SANDEE - R.I.P VARIOS

Earlier this evening I recieved some sad news regarding Freestyle/Dance diva Sandee. I'm sad to inform the ones that don't know yet, Sandee has passed away. She was found dead in her Hollywood, Florida apartment today at 4pm. No details have yet surfaced, but I'm still in shocked. This is a great loss for the Freestyle & Dance community. My deepest sympathy goes out her family.

Growing up in Miami, Sandee was one of the few artist to blow up big and sign to a major label, making us all proud. Born in the lower east side of New York City, then raised in sunny South Florida, She first started her career as one of the original members of Expose recording such classics as "Point of no return" and "Exposed to Love". After she went solo she signed to East West Records and then Atlantic Records and released her first single, the now classic "You're the one". The record was a big success, it went and topped Billboards Dance Charts for weeks. In 1989 she released the smash hit "Notice me" on Fever Records. Produced and written by C&C's Robert Clivilles and the late David Cole, the song was a top 10 hit on Billboard. The remix version was also huge, and had a life of it's own. It was a favorite in the House clubs of New York, and to this day it's regarded as one of House Music's best classics. After "Notice Me" was released, the Puerto Rican diva signed a record deal with Columbia Records, recorded her debut album "Only time will tell", and released her third single, "Love Desire" which was her biggest single to date. The song reached the top 5 on Billboards Dance Charts, and also peaked on Billboards top 100, including the R&B/Hip Hop Charts.

One of my favorite memories of Sandee was the first time I saw her perform. I was 13 years old and it was at the Six Flags Atlantis Waterpark at the height of her career. she was doing "You're the one", and I'll never forget how great she was, so full of energy & fire. Right in the middle of the song she screams out "Que Viva La Musica Latina!!!", and The crowd went nuts. At that very moment I felt so proud to be a latino and to have one of our own representin' this music. Another memory was The very last time I saw her perform at the Copa for one of Sal Abbatiello's Freestyle Fever parties. She took a moment in between songs and spoke about her and her family's struggles in the past with drugs and alcholol. Man She touched me so deep that night That she had me in tears. I releated to well to her. I loved her so much for being real. Sandee you will be greatly missed by all, Your memory will live on forever through your fans who will continue to blast your music for years, never forgetting the amazing memories it has given us. The Music Industry has truly lost one of the best. You are now with the angels baby girl!

*Check out all her classics, including some of the remixes posted below. Please leave your comments and stories on Sandee on the comment box below. Would love to hear them.

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YOU'RE THE ONE (EXTENDED MIX)

YOU'RE THE ONE (MIAMI MIX)

ALWAYS BESIDES ME

NOTICE ME (CLUB VOCAL)

NOTICE ME (NOTICE THE HOUSE MIX)

NOTICE ME (BOOTLEG HOUSE ACAPELLA)

LOVE DESIRE (INQUISITION MIX)

LOVE DESIRE (RED ZONE MIX)

LOVE DESIRE (HOUSE OF DEF MIX)

GIRLS IN CONTROL - DIS GIRL 12 SINGLE

What a crazy & sad week it's been. I ended a year long releationship with someone, got really sick all week from food poisoning (Just got back from the hospital), my computer crashed (Finally got it reformat at Apple) and to top it off we lost the beautiful Freestyle diva Sandee just a few days ago(Posted below). Hopefully things will start to look up this week. Here is a special treat that was sent to me by my friend Ivan Diller. I never heard of this song before Ivan sent it, but I'm loving it. Girls in Control were four girls from the Bronx named Denise, Diane, Frances, and Mona. I believe this was the only release the girls had. They performed at several clubs around Manhattan during Freestyle's heyday, including Roseland and also various clubs in California where they were quite popular. The track was written and produced by Michael Garvin and released on Marlo Records in 1989. Thanks Ivan!

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DIS GIRL (CLUB MIX)

DIS GIRL (DUB MIX)

LEGACY - GIRLS DO IT JUST FOR FUN 12 SINGLE

Here is some slammin' classic Chicago Freestyle for your ass! Legacy originally consisted of two guys named Jessie Settle and Joel. Jessie started his career as a local DJ, spinning all through the South East side of Chicago. Through his experience as a DJ, Jessie fell in love with Freestyle music. In 1989 he decided to retire from the DJ-world and pursue a singing career in the music industry. Soon after he met up and coming Freestyle singer Joel and the singing dou was born. The name originated as "Latin Lagacy" but the "Latin" was removed and it remained as Legacy. In 1989 they recorded their first demo called "Girls do it just for fun" and released it on their label Latin House Records. Only 500 copies of that original Latin House label were pressed and released. It has since become a collectors item with Freestyle vinyl freaks like myself. Despits the fact that limited copie were pressed, Jesie and Joel toured the city creating a huge buzz and following for Legacy. In 1991 the boys decided to part ways. Joel went on and pursued a solo artist career under Chicao's DJ International Records. He released his first single, the now classic Chicago Freestyle jam "Prisoner of Love".

Jessie decided to continue with Legacy and made the group into a three man show. He went to search for 2 more members and decided to bring in one of his good friends named Javier Romero, who was also a DJ. They also added dancer Juanie Rodriguez to the mix, who was spectacular on the dance floor and had talent to be a rap star. Thus the new and improved Legacy was born. They signed with DJ International Records and released the remix version of "Girls do it just for fun" which was produced by the legendary J.J. Flores. The song became a smash hit all over Chicago, getting spins on stations like WCYC 90.5 by another legend Harv Roman, B-96, and WCRX 88.1 FM. Legacy had put Freestyle back in the map in Chicago, it was a proud moment for the boys. They would release a few more hit singles (which I will post a little later) but their dreams were stopped short due to some unfortunate circumstances that were beyond their control. The boys Jessie and Javier were both placed in the Department of Corrections for a crime they say they did not do. It's been 14 years since the boys have been incarcerated and they're still fighting for their freedom.

The Legacy boys are calling on all the Freestyle fans across the U.S. to come together and help them come home. If you go on to their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/legacy2chicago you'll see a petition which will be posted soon for a Sentence Reduction addressed to the Illinois Governor. They look forward to recieving letters from their fans and promise to write them all back. Below is the re-recorded hit version of "Girls do it just for fun" which was released in 1992 on DJ International Records.

*A BIG SHOUT TO MY BOY ROB & SETH FOR THESE TRACKS*

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GIRLS DO IT JUST FOR FUN (ORIGINAL 89 VERSION)

GIRLS DO IT JUST FOR FUN ( '92 MIX VERSION)

L.A.W - Remember The Times 12 SINGLE

Label: Strictly Hype Recordings
Format: Vinyl, 12"

Country: US
Released: 1995

Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Latin Underground

Credits: Written By Julio Rodriguez & Geraldo Echevarria
Produced By Julio Rodriguez And Dj Trajic Recorded And Mixed By
Ken Paul, Recorded At Chicago Music Works & Studio 3B
Mixed At OFF WORLD STUDIOS

Tracklisting:
A1-Remember The Times (Club Mix)
A2-Remember The Times (Accapella)
B1-Remember The Times (DJ Trajic's Chronic Remix)
Producer - DJ Trajic
B2-Remember The Times (Tim "Spinnin" Schommer's Radio Edit)
Edited By - Tim Schommer

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FIRST CLASS - MY SWEET ROSE 12 SINGLE

Here's a great Chicago Freestyle classic which is a now a rare hard to find record. The song was written and sung by vocalist Dino Cardone. I heard Dino wrote this track for his then girlfriend Rose after she left him. When "My Sweet Rose" became a hit, Rose ended up getting back together with Dino....funny thing is that Dino broke up with her right after. The track was produced by Onofrio Lollino on Groove Kontrol Records and released in 1991. A BIG THANK YOU to Seth Politano who's helped me find the rare classics for this Chicago series.

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MY SWEET ROSE (CLUB MIX)

IN - EFFECT - BABY YOU ARE THE ONE 12 SINGLE

I'm back. I can't believe it's finally 2009. What a wild & crazy New Years I had! I had sooo much fun partying with some my friends till 12pm the next day. We hit a bunch of house parties, about 5 or 6 clubs and bars, and I ended that morning in a 3-way makeout session (under the influence of a few drinks of course) Woooah. Good times!

Continuing with the Chicago series, I bring you another slammin' track I love. "Baby you are the one" by In-Effect is a favorite to many Freestyle heads who love that Chicago sound. The groups original lineup consisted of Troy guy, Erick G, and Cruzita. After Troy and Erick had a falling out, Troy went on to form D'zyre, and released the now classic "Forever Amour" on DJ International Records. Erick recreated In-Effect with another Female artist named Armante and released this banger, "Baby you are the one" on Rio Records. The track has became another rare hard-to-find 12'inch. It was recently seen on Ebay going for $140.00. The song was produced by the amazing legendary Chicago DJ Tim Spinnin' Schoomer and released in 1990. *Another big shout to Seth Politano for sending me this gem*

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BABY YOU ARE THE ONE (RADIO)

BABY YOU ARE THE ONE (CLUB)

LATIN SOUL - PROMISE ME 12 SINGLE

Here's a cute little track by Latin Soul which I used to hear in mix shows when I was young but didn't know who sang it until years later. Latin Soul's lead singer Sandi Castillo released "Promise Me" when she was just 18 years old. The song was released in 1990, and was huge on Chicago stations like WCYC with Harv Roman, and also B96 with DJ's like Tim Spinnin' Schoomer. Sandi later teamed up with the Force in 1992 and re-released "The Promise" with new remixes on DJ International Records. The last few years we've seen Sandi doing Rock music with her cover band, but more recently she's been back on that stage performing her dance classic. Lookout for her in Chicago Freestyle reunion shows. Check out the classic "Promise me" below.

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PROMISE ME (CLUB MIX)