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GARAGE - What is Garage music?

Another way of finding out what is Garage music is, is to look towards technology. Early New York producers such as Ace Mugin, James Bratton, Danny Morales, and Frankie Knuckles wanted to recreate the disco sound, but after the collapse of disco. Disco music was proving too expensive to record live. Cheap synthesizers, sequencers and drum machines suited the now highly specialized dance market. This wasn't the only other theory. Chicago DJ's discovered that the hard sounds that they made from drum machines such as the 808 and the 909 drum machines could be used for a exciting sound that could be released onto their Chicago dancefloors

The famous TR 8O8 Drum Machine that helped to change music history!

 

As we reached the year of 1986/87 a small network of garage labels began to appear within New York city and New Jersey. Labels such as Acebeat Records, Supertonics Records, Quark Records, Movin' Records and 11 East Records were up and running.Producers also began to enter the frame as well. Ace Mungin's BOP, James Bratton's Back to Basics team and Blaze.

From 1987/88 other producers such as Morales and Knuckles began mixing using a harder edge to their Disco sound for Def Mix productions.

However, an argument began to appear within the Garage music circles. New Jersey producers were stating that the Garage sound in the true sense of the word originated in their state. They believed that their version, or adaptation was the real sound of what had been taken to be known as Garage music. The softer and more melodic productions, aided and abettied with gospel vocals is, what they believe is what Garage music is about; or an extension of the T.S.O.P sound that they all loved. Local producers range from Kerri Chandlar, Blaze and Tony Humpheries who kept the spirit following of this sound at his club called the Club Zanzibar in New Jersey, USA alive. Many nightclubers from New Jersey beleive that the Paradise Garage nightclub - New York, important that it was - wasn't' really geared towards playing alnight long the true ethos of T.S.O.P sound or Salsoul Records alnight long. At the Zanzibar nightspot you were guaranteed in hearing this most of the night through

The Famous Salsoul label

However, a new player entered the field of play. Strictly Rhythm Records, from New York City. They went on to cover the whole spectrum of New York City House music, from vocal styled, garage records, to freestyle groove house records! In 1990,out of towners were starting to move in and start writing and producing for the label. For instance - Chicago Dj/ producer called DJ Pierre moved to New York and began to write garage styled records. Detroit producer/DJ Mark Kinchen - MK did the same and came up trumps ( via a mix that he supplied to Island Records ) with the huge international House track hit called "Push the Feeling On" by the NightCrawlers. Other Producers such as The Masters of Work and Roger Sanchez also began writing and producing for the label slipping in garage grooves with their beats!

By the 1991, American House music was dominated by Garage music. New labels such as Emotive Records, Maxi Records and Bottom line Records which were now making there presence felt.

The New York House Label

However, music that was original created in the USA, is now truly international! From Switzerland to Germany, and from France to Italy we now see this sound as being truly international. There are now new DJ/producers from each of these countries that have now all added their interpretation to this sound! Well that's my theory onto the beginnings of Garage music. Any help to you!

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