THE EURODANCE ENCYCLOPAEDIA
 
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In loving memory of...

 

This is a tribute to the artists and producers who contributed to write eurodance's most glorious pages and left us too soon... Though they may no longer be with us, their spirit and their songs lives on in our hearts and memories.

 

Hithouse † September 1991 Hithouse was a project created by Dutch DJ Peter Slaghuis, born in 1961 in Rijswijk (Hithouse is the direct English translation of Slaghuis). In the early 80's he began to work as sound technician and as DJ. In the mid-80's he was involved in the 80s dance pop act Video Kids that had a few hits in the Netherlands. When Housemusic came up he was with Eddy de Clerq and Joost van Bellen the first Dutch house DJ's. In 1988 he made the sample track Jack To The Sound. This anthem got a big hit. It was the first dutch-made househit. One of the sounds of the summer of love 88' (1988 was the year that house conquered the dancefloors of England, The Netherlands, Germany and Ibiza). After that he got some other hits. In 1990 Peter worked together with DJ Paul Elstak (later Paul Elstak had big hits with his happy hardcore). Peter was getting an important man in Dutch house music.
Torsten Fenslau † November 1993 German producer Torsten Fenslau was born April 23rd 1964 in Kleinheubach. He is considered as one of the most important pioneers in the early Sound of Frankfurt.. He worked as a DJ in the Dorian Gray, a big discotheque in Frankfurt. He also worked at Hessen State radio, presenting the Club Night and Maxi-Mix show.
Favilli † January 1998 Italian DJ and producer Carlo Favilli was born in Rome, February 13th,1959. He also owned 2 record shops in Rome : Best Record # 5 and Mix Up. He wroked as a DJ in clubs Baia Imperiale in Gabicce (Pesaro and Urbino) and at Seven Up in Formia (Latina), which used to be the largest discotheque in Europe during the 80s. He often collaborated with producer Stefano Zito.
Denniz PoP † August 1998 Denniz PoP was born Dag Volle in April 26th, 1963 to the Norwegian immigrants Jarl Gregar Volle and Anna Innstøy. He was a DJ, remixer, producer and songwriter. He took the name "Denniz" from a comic book and then added "pop" to it.
Gino Caria † 1999 Italo-disco producer and vocalist Gino Caria used to work for TIME records, ABeatC Records, LED Records and Asia Records. He also contributed to some eurodance projects. Father of Giacomo Caria, he died in 1999 of lung cancer.
Scatman John † December 1999 John Larkin was born on March 13th 1942 in El Monte, California. He was for years content making a living as a singer-pianist in the grand hotels of Europe. End of 1994, everything changed : his unique style of 'scat-rap' took the world by storm. Combining traditional scat singing with a driving dance beat blending dance-pop, hip-hop and jazz influences (he used to work with stars of jazz such as Al Jarreau, Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker), Scatman John reached the top of the European and Japanese charts with the singles Scatman (Ski-ba-bop-ba-dop-bop) and Scatman's World.
Prince Ital Joe † May 2001 Joe Paquette alias Prince Ital Joe was born in the Commonwealth of Dominica on the 5th of May in 1963. From 1988 to 1990 he worked as a concert promotor in the Carribean for acts like Ziggy Marley. He has also worked for over ten years performing at private Hollywood parties and clubs.
Melanie Thornton † November 2001 Melanie Janene Thornton was born in May 13th 1967 in Charleston, South Carolina. She studied voice from the age of six, played the piano and the clarinet and learned how to act and to dance. She had long dreamed of a career in music. Her parents had a friend of a friend who was a singer in Charleston. Even though she didn't get to go out and see her, she saw pictures and heard them talk about her work and heard her talk about going out on the road.When she was growing up her mother would listen to Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack and The Temptations, a lot of the Motown music artists. She would mimic the female vocalists she saw on TV or heard on radio. Later, Melanie financed her College studies with appearances in talent shows and smaller band concerts. She frequented a club called The Peacock Lounge, getting up and doing jam sessions when the live band invited people up to sing.
Goddess † 2002 Label: B&B Records. Goddess is a project of Ferdi and Rob Bolland featuring Elvira Valentine, Dutch vocalist born on January 28th, 1962. Elvira started her career as a backing vocalist for artists such as Falco and Joe Cocker. During the 80s, she was part of the duo Say When! (with Ingrid Simons).
Henk Van DeWiel † March 2002 Henk van de Wiel started his carreer as a model. He became a member of Egma project, as songwriter, singer and performer on stage. He was then replaced by Michael Robby.
Cool James † August 2012 Cool James real name was James Dandu Maligisa. He was also known under the other scene names Mtoto wa Dandu and CJ Massive. He was born in July 5th 1970 in Mwanza, Tanzania. He did his primary studies in Dar es Salaam Olympio, then his parents moved to Sweden. "I couldn't study mathematics there, which I really wanted to do, because I didn't speak Swedish and they would only teach it in Swedish, but I opted to go for music and ended up enjoying it."
Melanie Turner † 2005 Melanie Turner contributed to the US eurodance projects T.I.O. and Groovetek. She then released a solo album entitled Beautiful Dreamer in 2002
Franky Gee † October 2015 Captain Jack rapper Franky Gee (his real name is Francisco Alejandro Gutierrez Delemonda) was born in Havana, Cuba in 19th February 1962. He was 1,74 m tall and weighted 80 kg. He and their parents immigrated to US and settled in Miami, Florida. His father Alejandro was a builder. His mother was named Ofelia. He had 3 sisters and brothers named Roberto, Mary and Carry. He wanted to become a pilot and even had studied aeronautics in College in Miami. Because of the strike, the college students were forced to serve three years, and Franky did not like the idea so he dropped the school. His parents were not rich and he had to find a job. The easiest way was to join the army, so he did.
Mark Spoon † January 2016 Born 1966, the DJ and producer Mark Spoon (Markus Löffel) is a DJ who started his professional career as a cook before he moved on to musical delicacies. In the late 80's he has performed with both Turbo B (ex Snap) and Moses P (now leader of the German label '3P'). In the early 90's he arranged 'Sound Factory' events together with Alex Azary, and became the A&R manager of Logic Records, the label of Michael Münzig and Luca Anzilotti (aka Snap). Mark discovered Dr Alban and made his first remixes there.
Trevor Oliver Taylor † January 2018 Trevor Oliver Taylor (aka "Supa T") was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica on January 11th 1958. He was one of the early members of the Bad Boys Blue project. He left the formation in 1987, one of the reasons being that he did not accepted the fact that John McInerney's voice was chosen instead of his on Come Back And Stay.
Mike Staab † May 2009 Mike Staab (real name Michael Staab) was born on 5. April 1960 in Aschaffenburg, close to Frankfurt. He used to be a hard rock DJ in a renowned club called The Cave, later renamed La Java in his home city Aschaffenburg which appealed to a mainly biker audience. Later he got a break and landed a job with the Schüler and Presinger GmbH and spun records at Aladdins also in Aschaffenburg.
Andrew Thomas † July 2009 American singer Andrew Freddie Thomas was born May, 25th 1946 in San Francisco (USA). He studied music in Pasadena, specializing in jazz, blues and swing, and graduated from college with an Associated Arts Degree, followed by a Master’s Degree in Psychology. In 1976 Andrew moved to Cologne, where he learned German at the university. He sang in two bands and worked as a DJ. He became one of the 3 original members of the Bad Boys Blue project.
Ann Vervoort † April 2010 Born 10 March 1977, graphic designer Ann Vervoort used to work as a dancer for Pat Krimson from 2 Fabiola. She became Milk Inc's frontlady in 1997, appearing for the first time on Inside Of Me. She left the group in September 2000, exhausted from a too stressful life of touring day and night. She got married with Pat Krimson, and they planned to start their record label : Benimussa records. They moved to Ibiza.
Tillman Uhrmacher † June 2011 Tillman Uhrmacher is a German radio-deejay, TV-moderator and producer. Between 1988 and 1990 he did a training as radio redactor in Radio Regenbogen and Radio RPR Eins.
Severo Lombardoni † February 2012 Severino "Severo" Lombardoni was born 7th March 1949 in Pedrengo (Bergamo, Italy). He was the oldest child of Francesco Lombardoni and his wife Francesca. He had 2 sisters : Anna and Ornella, and a brother Vittorio, all of them working in the music industry. Severo attended technical college in Seriate from 1960 to 1963 and graduated at the Conservatorio “Giuseppe Verdi” di Milano in 1969. He played several instruments; including the trombone, the piano, the accordion und the guitar. For some years after he played in several local bands. He also worked for a year as a music teacher at a junior school. In 1974 he opened a record shop in his home town of Seriate. In 1977 he moved to Milan and set up a record-wholesale business.
Graziano Pegoraro † January 2013 Italian composer, musician and producer Graziano Pegoraro was born April 29th 1950 in Cilavegna (Pavia, Italy). He started his musical carreer at the age of 16, as a drummer. As he was 24, he entered G.Verdi Conservatory of Milan to study percusssions till year 1978. In 1976, he released his first single : an Italian song entitled Signora Tu, performed as Miko in San Remo festival.
Fabio Frittelli † February 2013 Fabio was born on 24th July, 1966 in Monfalcone (Province of Gorizia, Italy). His mother Silvana is an Austrian teacher, his father Graziano a translater in a import-export company. Fabio had his first musical experience as a leader of the hard rock group Blue The King. Then he was bassist for a group called Validi Alibi. He also used to be a model for Dolce & Gabbana, JP Gaultier, Armani and Kenzo
Ricardo Da Force † March 2013 Rapper and DJ Jervis Ricardo Alfonso Lyte aka Richie Lyte was born and raised in London. He has a sister called Sonjia. After being discovered by Paul Oakenfold, he took part to the KLF, Clubzone, Groovelux SoulSounds, Dr. Baker (Global Kaos), Fire Island (Fire Island in 1992), Vitamino - (What I've Got in 1992), Adamski (Back To Front as Ricardo), X-press II, Ramp (Rock The Discotek), Greed (Pump Up The Volume in 1994), Trancylvania (Colour Of Love), and N-Trance for the singles Stayin' Alive, D.I.S.C.O, Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, and Electronic Pleasure.
Richard Williams † April 2014 Richard Wayne Williams was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He studied in Kingston college. Along with his brother Courtney, he came to Germany with the US-Army in 1988. They took part to reggae liveband Umascus. He took part as rapper and songwriter to eurodance project LOFT.
Dean 'N † May 2015 Danish eurodance music producer Dean Niels Nielsen was born February 13, 1969. He stood behind Me & My's first and biggest hits and he was considered as the inventor of bubble gum dance. He also contributed to Dr. Bombay - Girlie Girlie and Rice & Curry, to Victoria Silvstedt - Girl On The Run, to Smile.dk ‎– Doo Be Di Boy, to Dr. Macdoo - Under The Kilt and to some Toy-Box album tracks.
Gottfried Engels † August 2015 German DJ and producer Gottfried Engels was born February 2nd 1949. He used to work as a photographer. During the 70s, he was one of the first DJs in Germany. He used to run club "Neuschwanstein" and during 14 years one of the biggest vinyl-shops in Cologne, Music Man.
Calabash † August 2015 Rapper and songwriter Daniel Osafo Oware aka Attagoe Calabash or Spike Dog was born in Ghana in April 19th 1965, then moved to Poland. His songs were released on Omega Music compilations only : Shake Your Bom Bom, Love Song, Viva Gołota, Jumbo Africa, Dance To The Music and probably the most well-known Crazy Little Walker. He wrote lyrics on Baby Dance Show Me Way.
Diane Charlemagne † October 2015 Diane was born in Great Britain in the 2nd February 1964. She started her carreer workeing with 52nd Street (as songwriter and leadvocalist, in the late eighties), Michael Penn, Cool Down Zone (a project she founded with Nelee Hooper) and Nomad Soul (with Howie B and Dobie). She also did vocals on Metalheads' single Angel.
Jim Reeves † February 2016 German singer, songwriter and music producer Jim Reeves (real name Jim Nyasani) was born in Cologne on April 30th 1968. He was TV presenter Mola Adebisi's cousin. In 1984 he shot his first ad campaign for clothes brand C&A. This was the beginning of his model carreer. In 1992 he started musical and artistic studies in Hamburg.
La Velle † February 2016 American jazz and gospel singer Lavelle McKinnie Duggan was born in Kankakee, near Chicago, in a musicians family. Her father was played the guitar in Nat King Cole's band, and her mother was a dancer and singer in the Cotton Club. Lavelle already sung gospel in choirs at the tender age of 3. As she was only 5, she started studying the piano. She entered Chicago's national Conservatory at the age of 11, being the youngest student. She did brilliant musical studies, earning many awards. She sung Haendel's Messiah as she was only 14. She continued her studies at the prestigious Julliard School of Music de New York.
Miisa † July 2016 Miisa is a great eurodance project from Finland produced by Chris Owen, who was also songwriter and composer, featuring a female vocalist and a rapper. Miisa-Leena Päällysaho the front woman (born February 19 1970) was a model from Turku, who probably has never sung herself (real vocalist was Karin Strömfelt from Dreamland project). Anyway, she took part to the writing of some of her songs.
Teresa Kaestel † February 2017 Singer Teresa Kästel was born 1961 in Tarlac in the Philippines. As she was only 5, she took part to Tita-Betty-Radio-Show and won first place. Then at 9, she won a talent show on a Filipino TV channel. As Teresa Knight, she took part to a long tour in America. Then in 1981 she toured in clubs and festivals in Europe. In 1197, she amazed viewers performing her version of Tina Turner's Simply the Best on German TV RTL.
Robert Miles † May 2017 Robert Miles' real name is Roberto Concina. He was born in November 3rd, 1969 in Neuchatel, Switzerland where he lived until the age of 10. Then his family moved to Fagagna near Venice. He also used to have an apartment in London (he had to move because too many fans around him were bothering his neighbors). As one could not expect, Robert as a child did not show any interest in music. He prefered to have fun with his friends instead. His parents Antonietta and Albino quite often took young Robert for sightseeing trips. He was a sweet child who did not create serious problems : the only thing he refused to do was playing the piano, the instrument that would made him famous many years after. His teacher tried everything in vain. It suddenly changed when he grew older. He started to teach himself and became very good at playing the piano.
Roman Matiyash † July 2017 Ukranian rapper Roman Matiyash (Роман Матіяш) was born April 23rd 1975 in Khmelnitsky. He used to live in the US. Then he came back to his homeland. He worked as driver for diplomatic cars in Lwov. He became member of band Turbo-Techno Sound, then was rapper for project Fantom 2.
Jan Langhoff † July 2017 Along with Peter Hartmann, he has produced songs and albums for the projects and artists Aqua, Elize, Chipz, Ace Of Base, Me & My, Tiggy, A-Teens, Smile, Zoom and many more... They also did remixes for E-type, Ace Of Base and again many more...
Mauro Lorenzetti † June 2018 Italian DJ and producer Mauro Lorenzetti aka Mauro M.B.S. worked for records company Propio Records. He contributed to Italian dance projects Sexilia, Murphy, Astroboys, The Rhythm and the Bass, Under 99, Corpo and Babooshka, among others. He contributed to remixing Co-Ro feat. Lyen - Run Away and Duke - So In Love With You.
Kasandra † December 2021 Kasandra was born Davorka Ručević in 1967 in Zagreb, Croatia. She was a well known figure in the Croatian eurodance scene, from her unique, powerful voice, her gorgeous looks and some of the most memorable hits of the 90s Croatian dance history, helping dance music find its footing in a time heavily influenced by the old styles of music in a newly formed Croatia. Davorka's career began during the 80s as the lead singer of a rock band called Kasandra. The band never debuted and split sometime after but Davorka Ručević herself continued as a soloist, adopting the name Kasandra for her solo career.
BG the Prince of Rap † January 2023 Producers : Jam El Mar, Stefan Benz Rappers : B.G. the Prince Of Rap, Marko Kranjcevic 'DJ Kut Master Kay' Singers : Paris Red, Joan Faulkner, Chi Chi Ordu, Sabine Schmidt, Janet Taylor
Reggie † October 2023 Regana (or Réjane) Dominique Magloire was born in Likasi (Zaire, now located in Democratic Republic of the Congo), but grew up in New York. She was the daughter of a Haitian father and a Polish mother. She had 2 sisters : Bayyinah Bello and Kim Magloire. Reggie's musical carreer started very early early. The first time she sang with the Metropolitan Opera of New-York, she was only 13 years old. Having taken singing and dancing lessons from the tender age of 9 with Seth Riggs (singing coach of Michael Jackson) and Phil Black's school of Dance, she was already working as an actress and mode. During the Seventies, she appeared in about 200 episodes of the children TV series The Electric Company with talents such as Bill Cosby and Morgan Freeman (her father in the series). She played roles in theatrical films (such as The Story of Wilma Rudolph) and did many appearances for national US commercials.
Barbara Hascakova † November 2023 Slovak singer Barbara Haščáková was the female vocalist for projects Maduar and MC Erik & Barbara.
Frank Farian † January 2024 Chairman of FMP, Frank Farian has produced some tracks for many successful projects such as La Bouche, Milli Vanilli, No Mercy, Boney M, Eruption, and artists such as Lori Glori...
Anders Sandberg † January 2024 Bo Anders Sandberg was born on May 3rd 1968 in Kiruna. He studied in Hjalmar Lundbohmsskolan. His musical carreer started in 1985 as a member of hard-rock Arch. In 1994, he became a member of eurodance project Accagas (I'm Alive, Loloa (Free Your Mind)). Then, under the alias Bolta, he contributed to Approx High Level. Under the name Dagger, he became a part of Rednex.
Timo Loyva † February 2024 Timo Johannes Löyvä (aka L.A. Reykjavik) grew up in Alavavutu. He started his carreer as guitarist of the rock band R.A.S.A., that he co-founded with his childhood friend Pauli Hanhiniemi in 1982. The band later was renamed Kolmas Nainen. Meanwhile, he worked as recording artist in Kemu studios in Seinäjoki. Timo left Kolmas Nainen in 1989, to study music recording and production in Los Angeles (USA), and also because he believed that staying in the band longer would ruin his friendship with Pauli. He then returned to Finland to work in studios. He took part to project Local Off with Tommi Lindell and Värttinä in 1992.
Maki Kolehmainen † June 2024 Finnish producer and composer Marko Juhani "Maki" Kolehmainen (aka Vitun Säveltäjä) was born in Helsinki on May 18th 1966. he started his musical carreer in 1989, working for artists and bands such as Eini, Lea Laven and Marion. In the 90s, he co-founded of the very successful Aikakone project, later renamed Aika.

 

 

 

Credits flowers : Semja on Pixabay