Body & SOUL 30th Anniversary

Who they are

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  Francois K

  New York City · 51 bookings since Sep 2023

  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists Chillifunk Records, Wave Music, Deep Space Media, Opilec Music and 2 more.

  Recently at Le Bain, Pacha New York · often with Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy, Justin Strauss, MESA, none of them here that night

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  Danny Krivit

  New York City · 54 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Growing up in Greenwich Village, New York City, in the 1960s, Danny was surrounded by music.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Growing up in Greenwich Village, New York City, in the 1960s, Danny was surrounded by music. His mother was an accomplished jazz singer and his father was the manager of legendary jazz trumpeter Chet Baker before going on to open up "The Ninth Circle", a Village hot spot, where Danny worked as a boy. It was here that Danny met some of the most influential people in the music scene; Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Mingus, John Lennon & Yoko Ono amongst others. His home was also a hotbed of musical inspiration, with The Mothers of Invention living down the hall, and Sid Bernstein (Manager of The Rascals) living upstairs, regularly popping down to the Krivit household to practice their future hits on the piano. At school, a close friend and classmate was the son of Creed Taylor, the production genius behind many artists who recorded on the VERVE, C.T.I. and KUDA labels, and another close friend was the legendary soul guru Nile Rogers. By 1970 Danny was already a vinyl junkie & an amateur DJ, But DJ'ing as a profession wasn't realized until 1971, after another neighbor/friend of Danny's (Vice President of Polydor Records) introduced Danny to one of his artists - none other than the legendary James Brown, who gave Danny white-label promo copies of his "Get on the Good foot" and "Think" by Lynn Collins. Soon after, Danny started Djing at "The Ninth Circle" which by now had been transformed into a disco. In 1975, Danny's father opened his second club, "Ones", Danny was their sole DJ through 1977. Danny's sets were a big success and from this he started promoting and Djing at his own after-hours club down the street. At this stage, Danny was becoming part of the underground scene, club-hopped a lot, meeting some of the greatest DJ names of the time. These included Nicky Siano (of the Gallery), Walter Gibbons (of Galaxy 21), Tee Scott (of Better Days) ,David Rodriguez (of The Limelight), Richie Kaczar (Club Hollywood), and Bobby DJ (of Le Jardin) amongst others. Although all outstanding names, one DJ and club stood out amongst the rest: DJ David Mancuso and The Loft. The Loft (A musical center and Mecca for DJs) was a unique place and home of the original Record Pool. This is where Danny began his long time friendships with DJs Larry Levan and Francois Kevorkian (Francois K). In 1977 when Danny started Djing at "Trude Hellers", he also had become an avid roller skater, and with his girlfriend (Daphne Rubin vega) would regularly skate over to the Paradise Garage, where Larry would let them skate around the club while he would check out some of the new records that week on the sound system. The Garage remained Danny's main stomping ground until it closed in 1987. Danny's list of DJ residencies steadily grew throughout the 70s and in 1979, after Djing at the opening of the Roxy, he became their resident DJ for the next 4 years. In the early 80s the Roxy was the home of some of the best Hip hop DJs of the day like "D.S.T", Grand master Flash, and Africa Bambaata. Since Danny was one of the few white boys who could scratch mix, he became known as Danny Rock. Throughout the 80s his list of clubs he played at exploded to include, Area, Dancateria, The Ice Palace, Laces, The Limelite, Red Zone, Save The Robots, Studio 54(Virgin Islands), Tracks, The Tunnel, The World, and many, many others. Even a guest spot at the legendary Paradise Garage. Since the late 70s trade magazines such as Billboard, Cash Box, Record World, & Dance Music Report amongst others, have listed Danny's playlists and Danny's mix tapes have been getting airplay on radio station WBLS, WKTU, & KISS FM. The 80s' saw the beginning of Danny's studio work. He worked on tracks featuring legends such as, James Brown on "Soul Power", "The Funky Drummer", "Give it up and Turn it loose", Ecstacy, Passion & Pain on "Touch and Go", Brenda and the Tabulations "Let's Go All the Way", and Gloria Gaynor on "Casanova Brown". Moving into the 90s, Danny commanded legendary status amongst young and old as well as continuing to forge new paths in dance music into the millennium. He inherited the Ninth Circle and continued to DJ at clubs such as Mars, Tracks, The Choice, Palladium, Shelter, Sound Factory Bar, Twilo, The Warehouse, & The Loft. At it's inseption in 1996, Danny joined the Body and Soul team, Francois K and Joe Claussell, at club Vinyl and has regularly played the party every Sunday since, whilst regularly Djing in various clubs in New York & Japan & everywhere inbetween. In 1999 one of Danny's highlights as a Body and Soul resident was Djing for a 15,000 strong crowd at one of three special Body and Soul event for "Summer Stage" in Central Park, NY. Danny's reputation outside New York has grown immensely over this time with Danny playing the world over, from America to Japan to Europe. He has hosted 2 special international Body and Soul events in London for "Angels of Love" and Giorgio Armani. Danny's talents and reputation has grown and continues to do so like his 50,000-strong record collection. He is also a VJ, with a collection of over 5000 rare soul performances on video from the 60s, 70s, 80's, & 90's. As well as having producer/editor/mixer credits included on over 70 records. 2001 sees Danny's 30th anniversary as a DJ and already this year has seen his name on over 25 records.
  House on 59, Disco on 46, Deep House on 35 and Funk on 19. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on Defected (1), Full Time Records (1) and Second Disc Records (1); their RA profile also lists NRK Music, Ibadan Records, Nite Grooves, Skylax Records and 5 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at Circle Line Cruises, Good Room, Musica Club NYC · often with Mikki Afflick, Benny Soto, Hex Hector, none of them here that night

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  Joe Claussell

  New York City · 24 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Joaquin "Joe" Claussell was born in Brooklyn to a large and diverse Puerto Rican family with deep musical roots.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Joaquin "Joe" Claussell was born in Brooklyn to a large and diverse Puerto Rican family with deep musical roots. Throughout his life, music was Joe's shelter, family, food, comfort, escape and love. His first exposure to entertaining audiences was in his own neighborhood at block association events, musically led by one of his elder brothers Larry Claussell. Not long after he hit the club and began collecting vinyl at the age of 15 and his diverse taste for music and dance led him from a Disco at a club called The Inferno to Punk music’ s sanctuary CBGBs, the alternative driven Mudd Club, the more mainstream Underground, and the legendary Paradise Garage. While living in the East Village in the early 90s, he found and fell in love with a record store called Dance Tracks. He formed a friendship with the owner, which became the foundation of his musical career. Joe became the store’s DJ and called weekly parties that drew a diverse and increasingly devoted crowd of music lovers. All in the name of fun he received an invitation from owner and good friend Stan Hatzakis he began producing: and did his first remix “Over” and his produced first track "Awade,” both becoming instant underground classic. Over time he learned the music business and eventually took over the Dance Tracks. In 1996 Joe launched his independent eclectic world house label Spiritual Life Music from the back of Dance Tracks, and around the same time over saw the birth of “Ibadan Records” with friend and executive producer Jerome Sydenham. The labels’ productions are fluid - with organic African, Brazilian, Latin and Middle Eastern Rhythms crossing over into Disco, Jazz, House, and Electronic music. He is intricately involved in every aspect of the production process: the music, writing, selection or creation of the visual art, and graphic design. Under his labels he has nourished and produced fledgling artists. His first release was "Nothing's Changed" by Ten City, followed by works from Jephté Guillaume, Mateo & Matos, Slam Mode, and Three Generations Walking. His own first full-length album was "Language." Great artists and record labels have sought him out for collaboration and remixes of works by Femi Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Beth Orton, Steward Mathewman (Sade), Cassandra Wilson, Diana Ross, and Manuel Göttschin to name a few. His remixes have revived classics such as Hector Lavoe‘s Classic “Alejate;” Cesoria Evora’s “Sangue De Beirona.” and Nina Simone's “Feeling Good” featured on prominent TV shows such as “Sex And The City”. Joe’s "Feeling Good" remix sung by the late Nina Simone was solely responsible for the reemergence of the song which spawned countless remakes and till this day redone as well as used on many TV ads and commercials. Also in 1996, Joe Claussell joined Francois K and Danny Krivit to play for the legendary “Body & Soul” Sunday afternoon dance party. For 6 years, music and dance lovers from NYC and around the world came every week religiously to experience the totally unique musical journey of Classic, World, Soul, Disco, Funk, and House. The tracks are brought to an infinitely higher level by the synergy of each DJ's unique of live performance artistry and the incredible creative and conscious crowd. 15 years later Body and soul is going stronger than ever. For the last decade to present, Joe has been constantly playing music all over the world, however it is also his being in high demand as a producer and remixer that keeps him working. Joe’s talents are also sought after in the visual art world where he is currently touring with a project titled “TREMBLING sensing space” produced by Dutch theater director Lidy Six. As a musician, Joe has toured with the likes of the world-renowned percussionist Mino Cinelu and currently playing along side of the mind blowing pianist/keyboard extraordinaire Bugge Wesseltoft in a band that includes Erik Truffaz, Ilhan Ersahin, Med Band and Torun Erikse. While in New York, He began the Sacred Rhythm Party, designed to bring House and live musicians together in an intimate environment. Soon to come will be his first Internet radio show titled “an invitation to openness” a show dedicated to the freedom of just listening to what ever speaks to him at that moment, as opposed to being at the mercy of the listening audience. Joe contemplates humanity and its trends from a distant but touched perspective. He personally strives for spiritual and creative freedom, and encourages loved ones to tap into their own unique resources to build a society where art and individuality is nourished and celebrated. For people who want a deep introspective music journey to the soul - Joe's shows are a rare and coveted opportunity. His ability to connect with people who share his passion for the rhythms of life through a higher universal language , which keeps people intrigued into staying tuned while listening, dancing and evolving to his unique philosophy and deep rhythms.
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Deep House on 62, House on 44, Ambient on 19 and Downtempo on 8. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on BBE (1) and Sacred Rhythm Music (1); their RA profile also lists NRK Music, Ibadan Records, Rekids, Secretsundaze and 5 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at House of Yes, Pacha New York, 3 Dollar Bill · often with Donis, Paul Nickerson, Extra Andrew, none of them here that night