David Morales

David Morales

David Morales is a US DJ and producer associated with electronic and house music. He is born in 1961 and is from London, United States, though he is also identified in the record as being born in Brooklyn, New York. He is known for work as a remixer, producer and club DJ, and for involvement with Def Mix and David Morales & The Bad Yard Club.

Career

Morales begins releasing house music productions in 1993 with The Program, an 11-track album issued on Phonogram Records. The album includes “Gimme Luv (Eenie Meenie Miny Mo)”, which becomes the best-known single from the release. After that debut, he focuses less on original artist albums and more on DJ performance and remix work, building a reputation as one of the most active remixers in dance music.

In 1998 he releases “Needin’ U” under the name David Morales presents The Face. The track uses samples from the Chi-Lites’ “My Favourite Mistake” and Rare Pleasure’s “Let Me Down Easy” and becomes his biggest hit. In 2000 he releases “Higher” with Albert Cabrera and vocals by Deanna Della Cioppa under the name David Morales & Albert Cabrera present Moca.

His second album, 2 Worlds Collide, appears in 2004 on Data Records, the Ministry of Sound label. It is a 10-track set that combines earlier house influences with more current and progressive sounds. The album includes “How Would U Feel”, featuring Lea-Lorien.

Remixing and DJ work

Morales has worked as a remixer since 1986 and builds a large catalogue of club-oriented versions of pop and house recordings. His credits include artists such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, U2, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. He also remixes tracks by Mariah Carey across several years, beginning with “Dreamlover” in 1993 and continuing with “Fantasy”, “Honey”, “I Still Believe”, “It’s Like That” and “Say Somethin’”. Several of these remixes reach number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States.

Other notable remixes listed for him include records by Jody Watley, Kym Mazelle, Technotronic, Neneh Cherry, Chaka Khan, Inner City, CeCe Peniston, Betty Boo, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox, Björk, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, M People, Seal, Gloria Estefan, Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Selena, Jamiroquai, Spice Girls, Deborah Cox, Ultra Naté, Enrique Iglesias, Kelis, Lara Fabian, Basement Jaxx and others.

Def Mix and club reputation

Morales is part of Def Mix alongside Frankie Knuckles and Satoshi Tomiie, working on original productions and remixes through the collective. He also partners with Frankie Knuckles in Def Mix Productions. His work in this setting helps develop the Def Classic Mix approach, and his later remixes add techno and tribal elements to that style.

As a DJ, he performs at major clubs internationally, including the Ministry of Sound in London and venues in Ibiza such as Pacha. He is a regular at influential New York clubs including The Loft, Paradise Garage and The Sound Factory. He also contributes radio mixshows during the 1990s, including Hot 97’s “All Night House Party” and sessions for London’s KISS 100. He appears on compilations such as Ministry of Sound’s Sessions Seven, United DJs of America Volume 4 with Frankie Knuckles, and Mix The Vibe: Past-Present-Future.

Recognition and other activity

Morales wins the 1998 Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical, and also receives Billboard and National Dance Music Awards in the United States. He is described as one of the first “superstar DJs”.

Outside his club and production work, he owns Stereo in Montreal and Sonic in Toronto, and he holds resident DJ roles at both. He is noted for long sets at Stereo’s “La Vie en Stereo”. He also models for the Italian clothing manufacturer Iceberg Jeans.

Albums

The Program (1993), 2 Worlds Collide (2004), United DJs of America, Volume 4 (1994), Ministry of Sound: Sessions Seven (1997) and Mix The Vibe: Past-Present-Future (2003) are listed among his albums and mix releases.