Best Online Disco Music

The Increasing Popularity of Ceilidh Bands For Wedding Receptions

2012-01-05T15:23:00.000-08:00

As anybody who has organised a wedding will know, planning and preparation is key to ensuring a successful day. As important as the actually marriage ceremony, is the evening reception and arranging the best entertainment for your guests, to ensure an enjoyable, fun evening. There are many options to choose from but the increasing demand for high quality live music has helped to raise the popularity of Ceilidh dancing as a choice of entertainment for wedding receptions. There are many aspects to consider when deciding on a band, some of which are discussed below.

Making the right choice of band

Ceilidh Bands come in all sorts of sizes and line-ups, and it is often down to personal preference which style of playing one prefers. The traditional line-up of Accordion, Fiddle and Drums can be augmented to include other instruments such as bagpipes, guitars, keyboard and double bass. One should also be satisfied when deciding on a band, that they use high quality, professional audio equipment capable of providing crystal clear sound.

Which are the most common dances?

Most Ceilidh Bands will have a caller, who will ensure that if some guests are not sure what to do, need a reminder or have never done ceilidh dancing before, then they'll be able to join in without any problems and have a great night. Usually the caller will talk the guests through the dances and may also do a walk-through prior to beginning each dance. Some of the most popular dances are The Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, The Dashing White Sergeant, The Flying Scotsman, Military Two-Step, The Eightsome Reel, Canadian Barn Dance, The Virginia Reel, The Cumberland Square Eight, and The Orcadian Strip the Willow.

How large does the dance floor need to be for Ceildh Dancing?

All hotels and wedding venues will either have a dance floor built into the room, or will put one down prior to the evening function commencing. These vary greatly in size, but the generally, the larger the dancing area, the better.

The ceilidh bands will require some room for themselves, but don't worry Scottish ceilidh music is suited to a venue of any size.

Ceilidh and Disco Combination

Many Scottish Ceilidh Bands now offer an evening consisting of both Ceilidh Dancing and Disco music. This can be the perfect combination to cater for all tastes during the function and much more economical than hiring a Ceilidh Band and a separate DJ. It is usually possible to request certain tracks to be either played or avoided during the disco. Some couples decide to provide a complete playlist for the DJ, while others will make a list of the favourites to be included in the evening. Disco lighting is important and the addition of professional lighting effects makes the complete Ceilidh/Disco package.

Learn Something New About NYC Night Clubs

2012-01-05T15:22:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about NYC is the nightlife, you can be anywhere in the city and never be far away from a bar or club. Whatever your tastes in music there's a night club in NYC to suit your needs. Whether you like banging house anthems to soulful renditions, New York has every possible type of night club available. After a hard day's work there's nothing better than hitting a New York bar or club to dance the night away or simply have a quiet drink with friends. I'm not sure of the exact number of venues in this city but it's safe to say there are thousands of choices.

During the 70s, NYC night clubs experienced a boom thanks mainly to 'disco' music. Discotheque's popped up everywhere and DJ's pumped out the latest in disco hits, in front of large dancing crowds and strobe lighting. The times were magical, John Travolta was king and everyone had their dancing shoes on. During the 1980s London and Europe took over from NYC as the capital of the dance scene and bands like Boy George came out, their style of music was influenced by reggae music. The 1990s and 2000s was a time when much change occurred in club land and the Superclub evolved. Venues went from a capacity of 200 to 500 people to venues which held thousands of people. Venues like 'Cream' in Liverpool, UK and the famous Ministry of Sound night club in London became household names the world over. The style of music progressed from disco into house music and techno. Also, many NYC night clubs starting playing Hip-Hop and R&B style of music.

These days' people are moving away from the Superclub style of venue and heading back to smaller intimate establishments. I think it's safe to the days of having thousands of people squashed into a club are well and truly behind us. NYC night clubs are certainly geared towards the boutique style of clubbing mainly due to size constraints, New York has always had smaller style venues. A trip down to the East Village in NYC will uncover 100's of bars and night clubs and the area is perfect for bar hopping. Whatever you taste in music New York has it covered from Rap music to Jazz there are nightclubs to suit your every needs.

Le Freak by Nile Rodgers - Disco, Drugs, and Destiny - Memoir Book Review - We Are Family Reinvented

2012-01-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

Odds are, you've heard the classic Pop and R& B tune, "We Are Family," by Sister Sledge, on the radio, at a wedding reception, or remember it as the anthem for the 1979 World Series Champion, Pittsburgh Pirates. The song was written by musicians Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, co-founders of the late 70s R&B/Disco group, Chic. While disco eventually died, Nile Rodgers' musical talents penetrate the music scene even today and his accomplishments are notable. Rodgers chronicles his life in his new memoir, Le Freak, named after Chic's 1978 monster hit.

Nile Rodgers is the son of Nile Rodgers Sr., a talented musician who, unfortunately, died penniless in New York City from his alcohol and drug addiction.

Rodgers' mother, Beverly (always on a first-name basis), met Niles Sr. at the age of 13 (he was 16). Their initial sexual encounter created Niles Jr.

Much of Rodgers' life involved alcohol and drugs before ever entering the music business. His mother and stepfather, Bobby were both heroin addicts; and Rodgers was introduced to sniffing glue at 13, for starters.

Growing up, Rodgers was shuffled between New York City and Los Angeles to be with family. He developed his musical talents early on, enjoying numerous opportunities to play with industry titans, including Screamin Jay Hawkins and Jimi Hendrix.

He met Bernard Edwards while playing the Chitlin' Circuit (a string of black nightclubs stretching from Buffalo, New York to South Florida). Musically, the two could read each other's mind. They would go on to create the R& B/Pop group, Chic.

Rodgers shares many intriguing behind-the-scenes stories about the music industry, including the origins of Chic's smash hit, Le Freak. Famous club performer, Grace Jones had invited Rodgers and Edwards to her show at Studio 54, the infamous Manhattan nightclub; and they were denied entrance.

The duo returned to a friend's nearby apartment. There, they drank Dom Perignon, snorted cocaine and jammed out their frustrations on bass and guitar. "Awww-f*** off Studio 54," morphed into "Awww, freak out," which became Le Freak's ear-catching refrain.

Le Freak was an international hit, giving Chic their first seven-figure check for their label's only triple platinum single. "The Zen of it was, by not getting what we wanted, we got more than we ever imagined," says Rodgers.

Rodgers narrates working with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including David Bowie, Madonna, and Diana Ross.

In 1980, superstar Diana Ross was looking to reinvent her career. Her record label, Motown, teamed her with Edwards and Rodgers for the project. Despite their best efforts, Motown didn't like the results and demanded the master tapes be returned for their own post-production arrangements.

Devastated, the duo steadfastly believed that they'd produced quality work. Ultimately, Motown released their original production with trepidation. "Diana" went on to become Diana Ross' biggest selling album of her career, yielding the No. 1 hit, "Upside Down," and top five pop single, "I'm Coming out."

Studio 54 became Rodgers' number one hangout during its day. He vividly describes its appeal to serious partygoers and A-list crowd, with sex and drugs aplenty. "It may seem highly unlikely today, but inside Studio there was a Dionysian sense of belonging and trust. Nothing was taboo."

Racism is no stranger to Rodgers, as he's experienced it periodically, including during Chic's ascent. He and Edwards visited a Manhattan Mercedes Benz dealership. "A salesman charged over to us to try and delicately shoo us out of the store. It was clear to him the likes of us couldn't afford his wares," he says. His post-Chic years found him accepting invitations to parties on Martha's Vineyard and being turned away at the door by bouncers, due to his dark hue.

The 9/11 roll call of victims brought Rodgers sad news, as he recognized the name of one the dead, a woman who had photographed him several times for Billboard magazine. Rodgers received numerous calls from family, friends and acquaintances suggesting he reinvent his classic tune "We Are Family" in tribute to our national tragedy. He obliged, gathering celebrities, singers and emergency workers in New York to re-record the tune, not unlike the "We Are The World" celebration of 1985. He also assembled a Los Angeles version.

The We Are Family Foundation originated from the bi-coastal project and today is a successful not-for-profit organization. It's dedicated to forming a global family that strives to solve some of the biggest global challenges.

Le Freak reads full circle, as Rodgers poignantly describes the circumstances surrounding his long-time friend and business partner, Bernard Edwards' death. Both were in Japan in 1996 where Rodgers was being honored for his musical accomplishments. During their lengthy performance, Edwards fell ill, yet defied doctor's orders to cancel the second part of the show.

After their performance, at 1:33 am, Rodgers was awakened from a nightmare believing he was experiencing an earthquake. He landed on the floor and eventually fell back to sleep. Hotel staff awakened him in the morning to inform him that Edwards (staying in a room across the hall), wasn't answering his wake-up call. Rodgers forcefully knocked on Edwards' door, but he never answered. Upon entering his room, he and the housekeeper found him dead.

Briefing the medical examiner on Edwards' last hours to determine his time of death, he described his earthquake dream. The medical examiner assured him that no earthquake had occurred. "That was your friend leaving you. The time of death is 1:33 a.m., just like you said. Thank you for this information."

Le Freak transcends being another story of a self-indulgent musician. Sober since 1994, Rodgers is busier than ever, and is currently working on a project with American Idol runner-up, Adam Lambert.

Rodgers reminds us of the resiliency of the human spirit, that, despite a turbulent childhood and periods of being a wandering adult, we can reinvent our lives.

History of the Discotech - The Paris Connection

2012-01-05T15:19:00.000-08:00

Until Nazi Germany's brutal occupation, Paris nightclubs had been some of the top hosts of the American Jazz movement. Black American jazz musicians, artists and followers had discovered Paris after the Harlem Renaissance through the stories of black servicemen returning from WWI. These artists were grateful to the French for the opportunity, respect and pay equality that wouldn't be seen in America until 40 years later.

The French, for their part, were obsessed with all things Negro due to the Primitivism movement in art and the spirit of "Negritude". New forms of art were finally able to bloom under this broad acceptance and generous patronage. Paris served as a welcome home to many jazz luminaries..

With the rise Naziism throughout Europe, many Black expats returned home, anticipating better chances with the old Klan than with the new Reich. Notably, Josephine Baker and Thelonious The Nazis wasted no time shutting down their vibrant cabaret society and nightlife- jazz was the first target. As a collaboration of Black and Jewish musicians from America, jazz was anathema to Hitler's vision of a "Pure Society". Every revolution must have its soundtrack, and jazz soon became the theme music of the French Resistance.

New bars and clubs began to open underground - literally!. These late-night basement joints were run like the American speakeasy and included the use of passwords, memberships and revolving locations. The new form of nightclub was called "discotheque", the French for "record library". Live acts and known venues were too dangerous to chance, as today's trespassing ticket was a one-way trip to the labour camps in 1941. The latest jazz records from the United States were eagerly awaited by this new underground.

The term "discotheque" soon grew to mean any type of nightclub that played recorded inste`d of live music. Virtually overnight, "Le Discotheque" opened on rue Huchette in 1941, an underground bar dedicated to jazz records. These early clubs served as refuge and solace for dusty Resistance fighters, sympathizers and dancers. They weren't extravagant venues, but cozy hovels that served a stiff drink, good music and renegade opinion. In the daylight hours, the French experienced enough discomfort at the hands of Vichy collaborators and de Gaulle guerillas. The music was the only thing that stayed consistent, and the Underground clung to its identity

With the end of the occupation in 1944, jazz flowed once again, and the clubs became bigger, better and a bit snobbier (sound familiar?). The black expatriates returned in a second wave that would last through the sixties and incubate jazz for the coming birth of the Cool. In 1947, Paul Pacine's passion for jazz records, the discotheque scene and American liquor came together to form the first real plush drum, the Whiskey au Go-Go. The Whiskey featured the latest in American jazz and spirits, which drew ever-larger crowds of dancers. The foundation for the animal called Disco was now complete.

America was just entering its "Golden Age of Radio". Deejays until that time had primarily served in a commercial capacity as advertiser and news anchor. Deejays playing their own records between news, ads and soap operas established the deejay as music selector..

At the same time in the South, African-American laborers transformed the 1889 Edison Phonograph machine into the "Jukebox," the first tool for the wide scale distribution and appropriation of independent black music. "Juke" is rural black vernacular for the possessed movement of the body as in dance or lovemaking ('jack your body,'?) After a long day of harassment and back breaking labor in the hot sun, that one record and a cold beer on a Saturday night could transform a simple machine into medicine. Because the proprietors of these Love Shacks owned the jukeboxes, both national and local records could be loaded as soon as they were pressed.

Due to the cultural mores of thd time, black music was produced by specialized subsidiaries and labelled "race records". Local music (most often blues) was produced a single at a time, and was often dependent on the ability to collect money from hobbled friends as well as finding a studio that would rent their facilities to blacks. White owned stations wouldn't play even the most ethnically ambiguous records (even some Italians) until the 50's, so the jukebox came into its own. The juke joint would establish the early tradition of the nightclub as the first place to hear new music in the African American community. This focus would allow disco music to develop from the discotheque itself in the years to come.

How to Compare Current Rap Lyrics to Lyrics From the 70's and 80's

2012-01-05T15:16:00.001-08:00

Rap music which is 'in' today was not the same from the start. It originated from the West African region influenced by the praise singing and historical poetry by griots or djeli. This music style became popular in U.S. around 1970s but it was earlier termed as disco rap.

This genre is sometimes deemed synonymous with Hip hop but it is not true. It has influenced hip hop music deeply and its popularity has taken a backseat, however, its sub genres have greatly developed, like Pop rap is the earlier version of hip-hop.

This style has many sub genres resulting from fusions with rock, core, pop, metal like rap-opera, underground-rap, ragga, reggae-ton etc. Rap songs generally fall into one of these categories. However, the genres are vast and often, some music cannot just be confined to just one genre as it has various different elements.

Rap rock is a fusion of various forms of rock with elements of hip hop, which was introduced in the early 90s and gained fame later that decade. Rap core, generally confused with rap-core and rap-metal, is a sub-genre of rap rock crossing elements of hiphop with punk rock or hardcore punk.

Conscious rap is named so because it deals with social issues. The lyrics of such music encompasses subjects like the state and attitude towards rap and hip-hop, religion, African American culture and the everyday life of their people. Often due to its subtle but deeply involved subjects, it is linked with controversies.

Rap songs have evolved over the years in their music, lyrics and beats. DJS and MCS have now taken this music to new heights with their technologies. This music gap has created a divide and the earlier rap music is now known as old school rap. Songs like Wild Wild West (with Kool Moe Dee), Message (Grandmaster Flash), Roxanne Roxanne (U.T.F.O) remind us of disco music with hypo tonic beats. The new rap songs are way different than old school, for instance, Bring It Back (Travis Porter) and Moment 4 Life (Nicki Minaj ft Drake).

Rap lyrics can vary from dreams and themes to materialism and crime. These lyrics are sung with a flow with different rhyming techniques to a musical accompaniment. This music style grew in various places with different styles but this development was not mutually exchanged; rather rap battles took place to decide who the best is amongst all.

You can listen to free music at Brainstorm Live with download links, streaming, mixtapes, hot wallpapers, juicy gossips and latest news, all at one place!

House Music Is Fast Catching Music Lover's Fancy

2011-12-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

The kind of music that refers to a style of electronics dance music is known as house music. The earliest form of house music was played in the early to mid 1980's. House music was developed by club DJs in the city of Chicago in United States. The influence of certain elements like the funk infused dance music style and disco style can be seen heavily in house music. The origin of the name house music is uncertain. Some suggest that the name is derived from the name of the club called The Warehouse. In the late 70's and early 80's warehouse parties that were held underground were very popular in the city of Chicago. Now one of these underground parties that were frequented mostly by Latino and black gay man was known as the warehouse.

The Dj at The Warehouse Frankie Knuckles mixed European synthpop music with mixed classic disco music, punk recordings, industrial music and the new wave music for people who were regulars there. Frequent clubbers referred this music as House Music and thus the name cam into being. But as mentioned earlier this is disputed. Musician Larry Heard claims that the term House Music comes from the fact that most of the Djs records the music at their house. Generally these Djs use drum machines and synthesizers to record the music at their house and hence the term House Music came in to being. Dj Chip E has another story to tell behind the popularity of the name House Music. Chip claims that the name came from the method of recording at a studio. However none of the claims are conclusive.

House music developed in houses, clubs and garages where mostly teenagers and local club goers used to assemble. The popularity of house music increased when the music was played in commercial radio. House music was much longer and conceptual then any other type of music and also this music was not meant for widespread commercial use. Basically house music combined the traditional elements of the musical instruments to give it a more humane touch. The house music scene is very popular worldwide even today as many musicians have made huge contributions towards this. Many new generation producers and Djs have emerged in the house music scene and their main purpose is to make House Music popular.

House Music is popular these days and this music can be seen to be catching up in Detroit, New York, Atlanta and some other cities in America where people of racially mixed origin reside. It is not only in USA that the music is catching up but also in several countries worldwide like Germany, Australia, Canada and Scandinavia. Recently the Mayor of Chicago proclaimed that 10th of August to be celebrated as house Unity Day in the city. The craze for House Music is one the rise and this is evident worldwide.

Wedding Disco Jockey Services

2011-12-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

When planning for an event, couples should consider hiring a wedding DJ mainly because they have the ability to keep the guests entertained throughout the ceremony. Music is a central factor in any Toronto marriage ceremony and this explains why many people access deejaying services. Many people access their services over the internet because it allows them to visit different sites at the same time and provides them with all the details that they need to know concerning the deejays. Some of the information a couple is likely to find include the type of services offered the physical address of the business, the charges and the conditions for hiring them. When shopping online for a deejay, one should consider a number of things.

Couples should avoid hiring their friends as deejays. Instead, they should invite them as guests. Inviting a friend as a wedding DJ may convey the wrong impression to them and couples may avoid this by inviting DJ's that they have no friendship or family ties with. Nuptials are one-time events therefore, people should hire professional Toronto DJ's to play music at their marriage ceremony. Professionals tend to have the ability to keep the guests entertained through out the ceremony and most of them are talented at reading the mood of the guests. Many people residing in Toronto prefer to hire deejays as an alternative to hiring a live band. Hiring live bands can be very expensive and people who cannot afford such services opt to hire wedding DJ services. Before hiring a deejay, a couple should Blog onto their websites in order to obtain views from other customers concerning the DJ's services.

This is important because it assists in determining whether they are suitable for hire or not. Hiring amateurs may result in poor service delivery and people can avoid this by taking time to search for the most suitable. When accessing their services, people should avoid expressing their excitement as it could distract them from carefully analyzing the wedding DJ. Another important factor to consider is the pricing. It is tempting to select those offering very low fees though one should consider the quality of their services as well. It is better to incur high costs and obtain quality services than incur low costs and obtain poor services. Many Toronto DJ's provide their customers with quality services thus ensuring that the guests enjoy themselves during the entire marriage ceremony.

The personality of a deejay is another factor that a couple should consider. Couples like to present themselves in the best manner possible during their marriage ceremony and this prompts most of them to hire a wedding DJ who has suitable traits. Most of them double up as Masters of Ceremony and this makes it much easier for couples organizing a wedding. Couples organizing a nuptial under a tight budget are likely to access such services in order to cut down on costs. Alternatively, couples may hire a deejay and a Master of Ceremony as separate entities. Toronto weddings require the services of both personalities for the smooth running of a wedding ceremony.

Disco Birthday Party Ideas

2011-11-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

When you are looking for ideas to plan the next birthday party for your favorite child make sure to investigate the many wonderful ideas available by making it a disco party. Children love these energetic events as the dance music makes an invigorating atmosphere and allows them to burn off excess energy in a positive manner.

Adding karaoke to your disco birthday party will enliven it even more. Every child wants to be a star. With the ease at which karaoke helps them get the words to their favorite song right, there is seldom any embarrassing moments to ruin the fun. It allows every participant to get the feel of being a real music pop star and helps reinforce positive social skills.

If you want to set up a specific theme idea for the disco birthday party, costumes can add to the fun. You can pick a specific retro decade for your theme and it shouldn't be too hard to find outfits to fit the mood. Adding karaoke to the mix will involve only a bit of work to find just the right songs to fit the event.

A bit of video editing can turn your child's disco birthday party into a fun documentary or an "episode" of a popular dance show. Creative editing of the dancers and performers can give you child a memento they can treasure for years.

Children do like to emulate adults so your disco birthday party ideas can range from the most casual of party events or go for an ultra formal event. The main idea is to make sure the fun factor is high. Whether your party is down to earth or a flight of high fantasy, adding the excitement of the dance will have them looking forward to the next birthday party so they can do it all again.

Disco Fever Dance Party

2011-11-11T20:27:00.000-08:00

Do you have Disco Dance Fever? If so, you need to celebrate! A Disco theme party can be a great way to celebrate a birthday of any age, honor a retiree or just plain have fun. Costumes and decorations will make this party even more fun and realistic.

Pick a theme for your dance party, whether it be disco, break dancing, rap or country and find coordinating decorations. A party supply store will have every theme for dancing the night away and all the trimmings to make your party a smashing success.

If Disco is your chosen theme, buy, rent or make a disco ball to hang in your party room. Whether it functions or not doesn't really matter, it adds to the ambience of the set. Find old posters of bands and singers from the disco era and hang around the house or room.

You can't have a Disco Dance Party without music! Use a karaoke machine to play only disco songs. Make it a competition for who has the best act. Turn it into an American Idol game and hand out personalized trophies as favorites or plastic records. Using the posters bought, see who can remember the names of the most acts. Winner gets to take an old record home for a prize.

Serve "Disco" food at your party. Serve things that are all round like the disco ball. Pizza, veggie trays, ham roll ups, cookies, brownies dips can all be made or put into circular dishes. Rename certain foods to give them a 70's flair. Make Bell Bottom Taco Dip or Groovy Potato Salad to serve the hungry dancers.

When serving food, buy all of your paper products from a party supply store. They will have every color and theme of plates, silverware, cups and napkins at your disposal. Have fun dancing.

Wedding Day Disco

2011-11-11T20:04:00.000-08:00

Your wedding day should be one of the happiest days of your life and one of the most memorable images from the day is often people dancing and enjoying themselves during the evening at the disco.

Along with all the other crucial decisions, choosing the right D.J. to host your evening is paramount. Everyone has different tastes and favourites in music and wedding crowds traditionally offer the widest appreciation going. From boy band loving teenage girls to grannies who can't resist the chance to jive, you are guaranteed to have them all.

Our professional DJ service know what songs are likely to get the party started and we make sure no one is left all by themselves. While the mobile disco is traditionally associated with the wedding evening, modern matrimonial occasions tend to happen over three days with arrivals the day before and departures the day after, all providing the opportunity to keep guests entertained with mood music, ceremonial compositions and all out party tunes.

We are able to provide musical accompaniment at the church, during the wedding reception and breakfast as well supplying the evening's entertainment. During the day there are times when the couple are not available to entertain their guests and cannot be there constantly so our service will provide a quiet and comforting background to the special day.

Working closely with you to provide the perfect sound track to your day, we are able to offer a distinct service that will only add to the enjoyment of your memorable day. Our modern technology enables a discrete presence tucked quietly away in a corner if preferred or alternatively if should you require lights, sound effects and an entertaining compare for the evening, we can pull out all the stops.

With extensive knowledge and experience of providing wedding disco, we are able to make suggestions and advice but also work closely with the happy couple to ensure they hear the type of songs and tunes they and their guest will love.

House Music - A Brief History of Early House Records

2011-11-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

In the Beginning

The origins of house music can be traced back to the early 1980's in Chicago, Illinois. House rhythms were originally rooted in disco, but the music was influenced by a wide range of styles including blues, jazz, soul, R&B, and funk.

Framing the "House"

The coining of the phrase "house music" is a hotly debated topic among musicians and DJ's. Some say it originated from a club called "The Warehouse" where longtime resident Producer/DJ Frankie Knuckles played his unique brand of dance music until 1982 when the venue closed. Knuckles himself said he first heard the term while passing by a bar on the south side of Chicago that displayed a sign in its window reading "We play house music". DJ Leonard "Remix" Rroy claims the sign was a reference to the type of soulful music one would play at home.

Another opinion is that the term referenced the creation of music in the homes of pioneering DJ's and dance producers. These early creations would be recorded using synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers. Others claim that "house" references the correlation of certain tracks with their respective DJ's, as in the house DJ's played their own house records.

The Pioneers of House

The Chicago club scene of the early 80's was fueled by DJ's spinning various forms of music including disco, hip hop, funk, pop, and R&B. The advent of relatively inexpensive electronic instruments led to many DJ's producing their own blend of existing songs by mixing in drum machines and effects.

Considered by many to be the first original house music record, "On & On" by Jesse Saunders was released in 1984. The album's success stimulated a wave of recordings from the early DJ's trying their hand at producing house music. The music soon branched off into subgenres of house such as deep house and acid house.

With the support of club DJ's such as Lil Louis, Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, and radio stations like WBMX, house music quickly gained popularity in Chicago. At the same time, house began to spread to neighboring DJ's and producers of Detroit, Michigan. Artists like Marshall Jefferson helped push house outside of Chicago with his widely popular track "Move Your Body". From the mid to late 80's artists like Larry Heard, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Farley Keith, and Steve Hurley, continued to popularize the genre.

Today, house music is stronger than ever and can be heard in some form throughout clubs across the globe. The genre has continued to branch off into subgenres including progressive house, electro house, techno house, breakbeat, and the list goes on. House is not just a form of music, but is a religion supported by devoted practitioners the world over.

How to Choose the Right Music for DJ Mixes

2011-10-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

What makes a DJ stand out from the rest? Is it the equipment they use? Is it the image they project? Is it the logo or how they're able to pull in huge crowds? Not necessarily. What truly makes a DJ is their ability to select music that is going to make the crowd go wild.

This article will share how to find those music tracks that will light up the dance floor and turn your DJ skills into a powerhouse force to be reckoned with.

The Right Music for DJ Mixes

Although music will vary depending on what genre you wish to spin, there are some common, underlying factors which make people fall in love with what you do.

Dropping the exclusive track

The 'white label' is some of the hardest to find tracks but they can be infinitely powerful when it comes to creating a DJ mix that blow people away. Exclusive tracks are generally given out to those that are well up there in the DJ ranks but you could always try to get in contact with record labels to see if they would be willing to send some your way.

The reason why exclusive tracks work is based on the fact that people don't want to just hear the same thing over and over again. They are all secretly looking to hear a track by an artist they know and if you drop that one that isn't even out yet - people go nuts!

Try to throw in a few unreleased tracks in the middle of your set that cranks up the power of your mix; that will get people hyped up and dancing like crazy when you do.

Hitting them with mainstream then obscurity

A great DJ set is a mixture of mainstream and obscure music. I know this sounds a little out of your comfort zone to play radio type music but they're very effective for getting people interested in your DJ mixing. The reason for this is that people may not know nearly as much music as you because, after all, you're a DJ and you have access to a lot of music.

Once you get people's interest, it's time to start working in the obscure tracks that will get the music lovers in the crowd; the people that spend all day finding obscure tracks. You want to have a blanket approach in your mixes so you can get everyone in the club rather than scaring them away with music that no one has heard of.

Pulling the ladies in

A trick that a lot of beginner DJ's seem to miss out on is the fact that if you can get ladies to the dance floor, the rest will follow. People go to clubs to have fun but the biggest reality is that people are there to score with the other genders. The music, club, drinks and everything else are social lubrication for people hooking up; that, at its core, is a lot of what DJing is about - creating the environment.

Although it may not completely fit your DJ mix, you'll want to throw in a few tracks that you know ladies love. Play something that may be a bit more mainstream that they're likely to know and want to get to the dance floor with their friends. If you can single out a group of women to come dance than you'll also begin to pull the guys in. Once you have people on the dance floor, they're yours to control.

Good DJ Music Will Make Your Event Shine

2011-10-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

When planning a party, you spend a lot of time deciding on decor and menu offerings. You also carefully include friends on the guest list that you know will contribute to the mood and bring out the best in the crowd. You also need to pay attention to the DJ music. Music provides the background that sets the ambiance of your event. Careful selection is necessary to get the desired results. Don't just rely on someone else's mix. Take a minute to assess your party, the guests and the mood you want to create.

When you are working with children, there can a lot of difficulties. First, kids have an unbelievable amount of energy. When choosing DJ music, you need to determine whether you are going to play off that energy or calm your young guests down. Depending on what the particular activity is, you may want to vary the mood throughout the event. If a game is being played, choose upbeat tunes. For the gifts or food, put on something that is a bit more mellow. Another thing to play close attention to the is the content of the music. Try to keep the values of your guests in mind. Even if you find something appropriate, you may have a more conservative family coming. If you unsure, ask a friend or family member whose opinion you trust.

For an adult party, you have a lot more leeway. Your choices in DJ music will vary all the way from classical to hard rock. If you have a diverse guest list, it's a good idea to avoid extremes on either end. Easy listening, contemporary or modern pop are probably good choices. For a wedding, an eclectic mix of love songs is appropriate. If you are throwing an event celebrating a life event, choose songs that celebrate life and triumphs. Take the extra time to tailor your playlist to your intended mood.

There are many choices when it comes to DJ music and only you can be sure what is the best choice. Even if you hire a professional disc jockey, you will still need to work closely with the professional to ensure that the final product is just what you had in mind. Good music will always be noticed and can really make your event shine.

The Resurgence Of The Disco Ball

2011-10-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Remember walking into clubs in the 1970s and 1980s? What was the one staple that every room had? If you said, "disco ball," you would be 100% correct. This room accessory was the one must have item for any club to be considered hot and they are making a huge comeback today.

Once the disco craze died down, having a disco ball became a thing of the past. Many of the clubs that had them up ended up removing them for fear of being classified as a disco club. For whatever reason, people started to once again realize that they added some interesting effects to the room and they slowly started to show up again at night clubs.

Today, a disco ball of some sort seems to be the focal point of clubs all over the country. Regardless of the type of music that is being played, DJs and club owners are integrating the effects into the scene. When ball gets turned on and the lights start flying across the room, it is not uncommon to hear a loud roar come out of the crowd.

Of course, clubs are not the only places that they are beginning to show up again. Individuals that are having a party are using disco ball rental services to add a realistic club effect to their own home. There are also smaller, more portable units that can sit on the floor, but still have the same effect as the hanging variety.

There is little doubt that the disco ball in once again back in style. If a club doesn't already have one, it will probably not be very long before one shows up hanging from the ceiling. The moment they get turned on, excitement seems to pulse throughout the room. Because there are now so many variations of the classic version, there is truly something for everyone that will take the party to the next level.

The classic disco ball has made a resurgence and no party should be without one. If you are a club owner or getting ready to have a party, be sure to add a disco ball to the room and when it gets turned on, watch the crowd go wild!

5 Best Nightclubs in Rome, Italy

2011-10-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

If you have scheduled a trip to Rome and are eager to sample some of the city's nightlife, then you are sure to have the time of your life as Rome plays host to a large number of nightclubs, lounges, bars, cafes and restaurants. The people of Rome know how to party and their nightclubs are based on this ideology of entertainment and pleasure. Here is a list of the top five nightclubs in the city.

1. Bar Del Fico - This nightclub is very popular amongst the artistic crowd in the city, and is located at the Piazza Del Fico. The club serves up a heady blend of great music and well mixed drinks, making it very popular among young crowds. The Bar Del Fico is also a popular hangout for many of the famous artists and actors from around Italy.

2, Piper Club - This was the first discotheque to have been established in Rome. The address of this club is 9 Via Tagliamento Rome 00198. The Piper Club mainly plays house and underground music, but is also famous for their 70s disco and rock music. In the summer months, the Piper club moves to an open air setting at the Via degli Eugenii.

3. Micca Club - This is a very unusual club, and it is one of the latest additions to Rome's nightclub scene. It is located at Via Pietro Micca 7a - Porta Maggiore, and is currently very popular among the locals. The club is located in the heart of a residential area, in a vast underground space. The Micca Club is famous for its themed nights, the DJs, the eclectic mixes of music and great drinks. If you are in Rome for a few days, you should make it a point to visit the Micca Club, just to get a feel of the local nightlife.

4. Club 84 - The address of this club is Via Emilia, 84 (Pinciano), and it is a very popular club that even slightly older people enjoy going to. On an average night, guests will pay around 15 or 20 Euros for entry, which includes a drink from the bar. The bar is closed on Monday, but when open, it serves as a disco and a piano bar, featuring music from the 60s and a range of Latin American inspired tracks.

5. Gilda - Gilda is one of the best known clubs in Rome, and it is located on the Via Mario de' Fiori. It is a fashionable club, where people go to be seen and even on a weeknight at Gilda, it is not uncommon to spot a few celebrities and politicians.

Disco Themed Weddings

2011-10-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

Every wedding needs a great theme. The trick is to pick a theme that really showcases your personality. If you can pick a wedding theme that will also be a blast for your guests, so much the better. For a really good time, why not have a disco themed wedding?

The disco era was all about dancing and having a great time, so it certainly works for a festive occasion like a wedding. It is perfect for a bride and groom who love to dance, and are not afraid to have a wedding that is a little bit different. A disco theme also will make the wedding attire and decorations very easy to choose.

The bride at a disco themed wedding should wear something fabulous. There are two approaches to take: you can wear a cool disco inspired dress for the whole event, or you could wear a more traditional wedding gown for the ceremony and change into a slinky little number for the reception. The perfect dress would be a body conscious style made out of a fabric with a sheen or shimmer, like a charmuese or a sequined fabric. The dress should look great moving and twirling on the dance floor as you show off your moves. Accessorize it with low platform sandals and crystal bridal jewelry. Your crystal bridal jewelry should definitely include an impressively large pair of earrings, with a stack of bracelets on your wrist.

The groom's outfit is a little more of a question. It depends on how far he wants to take the disco theme (without looking like he is wearing a costume). If he is really into it, he could go all out and wear a white suit with a black shirt just like John Travolta's famous duds from Saturday Night Fever. A less brave groom could wear a more traditional dark suit; the bride's outfit will set the tone very well.

Dancing and décor will be the other things that really make your disco themed wedding spectacular. For music, you will obviously play all of the great dance hits from the 1970s. Just watch how much fun your guests will have trying out their moves on the dance floor! Naturally, the newlyweds will want their first dance to be choreographed to a great disco hit, as well.

There is no question that a disco ball, or multiple disco balls will be the central decorating scheme for a disco themed wedding. It would really add to the ambiance to have multi colored lights over the dance floor, as well. The rest of the décor does not have to be totally retro '70s; instead think about shimmer, silver, and anything fabulous.

The theme of your wedding will definitely determine the mood for the affair. A disco themed wedding might not be right for everyone, but it could be a lot of fun for a playful, fun-loving couple. It will certainly make your wedding one that nobody will ever forget!

Bring the Disco to Your Desktop

2011-09-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love the weekends? It is the time that you can dress up or dress down and you can enjoy the night and you do not have to worry about waking up early the following morning. After all, you do need a pretty good rest because the main thing that you love doing during the weekend is going to the disco and dancing the night away. With all that stress at work, dancing surely just melts it all away and you are recharged.

But of course you cannot go to the disco every day of your life. It is also important that you work because you do need the money that comes with it. But you sure do think that life would be far better if we all could disco and get money for doing it. You do feel that you have been born to be part of this and you just do not want the music to stop.

Now there is no need to stop the music and there is no need to put out those wonderful lights. The disco can be brought right to your desktop and you can do that easily. Yes, that is right. All you need is the Desktop Disco and the disco fever stays with you even while you work. Oh just imagine working with this gadget right with you. Sure enough, you will be more than energized that you will definitely breeze through the day without even noticing where the time went.

So now you are thinking just what kind of gadget is this Desktop Disco. Well, do not be surprised because this one is surely going to blow your brains away. See, this is actually a USB gadget and it comes as a mouse and a mouse pad.

They come as a set and they have been made to remind you much of the disco. The mouse itself has been made to look like your disco ball - only smaller. And since it is a USB gadget, you just need to plug it right in your computer and you will see that the different colors of the lights start flashing. In that instant, your office becomes a disco club. Well, at least, it will remind you of one.

A lot of USB gadgets can really knock your socks off and this one is included in those amazing gadgets that you just plug in.

Boogie Down in Disco Diva Style

2011-09-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

Disco might be dead, but the spirit definitely isn't. Just because you never made it through the doors of Studio 54 doesn't mean you can't enjoy a little bit of the disco life; with the right beats and the perfect disco-fabulous costume, dancing the night away is just as much fun now as it was in the 70's!

The disco era is probably one of the most mocked when it comes to the fashions. Men wore suits with huge lapels and bell-bottom pants, while women dressed in wild outfits with bright patterns, and wore heavy makeup. Certainly today the clothes seem over the top; they were outrageous to be sure, but it was a truly outrageous era, and anyone who lived it can tell you it was also an incredibly fun time.

In the late 70's Disco fever was at its height, and people from all walks of life dressed up in their best and headed out to spend the night boogying at clubs across the country. The dance floor wasn't just a showcase for your Saturday Night fever inspired dance moves - it was also a place to see and be seen, and take in the sight of people dressed in some of the wildest outfits ever to grace a dance floor.

Women wore short, tight dresses adorned with sequins, fringe, bright colors and patterns as well as one-piece jumpsuits that clung to curves in all the right places. Men arrived in suits in white or varying colors, shirts open to reveal gold chains and bell bottom pants. Platform shoes were all the rage, and both men and women sported them. Having interesting things appear in the platform portion of the shoe was a disco favorite, most famously the trick of a live goldfish.

Disco costumes are wildly popular to this day, as so many people still remember the heyday of the music, dance and fashion that sent the 70's out in unforgettable style. Disco was the antithesis of the hippie movement - all about glamour, fun and hedonism, with a certain selfish disregard for consequences. It was a brief time in history but left a mark through unmistakable musical sounds and clothing. It set the stage for the rave movement that would come later, and to this day everyone wishes they could have spent a night grooving on the dance floors of the famous disco clubs.

Fortunately, thanks to some super sexy and incredibly fun disco costumes, you can relive the disco era at Halloween or any time - don't forget to feed the fish in your shoes!

Glasgow Gay Bars

2011-09-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and over 1 and a half million people call Glasgow home. Glasgow gay bars and Glasgow gay clubs are brilliant and the gay scene in Glasgow is better than you'd expect. There are many Glasgow gay bars and Glasgow gay clubs and you may struggle deciding where to go.

When in Glasgow the choice of gay bars and clubs is endless, each with its own features, the Glasgow clubs such as Aqueerious + Passionality, Burly, the Court Bar and others, with all types of entertainment. The Aqueerious + Passionality is located at Planet Peach, Union Street and is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM. Monday night is quieter night of the two nights; Tuesday night is a music filled club night.

Burly is located at The Arches on Midland Street, this is a trendy bar where the dress code can include rubber, denim, leather and kilts, because this is after all Scotland. There are drink promos and live DJs, along with other events at Burly. The Court Bar is located on Hutchinson Street, this is a smaller Glasgow gay bar, is a pub setting and music from the seventies and eighties. This is a pub where drinks, conversation and dancing can start the evening, prior to clubbing.

Delmonica's is one of the popular nightspots in Glasgow, with cabaret, karaoke, and disco music. They also serve food daily until 7:00 PM and have a full line of drinks until midnight. This popular gay bar is located on Virginia Street. The Polo Lounge is a club with three levels, there are bars and a dance floor on each level for its patrons and is located on Wilson Street. This bar also has extended hours from Friday until Sunday isn't until 3:00 AM and Monday through Thursday it is open until 1:00 AM.

Here we offer a list of the best Glasgow gay bars and Glasgow gay clubs in order for you to be able to decide where will suit you best for your night out in Glasgow. You are able to view user feedback and comments about the venues and we have a rating system.

Booking Your Wedding DJ

2011-08-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

Finding a wedding DJ for your big day can be time consuming and a challenge, but take a look online and you'll find there are all kinds of wedding entertainers out there just waiting for you to book them! Choosing the perfect one from the wide choice you're faced with is the next task so take a quick look at the tips below for some guidance.

Any established and professional DJ for wedding will have their own website where videos and photos of them can be viewed. This is much more convenient and quicker than having to go along to watch them play live or arranging meetings to get a sense of their style. Just watch a few videos by different DJs and draw yourself up a short list of the ones you like.

Before making any final decision you should always take a look at what past clients have said about entertainers, this feedback can be found on their websites and is invaluable in helping you make up your mind. Also arrange to meet up with them so you can see if you get on, a good entertainer will have an easy-going sense of humour and be friendly and easy to talk to. Some also offer you the ability to plan your reception online with an online planner that allows you to build music lists, select songs and ask for particular requests. Compile your own playlist via the website, fill in basic details and get an instant online quote.

Once you have made a choice then book your DJ early if you don't want to be disappointed, it might even be necessary to book as much as 6 months to a year in advance if you have your heart set on a particular person.

Next you need to confirm with a deposit, also read through the contract very carefully as changes may incur costs and you want to be sure that the price given includes everything, from the latest sound equipment and transportation to the number of hours played. All costs and fees should have been discussed with you beforehand and there should be no nasty surprises in store! The total price will be in the contract with any applicable taxes added.

After the DJ is booked arrange another meeting well before the actual wedding day whereby you can get together and arrange the songs you want played in the order you prefer. They will have a song list of thousands to choose from and be able to offer you plenty of advice and recommendations of music that gets the dance floor full and everyone jiving. With everyone up dancing and enjoying themselves you can relax and have fun too. Your first dance with your new partner is also important and these are details that need time spent on them if you want everything to run smoothly on the day.

Other questions worth asking are how many years experience they have, particularly for wedding parties as the more they have the better they will be at coping with any problems or situations that may arise. A professional will know how to read the crowd and change the song accordingly making sure your night runs as smoothly as possible.

Expect your act to arrive early so they have time to set everything up well before the guests start to arrive, and have their sound check completed. As soon as people start to enter the room then the entertainment starts. Most DJs and wedding singers should welcome any requests on the night as long as they are family-friendly!

If you're interested in wedding entertainment Yorkshire, Lancashire or anywhere else in the UK then do a search online and find something that will suit your taste and style. Fun and affordable a wedding DJ can create the perfect atmosphere and make your day a beautiful one to remember.

Christmas Party Theme Ideas

2011-08-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

Whilst Christmas itself is often enough of a theme for any seasonal party, having a different approach is a great way to break away from tradition and do something new, fun and interesting for your event. From the invitations through to costumes and fancy dress down to the music and food, your chosen theme can be carried on throughout the whole party planning process.

Disco 70's themed Christmas party A 70's inspired party is all about the clothes and the music, from the giant bell-bottom flairs to the Saturday Night Fever dance floor. Encourage guests with fancy dress ideas of disco platform shoes or knee high boots, loud colourful trousers with velvet, velour or hippy style fringed suede. Set up a mirrored disco ball above the dance floor and position lighting to reflect off the ball for maximum effect, strategically placing lava lamps in darker corners. For full authenticity, go for classic drinks of the era such as Martini, Chinzano or all time favourites like piña colada's and tequila sunrise. It almost goes without saying, music is key to any disco themed party and Leo Sayer's "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", the Bee Gees "Night Fever" and Abba's "Dancing Queen" should get guests on the dance floor.

Circus themed Christmas party Create the atmosphere and excitement of a circus with bright colours, streamers and bunting and continue the theme through to table decorations with red and white table cloths. If your room has enough space, a big top effect can be created with a canopy tent decorated with bold contrasting fabric, decorated with fairy lights. Enhance the effect by setting up and decorating tables as themed circus stalls for carnival themed food or hire popcorn and candyfloss machines to delight guests during the party. For true authentic entertainment, hire performers with unusual or circus related routines that will fit with the circus theme such as fire eaters, jugglers and clowns.

Cabaret themed Christmas party Capture the magic, glitz and glamour of cabaret with pearls, feathers and twinkling lights. Black and red fabrics, balloons and streamers are ideal decorations for a cabaret theme and can also be used on party invitations. Adorn tables with red glass platters and tableware for the food over black velvet table cloths. If cabaret acts, showgirls and live music are part of the plan for the Christmas party, a raised stage area would be ideal and will allow hired performers to be easily viewed by guests. Ladies costumes should include red and black corsets, skirts or dresses and stockings with feather boas for a nice touch while men can in black slacks and trouser braces.

Vegas themed Christmas party The lights, glamour and thrills of Vegas attract millions of visitors to the city each year and this excitement makes the ideal theme for a great Christmas party. Gaming, shows and the sights and sounds of sin city offers a huge variety of possibilities for activities and decorations. Use multiple sets of fairy lights set the scene with carefully placed mirrors to create the effect of bright flickering city lights with shimmering golden palms for decoration. A variety of hired card and dice games and tables can be provided along with chips to gamble away during the night. Extra helpers can dress for the occasion with visors and black vests and act as dealers for the evening. Champaign, cocktails, daiquiris and margaritas are ideal drinks for a Las Vegas theme and buffet style food allows guests to mingle and play games without a formal sit down event. Music for the evening should represent classic Las Vegas such as Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond and Wayne Newton, although any type of characteristic lounge music will do.

Simple Steps to Sell Music and Audio Files On Your Website

2011-07-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Audio files are a popular medium for people to stay up to date with new books, to learn new skills, be entertained, find motivation in all aspects of life and more. Whether you are a musician, a teacher, or a writer at some point in time you will likely decide to include digital audio files of your work so people can pay and simply download your creations rather than wait in the mail for a physical cd.

Praise for Digital Audio Files

With digital audio files, there is no cd cover....no art...no physical item to hold in your hand. Instead, it is in the simplicity and remarkable convenience where the beauty lies. It is in the ability to sunbathe on the beaches of Brazil while listening to the newest music from home. It is the ability to close one's eyes, relax and tune in your ears to learn a new skill or be entertained with a story. It is in the fact that cell phones are rarely created nowadays without the ability to play music whenever and wherever you please.

How to Sell Audio Files on Your Website (Step by Step Guide):

1. The first step is coming up with a domain name. This should be something that is easy to remember and type into the address bar. It is generally recommended to avoid symbols and numbers whenever possible. Short and memorable is best.

2. Once you have your domain name, you must see if it is available by going to any domain name service online and typing in your choice. If it is not available, then you will usually be given some alternative options.

3. Purchase your domain name and a web hosting service. There are literally thousands of web hosts available to choose from. Look around, read reviews and then make a choice. You can always change.

4. Buy and install music vendor software, which allows you to sell your audio files on your website.

5. Begin playing with your software and add individual tracks and entire albums.

Booking Your Wedding DJ

2011-07-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Before making any final decision you should always take a look at what past clients have said about entertainers, this feedback can be found on their websites and is invaluable in helping you make up your mind. Also arrange to meet up with them so you can see if you get on, a good entertainer will have an easy-going sense of humour and be friendly and easy to talk to. Some also offer you the ability to plan your reception online with an online planner that allows you to build music lists, select songs and ask for particular requests. Compile your own playlist via the website, fill in basic details and get an instant online quote.

Once you have made a choice then book your DJ early if you don't want to be disappointed, it might even be necessary to book as much as 6 months to a year in advance if you have your heart set on a particular person.

Next you need to confirm with a deposit, also read through the contract very carefully as changes may incur costs and you want to be sure that the price given includes everything, from the latest sound equipment and transportation to the number of hours played. All costs and fees should have been discussed with you beforehand and there should be no nasty surprises in store! The total price will be in the contract with any applicable taxes added.

After the DJ is booked arrange another meeting well before the actual wedding day whereby you can get together and arrange the songs you want played in the order you prefer. They will have a song list of thousands to choose from and be able to offer you plenty of advice and recommendations of music that gets the dance floor full and everyone jiving. With everyone up dancing and enjoying themselves you can relax and have fun too. Your first dance with your new partner is also important and these are details that need time spent on them if you want everything to run smoothly on the day.

Other questions worth asking are how many years experience they have, particularly for wedding parties as the more they have the better they will be at coping with any problems or situations that may arise. A professional will know how to read the crowd and change the song accordingly making sure your night runs as smoothly as possible.

Expect your act to arrive early so they have time to set everything up well before the guests start to arrive, and have their sound check completed. As soon as people start to enter the room then the entertainment starts. Most DJs and wedding singers should welcome any requests on the night as long as they are family-friendly!

If you're interested in wedding entertainment Yorkshire, Lancashire or anywhere else in the UK then do a search online and find something that will suit your taste and style. Fun and affordable a wedding DJ can create the perfect atmosphere and make your day a beautiful one to remember.

House Music: My Favorite Songs and Artists

2011-07-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

House music is a form of electronic dance music. It originated in what one might call post-disco America. House is a relative of disco music. Some may say that house evolved from disco music. It was also influenced by soul and funk.

Frankie Knuckles was one of the founding fathers of house. He was a DJ at a club in Chicago known as The Warehouse. Some people say that house music takes its name from The Warehouse where primitive house began. Frankie Knuckles would mix disco, Philly soul, European pop, synthesized drum beats, and sound effects to make his music. Later artists would use synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, mixers, electronic drum machines, vocals, and other effects to make the first original house records.

A genre of music known as garage house also became popular around the same time in New York City. Larry Levan was a DJ at the Paradise Garage from which garage house gets it name.

I had a friend named Mark who introduced me to house during my college days in the late 1980s. Mark was from the Chicago area so it's no surprise that he was familiar with the genre. He used to play a lot of house and other dance music. He made me a few a mix tapes, some of which were recordings of WBMX and WGCI radio programs. I had never heard anything quite like Chicago house music before.

Some of house music's popular songs contained the word jack. Jacking was the word used by Chicago club-goers to describe the frenzied body of a dancer when dancing to the Chicago house sound. Larry Heard uses the word jack in the opening of his song "Can You Feel It?" He says, "In the beginning, there was Jack, and Jack had a groove. And, from this groove came the groove of all grooves. And, while one day viciously throwing down on his box, Jack boldly declared, "Let there be HOUSE!" and house music was born."

Some Names Associated with House:

Frankie Knuckles

Larry Levan

Marshall Jefferson

Todd Terry

Farley "Jackmaster" Funk

Ralphi Rosario

Jesse Saunders

Tyree Cooper

Chip E.

Adonis

Steve "Silk" Hurley

Phuture

Lil' Louis

J.M. Silk

Ron Hardy

Kevin Saunderson

Some of My Favorite House Songs:

1. Can You Feel It? - Larry Heard (a.k.a. Mr. Fingers)

2. Jack it All Night Long - Bad Boy Bill

3. Rhythem Method - Mink

4. House Nation - House Master Boyz

5. Whatever Turns You On - Mario Reyes

6. Pump Up Chicago - Mr. Lee

7. Used By DJ - MKII

8. Jack Me 'til I Scream - Julian Jumpin' Perez

9. Can You Party? - Royal House

10. Can U Dance - Fast Eddie Smith and Kenny "Jammin" Jason

11. Can't Stop the House - Thompson and Lenoir

12. How to Play Our Music - Reese and Santonio

13. Don't Make Me Jack (Tonite I Wanna House You) - Paris Grey

14. Pump Up the Volume - M/A/R/R/S

Other songs I heard on WBMX or WGCI mixes that were house or dance music:

Big Fun - Inner City

Good Life - Inner City

American Soviets - C.C.C.P.

Baila - Raz

Rock This House - Mark Imperial and Dennis Ramirez

Bass Line (The Gemini Rap) - Mickey Oliver Project featuring M.C. Taste

I Want to Be Your Property (Street Latin Wolff Mix) - Blue Mercedes

I'm So Hot For You - Bobby Orlando

Birthday Suit (House Mix) - Johnny Kemp

Some different styles of house music include deep house, acid house, and ambient house.

An interesting genre related to house is hip-house. Hip-house is a blend of hip-hop and house components. Hip-house was extremely popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Some hip-house songs may include:

I'll House You - Jungle Brothers

Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic

Groove is in the Heart - Deee Lite

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C&C Music Factory

Strike it Up - Black Box

Everybody Everybody - Black Box

The Power - Snap!

Vogue - Madonna

Yo Yo Get Funky - Fast Eddie

It Takes Two - Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock

House continues to have a presence in contemporary times. My favorite is Chicago house from the 1980s. Trax Records and DJ International Records pressed many of the Chicago house songs onto vinyl. Some of these songs can be heard at online video websites. Compact discs can be found online and even some classic vinyl records are for sale as well.

Choosing The Right DJ For A Great Disco Party

2011-07-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

If you are organising a party, no matter what the occasion, and you would like to make your party successful, you will have to be versatile in organising the whole event. If you are willing to base your celebration on the concept of a disco design, you will have to cooperate carefully with your DJ to ensure that you are happy with the songs that are being selected. It will benefit you to select the most skilled DJ that you can discover, therefore you, and your event can benefit from their knowledge especially if they are into disco style celebrations. Listen to the DJ's advice, but remember you are the one having to pay the bills and eventually the last choices are yours.

An excellent way to locate a good DJ is to ask people you know for names of great disco DJ's.

If you cannot get any references then your research can be a little more difficult, it is possible to reach some entertainment business organisations and ask for recommendations. When you locate a couple of DJ's that you are fascinated by then reach them, and set up a time to talk to them. When you meet the DJ, ask if he is insured, and afterwards see if you are compatible with the DJ's music vision for a party of this kind, and if he is amenable to your way of handling the whole event. Once you have made your decision on a DJ then you will have to make a list of what you expect for your money, and a list of priorities, and go over it together with the DJ well in advance of the party to ensure you are each on the same sheet of music.

Make sure to let the DJ knows profile of the guests so that he can select appropriate music. The age range of the visitors will be critical to the DJ so that he can select age corresponding music. The DJ has the ability to recommend you on karaoke and various services that he can present to keep the party going in the appropriate direction. Guarantee that your visitors are requesting songs, this will ensure that very favored tracks are being played. If you and the DJ work with each other, you can put together a disco event that your visitors will be referring to for a long time. Thus, if you discover the appropriate DJ you can put your mind at ease and enjoy the show.

Funk and Disco Grooves For Bass & Guiitar - Book Review

2011-06-29T05:11:00.000-07:00

Bernard Edwards of Chic laid down some essential funk grooves during his time with Chic. Finally someone has had the foresight to transcribe some of his greatest grooves and present them for the bass community. Stuart Clayton has released a book of both Bernard's bass lines AND Nile Rodgers' guitar lines. The book is called Funk & Disco Grooves For Bass & Guitar.

So What's The Book About?

This book is a collection of transcriptions of both guitar and bass lines to a host of great tunes that were played on by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. The book covers songs from Chic, Sister Sledge & Diana Ross - as well as the song they produced for Carly Simon called Why.

How Is The Book Presented?

Because these songs relied heavily on sections built upon grooves that then repeated, the transcriptions are not always presented as 'whole' songs. Instead you might get say the intro, the verse, the chorus and the bridge.

The transcriptions themselves are published in standard notation with chord symbols and tab.

The book is around 140 pages long and soft bound. Stuart Clayton the author has self published this book and previous books of his have featured spiral binding - sadly, this one doesn't have a spiral binding. As well as the transcriptions there are some short sections on gear and technique, and the history of how Chic came together.

What Songs Are Included?

The book features bass and guitar lines to 20 songs. These include Dance Dance Dance, Everybody Dance, Strike Up the Band, Le Freak, Chic Cheer, I Want Your Love, Happy Man, He's The Greatest Dancer, We are Family, Lost In Music, Thinking of You, Pretty Baby, Good Times, My Feet Keep Dancing, My Forbidden Lover, Upside Down, I'm Coming Out, My Old Piano, Burn Hard and Why.

How Could This Book Be Better

There's no CD to playalong to with this book - the author states that he thought about it, but then decided it would be better to play along to the original recordings and absorb the essence of groove directly. I still think a CD would have made this better though.

Some video lessons - whether available with the book, or as additional content accessed via the internet - would also have been good. Especially some footage of the unusual 'thumb as pick' technique that Bernard Edwards used on Everybody Dance.

And from a personal viewpoint there are some songs that Bernard played on that I'd have liked to see included - and some that are included I'd have liked to see not included. But that's always going to be the way with projects of this nature.

Summary

This is a 5 Star book. Even the lack of spiral binding can't stop me giving this book 5 stars. The bass lines of Bernard Edwardr are well worth of study and reproduction. Don't let the fact that Chic were a 'disco' band fool you - there are some serious bass lines going on and we should all be thankful to Stuart Clayton that he was transcribed some of Bernard Edwards's finest moments for us.

Best Guitar Practice For How to Hear Intervals

2011-06-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

Learning guitar theory is an important step to becoming a great guitar player. One of the beginning musical theory concepts that you will learn in music is called intervals. Intervals, are when you take two notes in either play them together or separately.

Another important step to becoming a great guitar player is to learn how to apply music theory to your six string instrument. This is accomplished by what is called ear training, and is an important step that you should incorporate into your daily practice schedule.

Continuing on with our quest in learning how to hear intervals, let's take a look at the five, final intervals that you will want to learn to recognize.

Minor 6th: Once you get past the beginning intro, the beginning verse of the song known as "The Entertainer" is a great way to recognize a minor 6th.

Major 6th: The tunes known as "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean," and "Nobody Knows" are excellent for learning to recognize the major 6th interval.

Minor 7th: The minor 7th interval can be a tricky interval to recognize, however, thanks to the classic science fiction show known as "Star Trek" you can use the first two notes of the theme song to help you recognize this interval.

Major 7th: Probably the most dissonant sounding interval, the best way to recognize this interval is to listen for the dissonant sounding notes when played together, or the seventh note wanting to resolve up to the octave note.

Octave: Just listen to any disco record with a repeating baseline, and chances are you will hear octaves everywhere. If disco music is not your style, then you can always think of the first two notes of the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow."

If any of the songs mentioned are not familiar to you then the two things you can do to help your ear recognize intervals is to...

1. Memorize the sound of the Interval: Sometimes there are no songs that you may be familiar with. If that's the case, don't fret. You can still learn to hear intervals, however, it just might take a little longer. If you enjoy writing music, try having one of your songs start off with the intervals that you are having the most difficult time in hearing.

2. Find another song that starts with the interval: The interval hearing list given above is just a small sample of songs with interval comparisons. If you're unfamiliar with any of the songs listed above, then begin finding other songs that you listen to, and begin to use the songs you are most familiar with to recognize intervals.

4 Secrets of Top Disco House Producers

2011-05-27T05:20:00.000-07:00

Disco is the much maligned genre that helped spawn modern dance music and carved out a niche for electronic beats in the mainstream. While the original disco wave may have died out long ago, its influence still reverberates strongly in the world of house music. In fact, an entire genre has sprung up called disco house, which celebrates this musical style in a thoroughly modern context. This article takes a look at 5 secret ingredients that disco house producers employ while banging out some of their hottest tracks.

1. When in doubt, remix. In the past 10 years house music has adopted a strong tendency to remix classic tracks. Since disco music was so danceable in its original form, the addition of modern technology, beats and basslines coupled with advances in sampling is capable of generating a monster track if properly remixed. This can mean either revamping an entire song like M & S did with 'Salsoul Nugget' in 2000, or merely grab the main melody like the filter house / disco house classic 'Music Sounds Better With You' by Stardust.

2. Harnessing the power of a live element. One of the big differences between disco and modern dance music was the fact that while drum machines and sequencing played a role in the original recordings, most of the time real drummers, guitarists and bassists had a heavy hand it what ended up being pressed onto wax. This human touch can sometimes be missing from house, and the most savvy disco house music producers have had big hits thanks to savvy sampling of some of the most organic elements of original disco tracks. A perfect example of this is the track 'Let's All Chant' by Disco Queen, which borrows heavily from the Michael Zager original. This can really get a good crowd response going at a club.

3. Vocals, vocals, vocals. A large part of the power of disco house music comes from its vocal flavor, which can be either male or female. In disco tracks, the vocals often carried the entire track, along with the baseline, so when putting together disco house producers try make sure that they can include a sweet vocal hook to snare in listeners. If a vocal isn't available, then accenting the most recognizable elements from a past disco classic can help create a killer theme.

4. Have fun with the stereotype. For better or worse, disco music has become inextricably associated with leisure suits, big hair and elaborate dance moves. Disco house music that has fun with these images is often very successful, whether it be in the form of sampled references to pop culture touchstones or simply through embracing the whimsical and non-serious aesthetic of the genre.

The 70's: Storytellers, Rockers, and Disco

2011-05-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

The '70's rolled in and pretty much took up where the '60's had left off. The turbulent '60's had seen the assassination of president John Kennedy and soon after, the shooting of his brother, Robert, an unpopular and seemingly no win situation with the war in Vietnam, and another assassination of a man who was trying to bring about great change, Martin Luther King Jr. But there was light at the end of the tunnel for the U.S. In May of 1969, the first manned- moon landing took place.

Not only did America beat the Soviets to the lunar surface, but we did it within the time frame that President Kennedy had proposed some eight years earlier. With all this going on, the music was there throughout.

Music would take a hard shot as well, however, right at the opening of the new decade. After six years of creating and playing music that changed and made history, the Beatles went their separate ways. After about four years of artistic, financial, and personal differences, John, Paul, George, and Ringo called it quits. Their fans were devastated. Their last no. 1 hit was Paul McCartney's, moving 'Let It Be'. All four would have success on their own, but the chemistry and charisma that was the 'Beatles', was gone.

A huge gear was missing in the machine that was rock 'n' roll, but the machine wasn't broke. How could it be? There were still so many great artists that were and had been there. Not to mention new stars that were on the horizon. The hard rocking Led Zeppelin got mellow and poetic with '71's No. 1 smash, 'Stairway to Heaven'. Singer/songwriters like Elton John, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Neil Young, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, and the late great Jim Croce were filling the airwaves with songs that told stories that spoke to us all, then and now.

Black Sabbath, along with front-man Ozzy Osbourne introduced the music to 'Metal Rock'. Hard-driving, in-your-face, and with no apologies, it struck a very loud core with listeners. Love it, hate it, face it, Metal was here and impossible to ignore. African American artist like "the godfather of soul", James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Sly and the family Stone, were educating and bringing folks of different races together, as well as entertaining. Marvin Gaye's unforgettable classic, 'What's Going On', spoke to rising poverty and crime of the inner-cities.

A new word, "funk" was being used more and more to describe the music that was coming from the black artists of the day. Stevie Wonder expertly mixed soul, funk, and a little touch of rock with mega-hit, 'Superstition', (challenge you not to move to it).

Another genre of rock was developing and growing popular, especially with southern listeners. A combination of country and rock, this new sound was known as 'Country' or 'Southern' Rock. Leading the way were bands like .38 Special, the Almond Brothers, Bad Company, and the legendary, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Their huge classic, "Freebird", is probably being sung along to by partially inebriated, enthusiastic, rednecks as I write this. God knows I have. Another band with a 'country' twang was the Eagles. Always just a little more rock than country, songs like, "Take It Easy", "One of These Nights", Best of My Love", and the ultra-classic, "Hotel California", along with an almost perfect melodic harmony between the members, made the Eagles one of the most popular, influential bands in pop-music history.

Then, in 1977, the film, "Saturday Night Fever", opened up in theatres. Creating a mega-celebrity out of 23 year-old star, John Travolta. The movie's soundtrack introduced America to the 'Bee Gees' and 'Disco'. The Bee Gees, hit 'Staying Alive' was the no. 1 hit of that year. Lasting only 4 years the "disco era", made stars out of artist like, Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Chic, and, at the top of the totem-pole,the Bee Gees. A pulsing rhythmic beat, along with a soaring choir of instruments like trumpets, the music was 100% dance driven. Although it's reign was short, disco's legacy has out-lived it's sound. Whenever you hear today's dance-club music, your listening to disco, (slightly evolved), but still there.

For just regular, good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll, there was Paul McCartney and his band,' Wings'. The former Beatle was pumping out hit tunes like, "Band on the Run", "Juniors Farm", "With A Little Luck", and the simplistic but very catchy, "Let 'em In". Newcomers', Fleetwood Mac and their ground-breaking album, "Rumors", swept the airwaves in 1976. In 1979, Pink Floyd built an album and called it, "The Wall". It became an instant classic. Blondie sang about a "Heart of Glass", the Kinks met "Lola", but stayed just friends, and Queen promised, "We Will Rock You".

In 1977, an unexpected tragedy occurred. Legendary performer, and the 'King of Rock 'n' Roll', Elvis Aaron Pressley died in a Memphis, Tenn. hospital at the age of 42. He had been found unconscious in the bathroom of his Graceland home. Prescription drug abuse was the primary cause.

An entire nation mourned the once dynamic singer's passing. 24-48 hr. musical tributes on the radio and constant television coverage. One got the feeling that some head of state had died, and the truth was not far off. Elvis Pressley, it seemed had touched so many people with his music, movies, and his down-home country, manner. He is greatly missed to this day. "Long live the King".

The '70's. Some musical genres came and stayed, some came and went. We regretfully said good-bye to performers that were dearly loved like, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Croce, and Janis Joplin. But like the Righteous Brothers sang, "If there's a rock 'n' roll heaven, you know they got a hell of a band"!

Disco Dance Floor - The King Of The Nightclub

2011-05-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

So now that you have planned to break into the night club scene, you have yourself the building and you have yourself the idea - what about adding in a disco dance floor? No, really, they are now starting to be some of the hottest nightcltb products in the world and once you think about it, why wouldn't they? Disco music was hot in the Seventies and the disco dance floor was something that was in each and every single night club from around the world, whether you are situated in Europe or in the United States!

Now that the disco dance floor is arriving back, you have to make sure that it fits into the topic of your club - all of those bright colors may be intimidating and even though this is an amazing technology, you need to make sure that you are not adding one into your club if it basically does not go with the decor or the whole concept. For example, if you are opening up an ultra modern or even just a modern night club that is mostly covered in white, black and chrome, adding in a disco dance floor may not be the best idea.

There is a time and place for this kind of equipment though and that time and place is in brightly coloured night clubs! Now, naturally, the technology has evolved very much, heck, there are even LED dance floors that may be regarded as interactive. Yep, you can step on one area and it will light up, step on another and it will light up. The interactive floors truthfully bring much fun for the visitors and if you want to impress them, these may be the best option!

Now that you have decided to spice up your night club decor using a disco dance floor, you now have to do your research! Yes, that suggests going on the internet and looking at all of the different kinds and colors available. One can pretty much bet that whichever producer you happen to go using should have all types of kinds and colors for you to choose.

Whether you are looking to just bring more of a crowd into your night club or you are just trying to transform your night club into something special, a disco dance floor can absolutely do it and can turn your club into one of the best ones!

Donna Summer, the Disco Queen is Still Dancing

2011-05-09T05:15:00.000-07:00

Donna Summer earned the title "Disco Queen" early in her career. Today her voice continues to soar with boundless range and fire whether recorded or live. The personable winner of Grammy Awards, gold albums, an Oscar and dozens of other honors continues in top form. Her latest release, "To Paris With Love," is already a hit with its irresistible melody and her signature disco beat that begs listeners to leap from their chairs and dance.

The incentive to compose the song was her unabashed love for Paris. Because France was one of the first countries to embrace her music, she wanted the song to express her boundless affection for the nation and its people. She initially planned to release it only in the south of France during the country's popular vacation season, but her co-writer, Bruce Roberts, thought it was perfect for summertime everywhere, so they put it out for her fans as an escape to the romance and allure of the City of Lights.

Summer has been a favorite in Europe since arriving in Germany during the late 1960s to play Sheila in "Hair." She regards performing in Europe for many years before returning home as a true learning experience that taught her the outlook on fame she has to this day. While Americans want fame right away, Europeans have a more sober idea of fame. She wholly embraces their concept of fame as a distant thing to achieve even though she is one of the most famous entertainers worldwide.

Employing the art of characterization she developed in "Hair" and succeeding musicals, she amassed fans at live concerts and began recording songs in the disco style that soon defined her. To this day, other musicians clamor to cover the songs she made famous, many of them her own compositions. Her goal is to tell the story of each song she sings by becoming the character in the song. The character can be light and fluffy, deadly serious, or something in-between. A painter with words, she wrote her earlier album "Crayons" with the idea that each song would stand for a different color in a box of crayons and represent a different dance style.

At age 60-plus and still a veritable bundle of energy, Summer is one of the most popular personalities in show business and is always ready and willing to pay homage to others. She sang in tribute to her close friend Barbra Streisand at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2008 and more recently in Oslo when President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize. She herself was honored in June as an inductee of the Hollywood Bowl of Fame together with The Carpenters and French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. After her performance, Michael Christie, conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, rushed backstage to invite her to be the headliner at the orchestra's Gala concert in October.

Accepting with pleasure, she plowed into preparations for the show that has, in her words, everything:dancing, singing and visuals. She loves performing with symphonies and always laughs when she overhears the musicians griping and wondering why they have to play for her. Then they look at the charts that they have to learn very quickly and pay attention to every note. Getting it right is a lot more difficult than they realized. More likely than not, many approach her afterward to apologize.

While Summer is recording her next album, "Ordinary Girl" sits on the back burner. She began writing the musical shortly after her autobiography by the same name was published. At the time, she intended for the show bursting with her classic numbers to be a Broadway vehicle for her three talented daughters, but now that one has her own band and is on the road much of the time, Broadway must wait. As a devoted mother, Summer is always careful about what she says, especially because she is determined to let them find their own way in the business.

In the meantime, thankful for the career that has been good to her for so many years, she says, "Even though being on the road and singing is a lot of work, I love every minute of it. My greatest pleasure still is entertaining my fans."

Music Versus Body Energy Relationship

2011-05-05T05:13:00.000-07:00

I wonder why we listen to music! What do we feel when listening to music! What happens to our body! Why a fantastic song for someone is terrible for the other! Why we sometimes feel different and want to listen to our best music but bored, we replace it, and replace it and replace it, still don't like any of them. We sometimes buy a CD to listen in one day, we like that CD but never want to listen and always choose something else instead. We don't like a kind of music but after years, we suddenly like it! I will try to share some points here.

Music is a kind of energy form that feeds our spirits. Music works in two directions. If we need energy, (being moody, feeling weak and demoralised) it provides the energy. If we are in anger, mad, furious, it takes the negative energy out of our body. I assume music stimulates some points in the brain, so some hormones are produced. In night clubs, disco music is played often but after sometime, the energy level in body is so much charged, then disco music is interrupted by slow music to release the excessive energy back.

Music mainly can be classified to two groups; Energy Removal and Energy Releaser. It is not always necessary to enjoy energy delivering music. You may not like it but you may still capture some energy out of it. I sometimes feel flying when listening, I became in deep trance and when the music is over, I feel much stronger, powerful and self-confident. So many people shared the same feelings with me.

Energy Releaser:

We sometimes feel that our arms, legs, head rhythm during listening. We tend to increase the volume up in such music. Sometimes, we don't like a kind of music at all but still rhythm. Energy releasing music may change the body chemicals, feed us, liven up and make us feel better. Disco, Black slows, Rhythm & Blues, kind of Jazz, Acid Jazz, Impressionism age in classical music, Russian composer's music can be considered in that category.

Energy Removal:

For business people, particularly after 40 years of age, worked hard all the day long then fight against to traffic jam of the cities, felt exhausted may need such sort of music so frequently.
Such energy removal music may be Baroque, Renaissance, Romantic, Post Impressionist Ages in classical music or North Jazz (Norwegian Jazz), most of ECM Labels, most of Windham Hill Labels or such kinds.

If the aim of that article is conclude with a tip, we better decide about our mood and choose the kind of music carefully. I judge my mood before listening and decide what type I need, then select from those types. I don't listen anymore my brand new not-listened CD's at the first change if they don't fit with my current mood. As a matter of fact, compared to years ago, I enjoy more in music.