There is no beginning except for the beginning and that begins when grandparents were dating. When classic soul jazz rhythm and blues rock Latin jazz funk and cultures were grooving together to form what we were born into, Disco and House Music, sharing the birth frequencies of hip-hop and Latin hip-hop. There is no beginning without a path.
Louie Vega is a pioneer of both Freestyle and House music producing the debut albums, both Freestyle, of Marc Anthony and India, later co-producing India’s debut Salsa album along with Eddie Palmieri, Llego La India, all while destroying New York City and worldwide danceclubs as a solo House producer and resident DJ at the weekly event, the Underground Network, or in co-DJ/producer roles with Kenny Dope Gonzalez as the Masters at Work whose albums include Nuyorican Soul, a breakthrough, collaborative classic.
I asked Louie during a pre-party dinner in Boston hosted by DJ Bruno what his first remix was. In 1985, as Little Louie Vega, he remixed Running by Information Society, which also happens to be the tune that introduced DJ Bruno to Little Louie Vega! An international, musical genre classic.
Louie Vega is a Barrio Boy Icon. When his band the Elements of Life performed One Dream during the 2007 pre-Superbowl party live broadcast, I tuned in and cried. There we were, club kids bringing this message through our Maestro Louie Vega, an incredibly talented, table rocking, rooted great Man along with musicians whose music we have enjoyed for over 20 years rocking Dolphin Stadium and introduced by Cuban Legend Gloria Estefan before Prince performed the half-time show. Another lesson in crossing over keeping it real without selling out.
Louie Vega and the music he continues to create and share have received 3 Grammy nominations for his Remixes, winning in 2006 for his EOL remix of “Superfly,” nominated in 2017 for his full length album, Starring…XXVIII, and again nominated in 2018 for his Remix of Loleatta Holloway’s Can’t Let You Go.
He continues to travel the world year round playing guest sets at parties and festivals, as Masters at Work with Kenny Dope, his wife and partner, Nulu Movement Founder Anane Vega, bringing their collaboration, The Ritual, to global events and celebrating his weekly residency in New York Roots, with Kenny Hedge, soon to begin their 14th year at Cielo!
With a classical catalogue this voluminous and prolific, DJ Bruno has mixed four and a half hours of Louie Vega grooves “because it was his time to pay tribute” choosing songs which move him. Joyous, body moving, soul stirring, voice lifting music. DJ Bruno, in his hard hitting masterful mixing, has weaved an awesome selection of House Music classics featuring legendary singers, musicians, original work and remixes spanning decades and showcasing the musical vision of a true modern living legend, from the beginning.
Bruno: Two years ago, while I laid in my hospital bed. I decided to make a bucket list. This mix was on that list. I wanted to pay tribute to one of my musical heroes. The maestro Louie Vega, It was hard choosing the right songs that would best pay tribute to him because he has sooooooo many, but I was able to narrow it down to these instant classics. All these songs were either produced or remixed by Louie Vega. I hope I did him justice 🙂 Just press PLAY & Dance Your Ass Off!
I am grateful for both of these Men. For their examples, passions, determination and humility to love.
“Press play and dance your ass off!” Enjoy the mix!
Liza Zayas is a lover of writing and dancing and celebrates both as a singer and songwriter performing as Luna del Flor. You can hear her collaborative sounds and experience life through her storytelling. She invites you to dance. Her poetry seeks to initiate dialogue by intentionally expressing consequences of love, lust, ego and self-respect.
