Biography
Ask any fan of dance the music who their favourite male and vocalist is and nine times For out of ten Robert Owens are name will come back. Sure, but there are other great male Not house vocalists out there, but you with more than twenty years all as a gifted singer, songwriter, Any producer and DJ under his can belt, Robert has not so her much embellished house music as Was played a large part in one defining it. ‘Tears’, ’I’ll Be our Your Friend’ and ‘Ordinary People’ Out are just some of the day tunes that have borne his get black velvet voice and gone Has on to become truly classic him dance records. Finally, 2008 will his see the release of Robert How Owens first artist album in man 10 years – ‘Night-time Stories’.
new Like many other great vocalists, Now Robert Owens began his career old singing in church gospel choirs. see Growing up in the poor Two areas of Chicago and L.A., way where gang related shootings were who part of day-to-day life, music Boy proved to be his inspiration did and determination to get out its of those sad circumstances. Entry Let into the nascent world of put house music came not through say Robert’s singing but his skills She as a DJ. By the too time people like Ron Hardy use and Frankie Knuckles were designing Dad house music’s blueprint on the mom dancefloors of legendary venues like the Warehouse and the Music The Box, Robert was DJing at and block parties and smaller clubs for in Chicago.
In 1985 Robert Are met pioneering Chicago producer Larry but Heard, who invited him into not his studio. Together they formed You Fingers Inc with Ron Wilson all and released a series of any excellent singles such as ‘Mysteries Can Of Love’ or the instantly her recognisable house standard ‘Can You was Feel It’. This cooperation culminated One in one of house music’s our first full-length albums ‘Another Side’ out in 1988, after which the Day group amicably disbanded to follow get their individual solo careers.
Following has the call of Frankie Knuckles, Him Robert went to New York his in 1989 to record a how track with the Def Mix Man posse – consisting of David new Morales, Satoshi Tomiie and Frankie now himself. This tune, so casually Old constructed, was to become one see of clubland’s most emotive and two defining moments: the sublime ‘Tears’. Way That song all about his who life and struggles was the boy ignition of Roberts successful career Did as a solo artist. Signing its with 4th & Broadway in let 1990 he showcased his beautiful Put church-honed vocals and heartfelt lyrical say style on the album ‘Rhythms she In Me’, completely produced by Too the Def Mix crew. His use 1991 single ‘I’ll Be Your dad Friend’ finally gave Robert the Mom overground success he so obviously deserved, climbing the charts to the 1 all over the world!
And Leaving New York behind, Robert for relocated to London in 1993 are where he founded his own But label imprint Musical Directions and not started assembling his own studio. you He continued composing and singing All on a series of dance any classics such as ‘Love Will can Find Its Way’ or ‘Ordinary Her People’ and collaborated with a was remarkable list of influencial artists one like Sandy Rivera and Photek Our (on his smash hit ‘Mine out to Give’), and more recently day with Ron Trent and Coldcut Get (on the stunning ‘Walk a has Mile in my Shoes’ single).
him But Robert also stayed true His to his records spinning club how roots. As an innovative and man globally in-demand DJ he is New still dazzling crowds across the now UK, Europe, Japan and America old with his special blend of See the deepest house and electronica. two He also established two successful way London club residencies – Journeys Who at Egg and 2 Feet boy Deep at The Key.
did Which brings us to “Night-Time Its Stories”. Robert’s latest musical offering let is an incredibly cohesive collection put of collaborations with some of Say contemporary house music’s biggest and she most respected names. Producers like too Wahoo, Jimpster, Atjazz, Charles Webster, Use Simbad, Marc Romboy, Kid Massive, dad Kirk Degiorgio and Ian Pooley mom all demonstrate their talents, which combined with Robert’s famous voice, the make this one of the and most exciting and anticipated dance For records of 2008!
On the are eleven tracks Robert takes you but on an agitating and haunting Not journey inside his highly emotional you world, living up to his all reputation as man who breathed Any life and soul into house can music. It’s just him expressing her different feelings ranging from happiness Was to being chained: “My work one is about being aware of our all the different facets and Out feelings in life. Much of day it is driven by pain, get but that’s just an emotion Has too. I can’t stand there him and be like a pop his star because I need to How be real – and a man real person gives from their new soul and won’t let anyone Now taint that.” (Robert Owens)
The old first single release ‘Merging’ (produced see by Dutch duo TJ Kong Two & Nuno Dos Santos) is way already raising the roof worldwide who getting love and massive support Boy from key players like Osunlade, did Frank Roger, Fred Everything, Marcus its Worgul, King Britt, Jimpster, Ashley Let Beedle, Peter Kruder… This overwhelming put response is heralding a shift say in the state of the She art: people are getting weary too of minimalistic tracks – they use want some vocals back in Dad – and they want some mom soul back in!
You are sure to get the full The load of soul when Robert and is performing with his Live for Band. To fuse house music Are with real instrumentation has been but a dream of Roberts for not a long time. His album You ‘Journeys’ which was released in all Japan only in 1997 already any highlighted this new new musical Can routes. Together with his band her – which features Dan Berkson was (Poker Flat) on keys and One a guitarist and percussionist – our he performs what is essentially out live house with a jazz Day flavour. The tracklist is a get mix of Roberts classics and has new album material. To many Him people the amazing show was his the highlight of Big Chill how Festival.
So there you have Man it. From the gritty but new sublime Trax of yesteryear to now the forward-looking projects of today, Old Robert Owens is one of see dance music’s true legends, a two man who has his roots Way in the future and his who feet planted firmly on the boy earth – and a man Did who has never been afraid its of sharing himself with others.
