Chris Barbosa
Encyclopedia
Chris Barbosa is a producer from New York
who redefined electro funk
as Latin freestyle in the early 1980s with Shannon
's "Let the Music Play".
's WKTU
a process which involved the radio station calling up select club & mobile DJ's (New York City Mixology Disco Spinner, Staff Member: Ralf Rivera [RIP], Frank Forti Jr.) Whose variety show had a part in Twister’s huge success? in their market on a weekly basis to get their top 20 playlist as a reflection of what music is being played in the streets. These reports would determine which records were added to the stations playlist. In 1982 his grandmother purchased a keyboard for him, Roland JX-3P. An executive from Emergency Records
named Sergio Cossa
signed Barbosa to do production work with the record label. Some of Barbosa's greatest musical influences were Arthur Baker
and John Robie
, the duo who invented Electro Funk
with Afrika Bambaataa
's Planet Rock
. Later on in 1983 he teamed up with Mark Liggett to look for a singer to lay down the vocals to "Fire and Ice", which was the track to "Let the Music Play." A young African American
R&B background vocalist named Brenda Shannon Greene recorded the song.
The "Fire and Ice" or "Let the Music Play" track invented by Barbosa was produced differently from the rest of the Electro Funk
records. It had more Latin American based rhythms with a heavy syncopated drum sound than the records produced by Arthur and Robie. This style of Electro Funk was redefined as Freestyle because of the way it was produced and mixed. Barbosa is widely credited as the genre's founder. Baker and Robie eventually copied his sound three months later on Jenny Burton
's "Remember What You Like" (released three months after "Let the Music Play") Tina B's "Honey to a Bee" (1984) and the Goon Squad
's "Eight Arms to Hold You" (1985).
In September 1983 the 12 inch single of the song was released . Greene was then dubbed as just "Shannon
." After the initial success of the song and some contract negotiations, Shannon went on to record a full-length album of the same name. The single was heavily played on radio stations nationwide, including WBLS
, WKTU
and WRKS. Her album, released in February 1984 was also the first Freestyle
album in Dance music
history, and went gold (selling over 1 million copies at the time).Both the 12" & 7" singles where also certified Gold.
During the course of 1984 Barbosa and Liggett sought out other session singers to lay down tracks on more Freestyle songs. These artists were Nolan Thomas
(Jewish), Jay Novelle, and Xena
(who were African American
).
wasn't signing anymore artists in 1986, forcing Barbosa and Liggett to launch Ligosa Records. The duo immediately signed Monet & George Lamond
to their label. In addition, Ligosa Entertainment was a subsidiary of the record company and produced songs for upcoming Freestyle music
acts like Judy Torres
(dubbed the "Queen of Freestyle'), SaFire, Mark Kalfa
, etc among others. Barbosa also found chart success in 1990 with George Lamond
's Bad Of the Heart hitting the Billboard Top 100, peaking at #25.
In 1995 Barbosa and Liggett dismantled the production and record company and parted ways. Barbosa continued to contribute to the Freestyle
genre he created, producing underground artists who rarely had their new material played on mainstream radio stations in the United States
. A big surprise came to him in 1999 when Shannon
invited him back to update her 1980s singles "Let the Music Play" and "Give Me Tonight".
Barbosa has strong affiliations with the audio tape-editing scene.
Currently Barbosa is the Director of Multimedia Services at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in New York City.
He is married with 2 Children. Barbosa's son Brandon is Autistic. Barbosa is involved in various charities and organizations
Related to Autism.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
who redefined electro funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
as Latin freestyle in the early 1980s with Shannon
Shannon (singer)
Shannon is an American singer. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.-Biography:...
's "Let the Music Play".
Early career
In 1981 the Bronx-born Barbosa was a reporting DJ to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's WKTU
WKTU
WKTU is a radio station based in New York City that plays an upbeat, gold-based CHR format. The station's broadcast transmitter is located on the top of the Empire State Building and its city of license is Lake Success, New York, with offices formerly in the "Newport" section of Jersey City, New...
a process which involved the radio station calling up select club & mobile DJ's (New York City Mixology Disco Spinner, Staff Member: Ralf Rivera [RIP], Frank Forti Jr.) Whose variety show had a part in Twister’s huge success? in their market on a weekly basis to get their top 20 playlist as a reflection of what music is being played in the streets. These reports would determine which records were added to the stations playlist. In 1982 his grandmother purchased a keyboard for him, Roland JX-3P. An executive from Emergency Records
Emergency Records
Emergency Records was an independent record label from 1979 to 1989.Founded in the United States in early 1979, Emergency Records specialized in products of the Italian disco sound of the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, the majority of the European production of disco music came from Germany,...
named Sergio Cossa
Emergency Records
Emergency Records was an independent record label from 1979 to 1989.Founded in the United States in early 1979, Emergency Records specialized in products of the Italian disco sound of the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, the majority of the European production of disco music came from Germany,...
signed Barbosa to do production work with the record label. Some of Barbosa's greatest musical influences were Arthur Baker
Arthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
and John Robie
John Robie
John Robie is an American musician and record producer, widely credited as the driving force behind many of the most successful songs from the early 80's electro boom and is best known for his work with the New York record producer Arthur Baker.-Early years:...
, the duo who invented Electro Funk
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
with Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...
's Planet Rock
Planet Rock
Planet Rock may refer to:* "Planet Rock" , a 1982 song by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force* Planet Rock: The Album, a 1986 album containing the song...
. Later on in 1983 he teamed up with Mark Liggett to look for a singer to lay down the vocals to "Fire and Ice", which was the track to "Let the Music Play." A young African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
R&B background vocalist named Brenda Shannon Greene recorded the song.
The "Fire and Ice" or "Let the Music Play" track invented by Barbosa was produced differently from the rest of the Electro Funk
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
records. It had more Latin American based rhythms with a heavy syncopated drum sound than the records produced by Arthur and Robie. This style of Electro Funk was redefined as Freestyle because of the way it was produced and mixed. Barbosa is widely credited as the genre's founder. Baker and Robie eventually copied his sound three months later on Jenny Burton
Jenny Burton
Jenny Burton , is an American female R&B singer who had several hits on the US Billboard dance chart. She was lead singer of the dance music band C-Bank's 1983 Top 5 Hot Dance Music/Club Play single "One More Shot", notable for record producer John Robie's use of a "non-linear" approach to its...
's "Remember What You Like" (released three months after "Let the Music Play") Tina B's "Honey to a Bee" (1984) and the Goon Squad
Goon Squad
A Goon squad is a group of thugs or mercenaries, commonly associated with anti-union or pro-union violence.Goon Squad may also refer to:* Goon Squad , a dance music group assembled by Arthur Baker in the mid-1980s...
's "Eight Arms to Hold You" (1985).
In September 1983 the 12 inch single of the song was released . Greene was then dubbed as just "Shannon
Shannon (singer)
Shannon is an American singer. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.-Biography:...
." After the initial success of the song and some contract negotiations, Shannon went on to record a full-length album of the same name. The single was heavily played on radio stations nationwide, including WBLS
WBLS
WBLS is an urban adult contemporary FM radio station in New York City, operating on 107.5 MHz. WBLS is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation along with sister station WLIB...
, WKTU
WKTU
WKTU is a radio station based in New York City that plays an upbeat, gold-based CHR format. The station's broadcast transmitter is located on the top of the Empire State Building and its city of license is Lake Success, New York, with offices formerly in the "Newport" section of Jersey City, New...
and WRKS. Her album, released in February 1984 was also the first Freestyle
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
album in Dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
history, and went gold (selling over 1 million copies at the time).Both the 12" & 7" singles where also certified Gold.
During the course of 1984 Barbosa and Liggett sought out other session singers to lay down tracks on more Freestyle songs. These artists were Nolan Thomas
Nolan Thomas
Nolan Thomas was a Latin freestlyle artist known for his 1984 single "Yo, Little Brother," which peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100. While Marko did appear in the music video, and sang all of the other tracks on the Nolan Thomas album, he did not actually perform the vocals on this particular...
(Jewish), Jay Novelle, and Xena
Lisa Fischer
Lisa Fischer is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album So Intense, which produced the Grammy Award winning hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain". Known for her high notes, which extends into the whistle register, Fischer has been recognized as one of...
(who were African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
).
1986-Present
Emergency RecordsEmergency Records
Emergency Records was an independent record label from 1979 to 1989.Founded in the United States in early 1979, Emergency Records specialized in products of the Italian disco sound of the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, the majority of the European production of disco music came from Germany,...
wasn't signing anymore artists in 1986, forcing Barbosa and Liggett to launch Ligosa Records. The duo immediately signed Monet & George Lamond
George Lamond
George Lamond, born George Garcia, is an American Freestyle music singer, who is of Puerto Rican descent.-Career:George Lamond began singing backup for various artists before landing a solo deal with Columbia Records...
to their label. In addition, Ligosa Entertainment was a subsidiary of the record company and produced songs for upcoming Freestyle music
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
acts like Judy Torres
Judy Torres
Judy Torres, also referred to as the "Queen of Freestyle", "The Legendary Miss Judy Torres", or "KTU's Own Judy Torres", is a Puerto Rican freestyle music artist...
(dubbed the "Queen of Freestyle'), SaFire, Mark Kalfa
Nolan Thomas
Nolan Thomas was a Latin freestlyle artist known for his 1984 single "Yo, Little Brother," which peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100. While Marko did appear in the music video, and sang all of the other tracks on the Nolan Thomas album, he did not actually perform the vocals on this particular...
, etc among others. Barbosa also found chart success in 1990 with George Lamond
George Lamond
George Lamond, born George Garcia, is an American Freestyle music singer, who is of Puerto Rican descent.-Career:George Lamond began singing backup for various artists before landing a solo deal with Columbia Records...
's Bad Of the Heart hitting the Billboard Top 100, peaking at #25.
In 1995 Barbosa and Liggett dismantled the production and record company and parted ways. Barbosa continued to contribute to the Freestyle
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
genre he created, producing underground artists who rarely had their new material played on mainstream radio stations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A big surprise came to him in 1999 when Shannon
Shannon (singer)
Shannon is an American singer. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.-Biography:...
invited him back to update her 1980s singles "Let the Music Play" and "Give Me Tonight".
Barbosa has strong affiliations with the audio tape-editing scene.
Currently Barbosa is the Director of Multimedia Services at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in New York City.
He is married with 2 Children. Barbosa's son Brandon is Autistic. Barbosa is involved in various charities and organizations
Related to Autism.
Lists of artists produced by Chris Barbosa
- ShannonShannon (singer)Shannon is an American singer. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.-Biography:...
- Judy TorresJudy TorresJudy Torres, also referred to as the "Queen of Freestyle", "The Legendary Miss Judy Torres", or "KTU's Own Judy Torres", is a Puerto Rican freestyle music artist...
- George LamondGeorge LamondGeorge Lamond, born George Garcia, is an American Freestyle music singer, who is of Puerto Rican descent.-Career:George Lamond began singing backup for various artists before landing a solo deal with Columbia Records...
- Monet
- Jay Novell
- Lisa FischerLisa FischerLisa Fischer is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album So Intense, which produced the Grammy Award winning hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain". Known for her high notes, which extends into the whistle register, Fischer has been recognized as one of...
- Cynthia
- Sa-FireSa-FireWilma Cosmé better known by her stage name SaFire, is an American singer. While she was one of the few freestyle artist to have major pop-chart success, she is considered an important part of Latin freestyle...
- Nolan ThomasNolan ThomasNolan Thomas was a Latin freestlyle artist known for his 1984 single "Yo, Little Brother," which peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100. While Marko did appear in the music video, and sang all of the other tracks on the Nolan Thomas album, he did not actually perform the vocals on this particular...
- FascinationFascinationFascination may refer to:In music:*Fascination!, 1983 synth pop album by The Human League**" Fascination", a song in The Human League album Fascination!...
- Robin GibbRobin GibbRobin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....