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 | BIO: DJ Mandrill - DC Paradox |
This serves to introduce my background as a music programmer in the Washington, D.C. area for the last 26 years.
My professional career began in Baltimore. I shared residency Friday & Saturday nightss at "The Children's Place", from the fall of 1979 thru summer 1981. During that tenture I was offered a guest spot at the now legendary “Clubhouse” of Washington, DC. A residency was offered shortly after that guest spot.
I then moved to the "Clubhouse" (sister club to New York’s “Garage” & Philly’s Catacombs) which became my primary residency throughout the entire 1980’s until it closed in 1990. While stationed at the "Clubhouse", I did guest spots at other popular clubs in and around town: Kilimanjaro's, Chicago's, 5th Column, Lost & Found, Odell’s, and Cignel, to name a few.
During the last year of the,"Clubhouse=s" operation, I was offered a residency in a different arena, mixing reggae & Dance Hall at the new and extremely popular "Ritz" nightclub. From spring of 1990 until winter of 1993, I programmed reggae primarily; three nights a week. but also programmed a weekly house party. The house party blew up big time & by the spring of 1993, There was an awesome Garage and House music crowd flowing into the "Ritz" on Saturdays. I remained at the Ritz until in 1995. the Edge nightclub approached me.
1996 introduced "The Edge" nightclub to the DC scene as one of the area's largest House music venues since The Clubhouse=s closing. I held the Friday night residency for that year. After leaving the Edge, I was offered 2 residencies One at ACircle Underground@ and the other at ARed@. "Circle Underground" developed a strong weekly Sunday party where 400-500 deep House music lovers sought out the vibe until the club closed two years later. And, biweekly, I programmed deep soulful House music at "Red", a small after hours dance club with a decadent atmosphere. The following year paradox offered me a monthly residency.
The fall of 1997, I started a two year residency at Paradox. Paradox@, A super-disco venue with the capacity for 2,500 heads that catered to soulful house vibes. (monthly residency on Saturdays)
The winter of 1998, I started a weekly residency at Andalu. Andalu@, alternating Thursdays and Saturdays. Small, private, upscale club with a diverse mix of nationalities. The vibe is very soulful house with a little Latin mix.
The winter of 2000, I began strategizing with a few friends on a classics music only party. This party called AThe Deep End@, kicked off January 2000 with a serious bang & became an overnight staple with the serious underground classics dance community. The party went on through winter 2004, where after failed negotiations we ended our tenure with Andalu. Spring of 2005 ressurrected the party at Club Five on a monthly rather than weekly basis. After four months of relatively bad numbers the management and agreed it wasn=t working as we planned so it ended.
The Deep End@, held Wednesday nights at Andalu, this party attracts serious club heads. featuring various classics from different periods on dance music history weekly.
I have been a S.I.N. reporter since that music industry magazine's inception in 1989. For the last few years I've been a Billboard reporter since 1997. In 1992, a Gold Record was awarded to me for my promotional efforts surrounding the now classic House track by Crystal Waters, Gypsy Woman. During the summer of 1996, I won 1st prize in the S.I.N.-sponsored Diana Ross Take Me Higher mix contest. The following year, S.I.N. Magazine profiled me in the "Think Tank" section of the October 6, 1997 issue. At the close of that year, I was awarded the title of D.J. of the Year through S.I.N. Magazine's national write-in voting system. Mixer magazine has featured my play list in their ADirty Dozen@ column.
Right around the time I received the gold record, I co-produced the classic House track E.P. Searchin' by 33a Queen with the Basement Boys production team. I also did the edits on Ultra Naté's first underground hit It's Over Now, also a Basement Boys production. Later, paired with Richard "Party" Payton (one-half of 95 North productions), I did two singles for the Strictly Rhythm label: Drill Impulse, I Wantcha b/w So Good, and Impulse, Feel the Need b/w Come On, Get Up. In 1997, I released Body Thrill b/w Feelin Total Ecstacy on my own Drill Impulse Records. Body Thrill has already become a classic in Italy. Outta France (Prance for me) b/w Doc Tah Phree, is second release on the label.(also by me) Current release ANightbeat@ by DJ Mandrill is available on the Poji records ABaltimore/Washington Project@compilation.
http://www.djmandrill.com
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Posted on February 4, 2010
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