True House Stories® Youtube & Spotify Video Podcast
TRUE HOUSE STORIES W/ LOUIE VEGA (MASTERS AT WORK)
Louie Vega (Masters At Work) interviewed by Lenny Fontana for True House Stories™ # 022
‘True House Stories’ brings you the legend Louie Vega – one of the world’s most successful music producers and DJs worldwide. As a classically trained musician, discover Louie’s roots – nights spent at the Paradise Garage, working in a record pool, meeting Jocelyn Brown, Jellybean Benitez which had a huge impact on Louie’s music productions. Making and breaking his own records and for other artists such as Todd Terry. DJing at Studio 54 and working through a variety of genres including disco, hip hop and house.
Taking to the road, Louie played in Japan, UK – playing for Norman J and meeting artists such as Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold and Paul trouble Anderson. Setting up Masters at Work with Kenny Dope to further his later productions. Working with Don Welsh and Barbara Tucker, Louie’s career went from strength to strength – becoming a resident at Elite.
Relentless studio time due to his passion of making music, playing at the Sound Factory from 92-97 and networking with industry people such as Frankie Knuckles and Gladys Pizarro from Strictly Rhythm. Within months the club was packed out and was so pivotal to his next steps in the industry. This is where Louie truly found his place and tapped into his own zone of music.
DJing with David Cole who played live keyboards during Louie’s set. In addition, having George Benson singing a live impromptu set. Learn about how Nuyorican Soul emerged and the story behind this new moniker. Louie Vega – one of the most iconic, yet humble artists out there, tune in and listen to this absolutely immense journey of a ‘True House Stories’ legend.
A leader in global dance music, Louie Vega has painted an award-winning career from a palette mixed with everything from house, salsa and afro-beat, to jazz, hip hop, gospel and soul. What distinguishes the Grammy winner and 7-time nominee as one of the best living house music deejays is his ability to evolve alongside the times, distill the current musical landscape through his unique taste and put his own timeless spin on his musical creations.
In 2020, his production team Masters At Work with Kenny Dope Gonzalez will revamp their label Maw Records, and will be releasing their full catalog worldwide via digital and streaming outlets. New Masters At Work Remixes for Dua Lipa (Via The Black Madonna’s Mix Tape), DJ Krust (on Crosstown Rebels), and new productions for the Maw Imprint by The Masters At Work. Louie Vega has also teamed with The Martinez Brothers for a second single entitled “Let It Go” with Marc Bassy released July 10, 2020 on the titan record label Defected.
In NYC, Vegas’ weekly residency night has inspired him to record an album for Nervous Records release coming early 2021 featuring his friends : Robyn, Honey Dijon, Bernard Fowler, Moodymann, Kerri Chandler, Anané, Lisa Fischer, Joe Claussell, Tony Momrelle, Karen Harding, & the super band Unlimited Touch. Breaking down musical barriers and bringing people together through a love of music has always been Vega’s aim; his contributions continue to positively influence global dance music. Join Lenny Fontana as he interviews Louie Vega about his incredible career in the music industry making him one of the biggest names in the business. Watch the interview now.
Louie Vega YouTube Video Part 1
Louie Vega YouTube Video Part 2
Biography Louie Vega (Masters At Work)
A leader in global dance music, Louie Vega has painted an award-winning career from a palette mixed with everything from house, salsa and afro-beat, to jazz, hip hop, gospel and soul.
What distinguishes the Grammy winner and 7-time nominee as one of the best living house music deejays is his ability to evolve alongside the times, distill the current musical landscape through his unique taste and put his own timeless spin on all the music he creates.
“Little” Louie Vega, as he is sometimes affectionately known, was born in the Bronx into a musically gifted family (his father is a jazz saxophonist and his uncle, Salsa King Héctor Lavoe). The “Little” moniker is ironic, given the fact that by the 80s he was deejaying at clubs he wasn’t even old enough to attend, holding residencies at Studio 54, Devil’s Nest, Hearthrob, Roseland and playing at the Palladium, Area, 1018 and other seminal New York City Clubs. Soon Vega was producing his own remixes, which included Information Society’s “Running”, “What’s On Your Mind”, Noel’s “Silent Morning”, Cover Girl’s “Because Of You”, and Debbie Gibson’s “Only in my Dreams.”
Then in 1991 he joined Atlantic Records and recorded an album — hitting the mainstream. Teaming up with an up-and-coming Marc Anthony, he produced “Ride on the Rhythm” co-written with India & Derek Whitaker. An immediate club hit, the single put Vega and Anthony on the map. The duo would rock the club circuit with their success culminating when they opened for Tito Puente at his 100th Album concert at Madison Square Garden.
One of the keys to Vega’s success is his refusal to be boxed into any one category, marked by the various styles his songs play with and by his fruitful collaboration with other artists.