 Jellybean
Benitez on the decks |
The
first time I ever heard the 'Jellybean sound' I was standing on
the dancefloor in the Camden Palace waiting for the UK debut of
a little known shock chick with a nice line in lacy frocks and a
penchant for crucifixes.The first bars of 'Holiday' brought me back
from a brief dalliance with the Psychadelic Furs and I was a disco
diva all over again.
The
artist was Madonna and her producer was Jellybean Benitez.
Throughout
the 80s and 90s there wasn't a remix or production that didn't have
his influence and for a poor kid from the South Bronx, Mrs Benitez
boy hasn't done half bad.
Jellybean
- so christened by his sister - started out over 20 years ago standing
in the DJ booth at his local club watching how the "older guys
did it."
He
says that it was straight career choice between pimping, being a
bouncer or becoming a DJ and feels that he made the right one. His
talent was spotted and soon he was playing clubs like Xenon, Electric
Circus and the legendary Studio 54 in Manhattan.
Listen
to the chat - part 1
 Jellybean
Benitez |
He
was an instant hit and started producing remix tracks for artists
like Whitney Houston, James Ingram and George Benson.But it was
his work with then girlfriend - Madonna - which lead to him making
music for himself. "I enjoyed that alot," he says ,"I've
enjoyed everything I've done but that was a good time."
He
wrote the theme tune for the Ricki Lake chat show "Which many
people, only, know me for!" he laughs. And then moved into
film score work for movies including 'Carlito's Way' and 'Footloose'.
He
set up his own production company and after a guest DJ appearance
at a friend's house party, was persuaded to return to his first
love - playing other peoples records.
 Jellybean
Benitez |
For
an original 'superstar DJ' he's a surprisingly normal bloke, who's
finding his new lease of vinyl spinning an inspiration and "so
fresh and really good for me".He's still involved with movie
making but says that he's got no immediate plans to start producing
his own tunes again just yet.
And
so what goes around quite literally comes around the turntable,
because the man who created the unique sound of one Mrs Ritchie
and changed the face of club music forever, is back behind the decks
and as he exclusively told Debbie Troops, from a sun baked villa
in Tuscany, he's never been happier!
Listen
to the chat - part 2
|
What
do you want to do now?
|
|
Exclusive!
Jellybean Benitez talks to Clubbing
B
Music takes to the net
