu

• 2000 "Your Wildest Dreams" (with Michele Chiavarini and Viv Hope-Scott)
• 2001 "Ride The Storm" (Michele Chiavarini and Linda Clifford) - #69 UK
• 2003 "The Way"
• 2004 "Don't Hold Back" (with Michele Chiavarini and Steve Burton)
• 2005 "Phuture Bound" (with Michele Chiavarini)
• 2006 "I'm Not Afraid Of The Future" (with Michele Chiavarini, Pete Simpson and Yoland Wyns)

M-D-Emm productions

• 1988 "Get Acidic EP", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder)
• 1988 "Burn It Down", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder)
• 1988 "Don't Stop (We're So Hot)", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder)
• 1988 "Fanning The Flames", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder)
• 1988 "Get Busy (It's Party Time)", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder) - #100 UK
• 1988 "Playin' With Fire EP", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal and Mark Ryder) - #98 UK
• 1989 "Get Hip To This", as M-D-Emm (with Mike Cheal, Mark Ryder and Nasih)
• 1989 "Do You Want Me", as Skeletor (with Mark Ryder)
• 1989 "Check It Out", as Masters Of The Universe (with Mark Ryder)
• 1989 "I Wanna Do It", as 2 The Max (with Mike Cheal)
• 1990 "Space Talk", as Masters Of The Universe (with Mark Ryder)

NOTE: Dave Lee left M-D-Emm after 1990, the name was continued by Mark Ryder

Other aliases

• 1990 "Report To The Dancefloor", as Energise
• 1990 "Can't Give You Up", as Life On Earth (with Andrew Livingstone, Pat Leacock and Winston Marvaya)
• 1991 "Nightime", as Hookline & Singer (with Andrew Livingstone, Pat Leacock and Judge Jules)
• 1991 "One Kiss", as Pacha (with Blaze and Debbie French)
• 1994 "Latin Connection EP", as Agora
• 1994 "Our Love", as The Away Team (with Andrew Livingstone and Gerideau)
• 1994 "Girls & Boys", as Hedboys (with Andrew Livingstone)
• 1995 "Mutual DIY EP", as Hedboys (with Andrew Livingstone)
• 1995 "Stargazer EP", as Jupiter Beyond
• 1995 "On My Mind", as The Away Team (with Andrew Livingstone)
• 1995 "Life On Mars EP", as Men From Mars (with Andrew Livingstone)
• 1995 "Sun Power EP", as Men From Mars (with Andrew Livingstone)
• 1999 "The Loving Game/Sweet Embrace", as Raw Essence (with Michele Chiavarini and Maxine McClain)
• 2000 "Do U Love What U Feel", as Raw Essence (with Maxine McClain)
• 2001 "Love & Affection", as Mr. Pink presents The Program (with Mr. Pink) - #22 UK (reached peak position in 2002)
• 2002 "That?s How Good Your Love Is", as Il Padrinos (with Danny Rampling and Jocelyn Brown)
• 2004 "Keep On", as Avalanche
• 2005 "You're Not Alone", as Dave Lee (with Michele Chiavarini and Ann Saunderson)
• 2007 "What's Happening", as AC Soul Symphony (with Michele Chiavarini and Pete Simpson)
• 2007 "Latronica", as Dave Lee

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States) - 1998, 2006
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

External links

• Official Joey Negro website
• Joey Negro profile at The End

es:Joey Negro