Summer Sessions » Victor Simonelli

Victor Simonelli's name is synonymous with the cutting edge of the Dance Music scene. Simonelli is one of the New York's finest and most prolific DJ's. He was also one of the early pioneers of the unique NYC underground dance music movement that has now become a phenomenon it its own right and religiously followed by the clubbing faithful the world over. A producer/re-mixer, song writer, record label owner, and highly sought after DJ, are just four facets of this multi-talented young man.

Victor's love for music began as a youngster growing up in Brooklyn, New York. His parents encouraged him to listen to all kinds of music, and Victor took lessons in piano, drums, guitar and bass, and voice. By the age of 11, he began tuning into NY's Radio Mix Shows, where he discovered the art of mixing. “When I started spinning - I just simply got lost in the music," Victor said.

Victor's career as a DJ started at the age of 13, assisting his father, and within a year he started spinning at mobile parties. It was here that he learned his craft and began to develop and fine-tune his ear for music noticing what tracks to play and which ones had the greatest effect on the crowd while he was spinning.

After graduating from the Centre for Media Arts in 1987, Victor took a job working at Shakedown Studios, owned by the legendary producer, Arthur Baker - a breeding ground to the likes of David Cole, Robert Clivilles, Danny Krivit, Benji Candalario, Albert Cabrera, Junior Vasquez, and Bobby Konders. In late 1988, Victor merged with Lenny Dee to form the Brooklyn Funk Essentials, a remix/production team that worked on projects for Pajama Party, Denise Lopez, Arthur Baker, Robert Owens , New Order. His productions for Criminal, Vendetta and other labels such as Fourth Floor and Nu Groove began to get him noticed. He began to collaborate on Projects with other producers such as Danny Krivit and Satoshi Tomiie. Simultaneously, he signed a management deal with 23 West and went on to join a roster that boasted Masters at Work and C&C Music Factory. He then moved over to Def Mix and was joined by Frankie Knuckles and Dave Morales and continued to work with Nu Groove and Fourth Floor.

By 1992 Victor began receiving calls to DJ at clubs from countries as far away as Japan. It was also at this time that two of Victor's tracks, "Feel So Right" by Solution and "I Want you To Know" by Groove Committee went on to become a significant piece of the “Simonelli Sound." Todd Terry approached Victor to license Production from him.

In 1996 Victor signed a record deal with MCA Records for a compilation series entitled Sound of Simonelli. Due to so much European work, Victor decided to expand his corporation and set up VJS Productions, Inc. Europe, based in Rome, Italy. The next year Victor set up a recording studio in Rome and began his own Record Label called West Side Records, where he cultivated new talent such as Kings of Tomorrow/Sandy Rivera, as well as his own productions on the label.

In 2000, Victor formed his European label, Stellar Records, and signed a distribution deal with Level One Distribution, based in Milan. With an initial release schedule including singles by Mr. Mike, Connie Harvey, Robert Owens, DJ Ray Roc, Davidson Ospina, and the cultivation of many new talents, such as Junia Ovadose, Sergio Matina, and Vincenzo Sortino.

By 2002, Victor was working with numerous distributors around the world, this year saw the first collaboration between Victor and Keith Thompson on "Living On The Frontline" by Keith Thompson released on Westside, and licensed onto South Africa, and France.

Victor has spent his entire lifetime committed and devoted to music, making his own inimitable contribution in DJ'ing, production, mixing and song-writing. It is his unique sound of uplifting and spiritual music that has propelled him to the forefront of the dance scene, and acknowledged him with the credit of being one of its leading exponents.

http://www.victorsimonelli.com