DJ CultureAs of June 1, 2007, this page will no longer be updated. Please visit our new site to access newly added programs. The music and the people. See the sections: WPS1 DJ Interviews Warm Up Interviews (2006) Fest Forward: Hip-Hop Unbound (2006) Winter Music Conference (2005-2006) Fuse-InDetroit (2005) DJ sessions available at: Halcyon The Air, PS1 Warm Up 2004, PS1 Warm Up 2005, PS1 Warm Up 2006, and WPS1 DJ Sessions. |
WPS1 DJ Interviews |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: Basement Soul (Proper Music for the Heads, Hips, and Feet) - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast November 27, 2006 The DJ trio Basement Soul (Brighton, UK) visited New York to do some record shopping and DJ around town with various like-minded DJ's they've conversed with on this side of the pond. Jeannie Hopper caught up with them to find out what's going on in Brighton on the soulful tip these days in the world of DJ Culture. Basement Soul is a weekly event that takes place at the Jazz Place in Brighton, UK. They, Graham, Amar & Simon created the night Basement Soul specializing in future-proof soulful dance music - from disco and boogie, through to broken beats, electronics, neo-soul and hip hop - with some surprise heavyweight 60's and 70's gems thrown in for good measure. Graham aka DJ Greymatter works with Mr. Bongo Records that recently shut it's shop in London but carries on with it's amazing record label covering music from Brazilian to Afro influences and the roots side of HipHop. Graham also produces records under the moniker Grey Matter and created the online information and chat site Uniqueuncut for the soulful minded entitled. DJ Amar is a freelance journalist for the long-standing publication Straight No Chaser that's been the encyclopedia of information for those into the more organic and live side of music and DJ culture. DJ Simon "mid-tempo" See of Unique Uncut loves and plays in the "proper" mid-tempo range of rare groove to new groove tunes. Enjoy some selections from their crates! Playlist (Remix / Artist / Record Label / Album) Beatdown / Mark E / Running Back / Disco Edit 12" Your Mess - Mark de Clive Lowe remix / Omar / Ether Morning Child / 4 Hero ft. Carina Anderson/ Raw Canvas / Play with the Changes Q / Statis / Soul Jazz / Soul 223 All City EP Know Rhythm / Voice / Featherperm / Gumbo Foolin / Low Budget Soul / Futuristica / Low Budget Soul Isokere - IG Culture Remix / Lekan Babalola / Mr. Bongo Life's a Dance - Original 9 to 5 mix / Opolopo ft. Amala / Especial Records / Life's a Dance EP |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: Mr. Bongo - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 9, 2007 Graham aka DJ Greymatter of the Basement Soul party in Brighton sat down with Jeannie Hopper for an interview giving insight into what's the latest going on at the fabulous Mr. Bongo Records where he's been working the last few years. The Mr Bongo record label, now based in Brighton, remains strong 15 years on and still presents an enormous wealth and breadth of contemporary Brazilian music to wider audiences. Releases include albums from hip hop artist Marcelo D2, who sold over 500,000 units of his first album in Brazil and Seu Jorge (City of God, Life Aquatic), both produced by Mario Caldatto (Beastie Boys). Add to that a back catalogue containing work from legends such as Tito Puente, Marcos Valle, Masters at Work, Ive Mendes, Banda Black Rio, Doris, Labi Siffre, Terry Callier, plus six installments of the Brazilian Beats compilation, Tetine with their uncompromising Funk Carioca sound, the Batucada LPs, the legendary Wildstyle soundtrack and Incredible Bongo Band 'Bongo Rock' LPs, and the lost cinema classic I Am Cuba (Soy Cuba). The year 2007 sees releases from Mitchell & Dewbury Band, Jose Conde, Prince Fatty, Brazilian Beats n Pieces (a 'cut and paste' mix of the best of brazilian beats series), Afroreggae and more. |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: Brendon Moeller (Beat Pharmacy) - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast September 25, 2006 During Warm Up 2006, Jeannie Hopper interviewed Beat Pharmacy, that is, Brendon Moeller. Brendon's multiple personalities come out through the various musical styles he produces like a mad scientist in his musical laboratory. He's a man influenced by the Orb and Future Sounds of London having found these unique artists of the early 90's while residing in his native South Africa where he worked as a school teacher with kids affected by the war and strife South Africa faced during apartheid. He converses on his journey and drive to produce his own unique sound on the 'dub leaning end of the musical spectrum. His unique production style got him attention from Francois K and Francois' Deep Space party devoted to all things in the 'key of dub', where he's a regular guest dj, and where you'll find his first two full length albums have been released. Brendon's also released many limited edition 45's and 12" vinyl platters making him a main stay in the DJ and dub lover scene. |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: Colonel Abrams - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast June 26, 2006 Colonel Abrams visited the WPS1 Art Radio studios for a chat with Jeannie Hopper and delivered a retrospective on his long standing career as a pop icon and underground sensation. He specially offers insight into the music industry and his days performing at the Paradise Garage, Bentleys, Zanzibar, and more. The interview is interspersed with his music classics including I'm Not Gonna Let, Hurt My Feelings, and a special new version of Music is the Answer. Also, for a special treat, the Colonel previews for the first time ever his new bad mamma jamma entitled Just When You Thought. Catch him performing July 7, 2006 on the first Liquid Sound Lounge summer boat cruise of the season in New York City 9:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. ...and dance your butts off around Manhattan with Jeannie Hopper on the decks, and more. (58 minutes) |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: Gus Gus - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast September 5, 2005 Jeannie Hopper speaks with Icelandic DJ GusGus aka Buckmaster De La Cruz aka Earth (and many more) a few days after his Warm Up performance. Discussion on nightlife scene (bars and clubs clustered together), radio play (too conservative) and small town thrills (watching volcanoes) in Iceland. |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: Jay-J Hernandez of Shifted Music - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 30, 2007 |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: Tim Lee and Eric LoPresti - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast July 18, 2005 Our Jeannie Hopper sits down with the two people responsible for Against Nature, seven nights of live sonic events orchestrated by Lee with visuals by LoPresti. Against Nature at theXpo Gallery July 20-26, 2005 Opening Wednesday July 20, 6-9pm Performances nightly at 6-9pm; Friday and Saturday 8pm-12am 63 Pearl Street, Brooklyn F train to York, or A/C to High Street/Brooklyn BridgeMusic and artworks inspired by Against Nature, the scandalous fin-de-siecle novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans. Huysmans' obsessive language, fantastical plotline and bizarre interpretation of nature form the backdrop for a week-long post-modern investigation into the synthetic. New compositions by Tim 'Love' Lee, performances by internationally acclaimed musicians and sonic artists, and accompanying visual exhibition by Eric LoPresti. |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: Genji Siraisi - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 2, 2007 Genji Siraisi aka Pushtobreak (NYC) is really more of a musician using DJ tools than a traditional DJ. Best known as writer, producer, founding member and beat master of Grammy-nominated artist , Genji brings on a barrage of beats, sounds and melodies with his latest solo performances. He recently visited the WPS1 studios and talked with Jeannie Hopper about his album Censorsh!t and his approach to live electronic performances. His current work is an adventurous departure, as he explores various electronics, software and controllers in new ways. Some of Genji's solo music has recently appeared in a diverse range of projects, from documentaries on street art and Liberia to commercials for American Express, Target and Pepsi. Censorsh!t will be released on Expansion Team Records on May 22, 2007. He has also released an experimental ambient cd with pianist Barney McAll on Kufala Records. In this segment, Genji performs a short set live in the studio using all original elements crafted into an aural landscape of dynamic turns, raw energy, and soulful grooves. (45 minutes) |
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WPS1 DJ Interviews: A Touch of Class - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 16, 2007 Jeannie Hopper had a very candid conversation with Oliver Stumm and Domie Clausen, the NYC-based production and DJ duo A Touch Of Class (ATOC). ATOC was featured during the 2006 PS1 Contemporary Art Center's Warm Up DJ summer series. They founded A Touch Of Class Recordings in 1999 as a platform to release their own music material as well as help launch other acts. ATOC fit style-wise somewhere between Electro/Disco and Dance Rock, combining real instruments with electronics. They have delivered an impressive roster of production work and have had numerous chart toppers in the U.K., including Scissor Sisters' Comfortably Numb and Filthy Gorgeous, The Ones' Flawless, and Xavier's Give Me The Night. They are known for both discovering the then unknown Scissor Sisters as well as producing and releasing the band's first few singles before signing them to a major label. ATOC have remixed artists such as The Gossip, Le Tigre, A.R.E. Weapons, Erasure, et al. to high reviews and DJ play. Their work is best heard on their critically acclaimed 2003 retrospective A Touch Of Class Sucks! and the 2007 follow up A Touch Of Class Still Sucks!. |
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Warm Up Interviews (2006) |
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Warm Up Interviews: The Glimmers - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast November 20, 2006 Jeannie Hopper caught up with the Glimmers after their big set at P.S.1 Warm Up where they spun to a very enthusiastic full-on dancing crowd in the courtyard. The boys of The Glimmers, David & Mo, wax poetic on their history from throwing parties in the old Eskimo underwear factory in Belgium to starting up a record label under the same name that releases excellent eclectic collections on the disco tip & beyond. The label led them to touring on the international DJ circuit. They've stepped into the producer's seat with releases showcased on their latest record label, Diskimo. And for the nubies in the industry, they give some sweet insight. |
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Warm Up Interviews: Phil South and The Idjut Boys - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast July 17, 2006 Jeannie interviewed the DJ's featured at Warm Up 2006 on July 8th including Phil South of No Ordinary Monkey and Conrad & Dan of The Idjut Boys. Phil's parties at the Cina Room and throughout the summer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn along the East River are not to be missed as they go under the moniker No Ordinary Monkey. Yes, Idjut means idiot. These two boys from the UK across the pond are the first to tell you this being humble DJ's who just get down to good music. The common thread between these DJ's and Warm Up? Showcase music number one in a proper setting. Check out the Warm Up sets for Phil South and The Idjut Boys in the WPS1 archive. |
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Fest Forward: Hip-Hop Unbound (2006) |
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Hip-Hop Unbound / Beyond Basic: Human Beatbox - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 24, 2006 The April 2006 festival known as Fest Forward: Hip-Hop Unbound held a series of performance workshops at New York University. The performance workshop entitled Beyond Basic: Human Beatbox, featured beatbox pioneer Kid Lucky and Nu Voices, a 14-piece human beatbox orchestra. This series of performance workshops was produced by Rika Iino of Sozo Media who co-curated and co-produced the festival. (58 minutes) New York University's Jack H. Skirball Center, whose explicit mission it is to actively engage young adult audiences through live performance, presented Fest Forward: Hip-Hop Unbound, a singularly expansive array of programs celebrating and re-examining 30 years of Hip-Hop as a cultural force, from April 3-15, 2006. |
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Hip-Hop Unbound / The Making of Planet Rock - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 17, 2006 The April 2006 festival known as Fest Forward: Hip-Hop Unbound held a series of panels on the theme Hip-Hop Retrospectives at New York University. The panel discussion entitled Making of Planet Rock brought together the original creative team behind the making of this landmark Hip-Hop recording as it was performed by Hip-Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa and the SoulSonic Force: the artists, producers, engineers, record company executives and special guests reflect on the record more than 20 years after its release. Speakers include Fab Five Freddy, the artist and original host of Yo Yo MTV Raps; former record executive Monica Lynch of Tommy Boy Records; keyboardist/musician John Robie; record label exec and A&R man Tom Silverman of Tommy Boy Records; producer Arthur Baker; radio host and DJ Mr. Magic; and video producer/director Danny Cornyetz. Also, from the SoulSonic Force: Globe, Pow Wow and Mr. Biggs. Skirball Center Director Wiley Hausam and Jason King, Associate Chair of the Clive Davis Program of Recorded Music at NYU introduce the event. The moderator is pioneering author and musician David Toop. New York University's Jack H. Skirball Center, whose explicit mission it is to actively engage young adult audiences through live performance, presented Fest Forward: Hip-Hop Unbound, a singularly expansive array of programs celebrating and re-examining 30 years of Hip-Hop as a cultural force, from April 3-15, 2006. (68 minutes) |
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Hip-Hop Unbound / Women in Hip-Hop - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast May 8, 2006 The April 2006 festival at New York University called Fest Forward: Hip-Hop Unbound held a series of panels on the theme, Hip-Hop Retrospectives. This event, from April 10 entitled Executive Decisions: 30 Years of Powerful Women in Hip-Hop, focused on the role of pioneering women in the male-dominated Hip-Hop industry and included discussion with female record label CEOs, presidents, and senior executives. The panel included: Danyel Smith (Moderator), novelist, editor, critic, and instructor, is a former editor-at-large for Time Inc. and a former editor-in-chief of Vibe. She has written for Elle, Time, Cosmopolitan, Essence, Village Voice, New Yorker, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Spin, and the New York Times. Ann Carli served as Senior Vice President of Artist Development for the Jive Records arm of the Zomba Music Group where she was instrumental in the career development of A Tribe Called Quest, The Stone Roses, and DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince, among others. Lisa Cortes (Producer/SVP Production, Lee Daniels Entertainment) is a member of the original team that founded Def Jam Records and Rush Artists Management. For a decade she served as Vice President of Artist and Repertoire for Mercury Records, where she signed the seminal rap group Black Sheep and produced several Grammy-nominated albums. Monica Lynch joined Tommy Boy Records in 1981 and went on to become president of the label, where she was instrumental in launching the careers of artists like Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Digital Underground, House of Pain, and Naughty By Nature. She is also a noted DJ and WFMU radio host. Denise J. Brown is a renowned entertainment attorney. In four years as Senior Vice President at Warner Brothers Records, she recruited, managed, signed and developed award winning artists. She is a member of the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Diane Harris, author, and sister of Sylvia Robinson, a principal player in recorded rap music; founder of Sugarhill Records; launched careers of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Sugarhill Gang (Rapper's Delight) and more. |
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Winter Music Conference (Miami Beach, 2006) |
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Winter Music Conference: Interview with Deepa Grooves - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 24, 2006 Jeannie Hopper wasn't fast enough to catch up with the Deepa Grooves' crew in Miami, but she managed to wrangle them into the WPS1 studio for a post-Miami wrap up. Deepa Grooves is committed to connecting elements visually and aurally. They celebrated their first video release in Miami at the Dilido Ritz Carlton that showcased their amazing catalog of music just released as a collection entitled Deepa Suenos (click for the Amazon.com link or check local shops). The label grew out of a love to spin to a greater audience the music Brian Burnside and Sal Leone embraced (along with their partner Tony) in hitting clubs throughout the 90s such as Mars, Limelight and Shelter. They started a party in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn at The Muse that grew to over 300 people flocking to this obscure joint. They continue to do parties around Manhattan. They're up to over 10 releases on the label and will release Soul Creation's full length album soon. More vinyl releases are available for digital download at TraxSource.com. The Deepa label roster includes an impressive line up: Boyd Jarvis, Blvd East, Jovonn and more. (62 minutes) |
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Winter Music Conference: Interview with Groove Junkies, Pt. 1 - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast May 29, 2006 Jeannie Hopper catches up with the stellar duo of Groove Junkies (GJ), Parrish Wintersmith and Evan Landes, for some post Winter Music Conference discussions on their latest production work. Also, they give some insight into the analog to digital world as DJs and as an independent record label. You'll enjoy some featured tunes presented throughout the interview too. The conference is a barometer of what releases and producers to watch out for in the coming year. Groove Junkies talks about their label More House Records, their productions and gigs coming up including New York and Ibiza, summer 2006. GJ are well respected for their remixing work for Frankie Knuckles and others; also, their compilations on Om (with more coming this summer); plus a collection of their label on Kinky Sweet due summer 06. You too will be a junkie for the Groove Junkies! Check out their Winter Conference mix set too, here on WPS1 DJ Sessions. |
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Winter Music Conference: Interview with Kudu - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 17, 2006 In Miami, Jeannie Hopper caught up with New York's Kudu whose "trashy shieky" and fabulous original sound is now captured on their premiere full length album Death of the Party out now on Nublu Records. The band has become a Monday night staple on New York's lower east side, holding down a residency at Nublu on Avenue C. They've got a hot electro sound featuring the one and only Sylvia Gordon on vocals, the spectacular D. Anthony Parks on drums, and James Hunt on keyboards and digital beats. Their formula is simple yet so effective, bringing a slick electronic sound collage using all kinds of influences and making it their own. Gordon and Parks are the writing and production force behind the group. Parks has been working with Jon Cale of the Velvet Underground, to give you an idea of how bad this cat is, and along with Sylvia they are rock stars ready for the big stage. Tunes featured with the interview are from the new album: Bar Star, Black Betty, Lets Finish, Physical World. (32 minutes) |
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Winter Music Conference: Interview with Simon Dunmore of Defected Records - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 3, 2006 Jeannie Hopper got boss man and founder Simon Dunmore, Managing Director/A&R Director/DJ of Defected Records, to wax paternal on the creation of this stellar record label just before heading to the Winter Music Conference 2006, Miami Beach. The new "Defected In the House Miami 2006" collection is already out in the stores and adds yet another fabulous collection from the "Defected In the House" series of topnotch tunes played on the dance floors all over the world. Defected Records has proven to be one, if not THE latest successful label to focus on post-disco dance music. Why disco? It's music that's got a balance of live and electronic elements that create an organic balance proven to rock the dance floor at peak hours. Some artists include Kings of Tomorrow, Dennis Ferrer and Jerome Sydenham, Barbara Tucker, Blaze, Jamie Lewis and Fish Go Deep to name a few. Also, they've taken various industry heads labels under their arm including DJ Spen's (Basement Boys) Code Red Recordings and Oli Lazarus' Real People Music. Now go out and get yourself some of these fabulous tunes and make your self feel good and sound good! |
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Winter Music Conference (Miami Beach, 2005) |
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Winter Music Conference: Italian Disco with DJ Mike Clark - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast May 16, 2005 Jeannie Hopper caught up with Detroit DJ Mike Clark at the Phillie Party put together by King Britt for the Winter Music Conference in Miami. They converse on Agent X's latest mission to bring Italian Disco dance music to a Japanese fan base. Does Giorgio Moroder ring a bell? You'll bust out your dance fever moves to Clark's flashback mix as the era of "everything old is new" continues. |
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Roundtable: Corporate Sponsorship and Dance Music - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast April 25, 2005 After whooping it up at the Winter Music Conference in Miami we thought we'd offer a little insight into "How did they get that sponsorship? and "How do I do that without selling my artistic soul?" Basically, we discuss how to lay off on the credit cards, finance a great party and make a great difference in doing so. A discussion with Host Jason Drummond of P.S.1's famed Warm Up music series and other independent party producers on how to balance the fine line between corporate sponsorship and artistic integrity. You'll hear confessions, do's and don'ts and a shortlist of where to go to get started on seeking out sponsorship. Participants: Mark Lowyns - events manager for Mrank151 and Malbon Brothers Farms Erica Ruben - producer of Deep Space, club night and former producer for Central Park Summer Stage Jeannie Hopper - boat party/event producer and radio producer/host/DJ Liquid Sound Lounge, WBAI. Station Manager & DJ Curator WPS1.org Lokke Highstein - Producer of P.S.1's Warm Up summer music series and DJ Curator for P.S.1 and WPS1.org Jason Drummond - Producer of P.S.1's Warm Up summer music series and DJ Curator for P.S.1 and WPS1.org |
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Fuse-InDetroit Electronic Festival (2005) |
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Fuse-InDetroit Electronic Festival: Kevin Saunderson - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast May 23, 2005 Kevin Saunderson directs this festival going strong into its 4th year. The festival--renamed the Fuse-InDetroit Electronic Festival -- features an "infusion" of talents with heavy representation from the Detroit DJ scene. Saunderson's biography is what every DJ aspires to: world tours at the most prestigious clubs and festivals. WPS1 DJ curator DJ Jeannie Hopper interviews Saunderson on the behind-the-scenes action required to put together a festival in the public spaces of downtown Detroit's Hart Plaza. They discuss what it takes to get city officials to take the DJ scene seriously and how Detroit's techno roots have influenced dance music globally. |
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Fuse-InDetroit Electronic Festival Inteviews Osunlade, Rich Medina and Ron Trent - listen | listen with RealPlayer First broadcast June 27, 2005 WPS1's Jeannie Hopper caught up with Osunlade, Rich Medina and Ron Trent behind the main stage in the VIP area. They waxed poetic and dropped some science on what it takes to stay true to your talents as a DJ/Producer and stay in the spotlight. Osunlade has produced commercial acts like India Airie but tabled that world to follow his true passions in producing independently for his own label Yoruba Records and is currently finishing up his full length album featuring a full on live band as follow up to his House based album. Rich Medina, the Fela and Funk afficianado behind Jump N Funk has a new album just about complete. He was biting his tongue to restrain his excitement as he started to give the 411 on the soon to be released full length. Ron Trent's list of productions reads like a history of music over the past two decades, from Techno to soulful funky House by way of Chicago. Rich and Ron will spin in August 2005 at Grant Park in Chicago for the Dance in the Park party. |
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