David Morales

David Morales (/məˈræləs/; born August 21, 1962) is an American disc jockey (DJ) and record producer. In addition to his production and DJ work, Morales is also a remixer.[1]

For other people named David Morales, see David Morales (disambiguation).
David Morales
Photo of David Morales 2001 in Ambasada Gavioli, Izola, Slovenia
Photo of David Morales 2001 in Ambasada Gavioli, Izola, Slovenia
Background information
Born (1962-08-21) August 21, 1962
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • record producer
Websitedjdavidmorales.com

David Morales has remixed and produced over 500 releases[1] for artists including Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Spice Girls, Eric Clapton, Seal, Pet Shop Boys, U2, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Selena, and Jamiroquai. Morales was nominated for his first Grammy Award in 1996 as a Producer on Mariah Carey's album “Daydream” for the song “Fantasy”. He was nominated again the next year and won the 1998 Grammy Award for “Remixer of the Year”.[2]

Morales is considered to be one of the first so-called superstar DJs.[3] He has performed at many clubs around the globe,[4] including numerous dates at Ibiza venues such as Pacha and Space. Morales also contributed to radio shows and released DJ mix compilations.[1]

Career

1980s–1990s

David Morales grew up in an influential era for dance music and was a regular at his native New York's fabled clubs such as the Loft and the Paradise Garage,.[5] He also started his own night club in Brooklyn in 1981 at the Ozone Layer, taking cues from both the Paradise Garage and The Loft.[6] His residency at the Ozone Layer (which lasted until 1986) led him to play at the Paradise Garage in 1983.

He DJ'd at Club Zanzibar in Newark, New Jersey in the 1980s as well, home to the Jersey Sound brand of deep house or garage house.[7]

After Morales became a regular DJ during the mid-1980s he began a remixing career, at the same time that remixing other artist became popular. Alongside Chicago house music pioneer Frankie Knuckles and For The Record DJ Pool founder Judy Weinstein, Morales founded Def Mix Productions[8] to manage their work. Today, Def Mix continues to represent the estate of Frankie Knuckles, in addition to Quentin Harris and Hector Romero.

David Morales' solo production debut came in 1993 with the Mercury Records album The Program, credited to David Morales & The Bad Yard Club. In 1998, he released "Needin' U"[9] on the Def Mix label, DMI Records, under the alias The Face. The track licensed to Mercury Records UK became a #1 Dance Record and video which became licensed and covered globally.

2000s–present

Ultra Records released Morales' second album Two Worlds Collide in 2005. The single "How Would You Feel" was performed by Lea Lorien. "Here I Am", performed by UK artist Tamra Keenan (remixed by Kaskade), is featured in the 2006 film, The Devil Wears Prada. "Feels Good", performed by Angela Hunte features in the end credits of 2008 film You Don't Mess with the Zohan.

In 2011 Ultra Records released Morales' third album Changes featuring the vocals of Róisín Murphy (formerly of the band Moloko), Ultra Nate, Tamra Keenan and Jonathan Mendelsohn. Since then Morales has released several tracks including "The Red Zone Project" Volumes 1, 2 and 3 and various others on the Def Mix Music label.[10] In 2016 Morales had a single with Janice Robinson titled "There Must Be Love". He then collaborated with Luciano on the song "Esperanza".[11] In 2019 Morales started a new label with the Afrohouse label MoBlack called MoDef,[12] and also released the single "Freedom" performed by Janice Robinson.

Morales was an owner of Stereo nightclub located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[13] As a resident DJ, he played many 16 hour "La Vie en Stereo" sets, which happened monthly for 9 years from 2003 to 2012.[14][15]

David was a judge on Top DJ in 2016,[16] a national television show broadcast on Italia 1, and was a model for Italian clothing designer Iceberg in 2008.[17]

Personal life

Morales was born in New York City, he is of Puerto Rican ancestry.

In October 2018, Morales was arrested in Japan after he was found with 0.3g of MDMA in his possession at Fukuoka Airport prior to scheduled performances in Fukuoka and Tokyo.[18] He was released without charge the same month.[19] The maximum penalty for possession of MDMA in Japan is seven years in prison and a JP¥3 million fine.[18]

Discography

Albums
  • 1993: The Program
  • 2004: 2 Worlds Collide
  • 2012: Changes

Mixed compilations

David Morales
  • 2001: "Winners", with Jocelyn Brown
  • 2003: "Make It Hot", with DJ Pierre
  • 2004: "How Would U Feel", with Lea-Lorién
  • 2005: "Feels Good", with Angela Hunte
  • 2005: "Here I Am", with Tamra Keenan
  • 2006: "Better That U Leave", with Lea-Lorien
  • 2006: "How Would U Feel '06", with Lea-Lorien
  • 2011: "You Just Don't Love Me", with Jonathan Mendelsohn
  • 2011: "Holiday", with Polina
  • 2012: "Golden Era", with Róisín Murphy
  • 2012: "Stay", with Polina
  • 2012: "Planet Called Love", with Ultra Nate
  • 2013: "7 Days", with Tamra Keenan
  • 2015: "There Must Be Love", with Janice Robinson
  • 2019: "Freedom", with Janice Robinson

The Bad Yard Club
All are collaborations with Sly Dunbar and Handel Tucker.
  • 1993: "Gimme Luv (Eenie Meeny Miny Mo)", with Papa San
  • 1993: "Sunshine", with Stanryck
  • 1993: "Forever Luv", with Anastacia
  • 1993: "The Program", with Papa San
  • 1994: "In De Ghetto", with Delta Bennett
  • 1996: "In De Ghetto '96", with Crystal Waters and Delta Bennett

Other aliases
  • 1987: "Do It Properly" (as 2 Puerto Ricans, a Blackman and a Dominican, with Ralphi Rosario and Clivilles & Cole)
  • 1989: "Scandalous", (as 2 Puerto Ricans, a Blackman and a Dominican, with Ralphi Rosario and Clivilles & Cole)
  • 1994: "Congo" (as The Boss)
  • 1995: "Philadelphia", (as Brooklyn Friends)
  • 1998: "Needin' U", (as David Morales presents The Face)
  • 2000: "Higher", (as Moca, with Albert Cabrera and Deanna Della Cioppa)
  • 2001: "Needin' U II", (as David Morales presents The Face, with Juliet Roberts)
  • 2002: "Siren Of Love", (as 928)
  • 2006: "Play", (as Brooklyn Friends)
  • 2006: "Keep It Coming", (as The Face, with Nicki Richards)

Selected remixes

See also

References
  1. "David Morales". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  2. "David Morales". Grammy.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  3. "David Morales music, videos, stats, and photos". Last.fm. 27 December 2022.
  4. "RA: David Morales tour dates". Resident Advisor. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  5. Bychawski, Adam (November 26, 2014). "A Night in Paradise: Stories From New York's Most Legendary Club". Vice.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  6. "EX.262 David Morales". Resident Advisor. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  7. "History of Queer Club Spaces in Newark | Queer Newark". Queer.newark.rutgers.edu.
  8. "Def Mix". Facebook.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  9. "David Morales - Needin' U [ 1998 OFFICIAL VIDEO HD ]". Retrieved December 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
  10. "Def Mix Music". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  11. "Esperanza - Luciano & David Morales, by Luciano, David Morales". Cadenza Music. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  12. "MoDEF by Various Artists". SoundCloud.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  13. "David Morales' Sonic Nightclub Opening in Toronto". Top40-Charts.com.
  14. "Review of David Morales' set at Stereo (April 12, 2003) - 365Mag"
  15. "Stereo NYE 2008". YouTube. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  16. "David Morales Judges Top DJ | News". Mn2s.com. June 2, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  17. Stokes, Natasha (May 31, 2008). "Interview: David Morales". Natashastokes.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  18. David Morales arrested in Japan on suspicion of MDMA possession Fact magazine, Scott Wilson, 8 October 2018
  19. DAVID MORALES RELEASED BY JAPANESE AUTHORITIES FOLLOWING DRUG POSSESSION ALLEGATION: He was arrested in early October on suspicion of MDMA possession DJ magazine, EOIN MURRAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018 - 09:1
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