#2302 Victor Simonelli – The Early Years Vol.2

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At the turn of the 1990s, there were few more successful New York house producers than Victor Simonelli. Under a dizzying array of aliases Solution, NYs Finest, Groove Committee, Critical Rhythm and Cloud 9 being amongst the better-known the Brooklyn-born DJ/producer delivered a string of underground club hits during the citys early 90s house boom.

BTG presents Victor Simonelli: The Early Years Vol 1 a collectors edition double Vinyl release – 2 X 12s in each Vol

Launching the first Behind The Groove collectors edition vinyl series is New Yorks finest Victor Simonelli with The Early Years Vol 1 & 2 double Vinyl releases. Featuring seminal house tracks such as Cloud 9s Do You Want Me, Solutions Feel So Right, Instant Exposures Wanna Be With You and rare mixes of Raiana Page and EZ-AL, this collection brings together classic and rare Victor Simonelli cuts that reflect the early raw energy and buzz of the New York House scene. With Vol 2 scheduled to follow shortly after, this is the most comprehensive collection of rare Simonelli cuts that firmly establishes his esteemed role in 90s House Music as well as introducing new fans to his inimitable sound.

Victor Simonelli is one of the early kings of NYC sampling In house music. The real deal – Victor danced at the legendary David Mancusos Loft sessions and developed a serious appreciation for good music. He interned for Arthur Baker at his renown Shakedown Studios (where Arthur worked with the iconic Afrika Bambatta on the seminal dance floor Planet Rock track) and went on to release hugely influential releases on seminal NYC labels 4th Floor and Nu Groove. Victors music was championed by the hugely celebrated iconic House Music DJ pioneers, Larry Levan and Tony Humphries at Paradise Garage & Zanzibar/WBLS/Kiss FM respectively.

Revered as a New York house heavyweight and prolific producer since the turn of the 1990s, Victor Simonelli grew up in Brooklyn, NYC, nurtured by a music loving family, with an avid record collecting father who also worked as a local party DJ. He took music lessons in piano, drums, guitar and bass, before discovering his first love, tuning into NYs Radio Mix Shows on WBLS, WKTU and WRKS,98.7 Kiss FM) where he discovered the art of mixing and in his own words, I just simply got lost in the music.

Graduating from NYCs Centre For Media Arts, Victor got an internship in the legendary producer, Arthur Bakers Shakedown Studios. Soon graduating to editing, mixing and then producing he worked for artists David Bowie, Quincy Jones, Debbie Harry, Sinead OConnor and Talking Heads. Teaming up with fellow NYC producer Lenny Dee to become the Brooklyn Funk Essentials, they released records Critical Rhythm and Subliminal Aurra on 4th Floor before Victor went solo as Groove Committee releasing the classic I Want You To Know on the legendary Nu Groove Records. Paradise Garage legend, Larry Levan broke I Want You To Know rocking 2 copies on his last tour of Japan whilst King of NY House Music,Tony Humphries broke Victors new Feels So Right across New York on his WBLS/Kiss FM Mastermix show and at his legendary Zanzibar club sessions. It was only a matter of time before Victors name became synonymous with quality House music ensuring a worldwide platform for his productions.

In the early 90s alongside his own productions, Victor Simonelli worked on high profile projects, including James Browns album, Love Overdue BeBe and CeCe Winans single featuring Mavis Staples Ill Take You There and Quincy Jones Ill Be Good To You featuring Chaka Khan and the legendary Ray Charles. Never straying too far from his clubland roots, Victor worked with Danny Tenaglia on his classic The Harmonica Track.

DJ gigs across the world started flooding in and Victor found himself recording for a dizzying array of labels including Tribal America, Sub-Urban, Bassline, King Street Sounds and Vibe, under a wide range of aliases. He also produced, wrote and remixed for artists such Nile Rodgers (Chic), Afrika Baambata, Hall & Oates, Frankie Knuckles, Kerri Chandler, Madonna and Michael Jackson. Famed for his own productions Its So Good by Creative Force, I Know A Place as Sound Of One – the first release on Roger Sanchez One Records -, Dirty Games as well as the Street Players Vol 1 EP, Victor went on to set up Suburban Records with Tommy Musto and Bassline Records with two other partners. Notable releases on this label include Do You Feel Me, Connie Harveys gospel inspired, Thank You Lord, Urban Blues Projects Deliver Me, Colonel Abrams Not Gonna Let, and Mones Better Way. Never ceasing to produce, DJ, run his own label and host radio shows like Groove Lift, Victor has worked with virtually every NYC producer and has nurtured a next generation talents including Angel Moraes, Jazz N Groove, Urban Blues Project, Harlem Hustlers, Jay Jay and Julius Papp. Victors releases have also been used on M&Ss Salsoul Nuggett hit and Eddie Amadors underground smash House Music.

In the late 90s Victor launched his new Westside Productions, notable for the Latin Impressions 1 & 2 releases, opened up a studio in Italy as he found himself increasingly working in Europe and now divides his time between New York and Italy. Suffice to say his unique sound of uplifting and spiritual music has kept him at the forefront of House Music and he is credited as one of its leading exponents with his string of classic releases and remixes.

Behind the Groove, branches out from its digital platform to embark on a programme of releases from the iconic pioneer producers of House Music. Esteemed for their high quality features and mixes that continue to explore, celebrate and venerate the contributions of highly respected, scene-shaping Labels, Artists, DJs and Special Events, BTG seeks to bring these talents and tales to the attention of the wider community. Unlocking the stories surrounding the pivotal roles they played and continue to play today in shaping the underground music scene we have come to know and love.

BTG presents Victor Simonelli: The Early Years Vol 1 a collectors edition double Vinyl release, released on May 12th 2023. Vol 2 follows on May 26th 2023 . These releases are the most comprehensive collection of rare Victor Simonelli cuts that firmly establish his esteemed role in 90s House Music and introduces new fans to his carefree sound. With Victor Simonelli Live in the UK on Sunday April 30th, please go to www.behindthegroove.co.uk for all the latest news and features.