David Morales
Born and raised in Brooklyn to Puerto Rican parents, David Morales is an era-defining Grammy Award-winning DJ, producer and label owner. Morales’ love of dance music was grounded in the mid-’70s disco era, spending his early teens clubbing at renowned NY venues such as the Loft and Paradise Garage. Having started his own club nights at Brooklyn’s Ozone Layer, by the age of 21 Morales was DJing at the Paradise Garage alongside legends such as Frankie Knuckles. The duo would later create Def Mix Productions to help manage remix requests, as by the late ’80s Morales had become a prolific remixer.
Cementing his reputation throughout the decade as one of the first DJs to acquire true superstar status, Morales acquired multiple Grammy Award nominations for production and remix work for some of the era’s biggest stars, including Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, U2, Jamiroquai, Madonna and Aretha Franklin. He also saw major success with his solo productions, including the 1993 album The Program and chart-topping Needin U under the pseudonym The Face. With a steady stream of club bangers and a new album in the works, Morales’ status as one of the top global producer/DJs remains intact. When he speaks his mind on DJ culture, the world listens.
Was disco the first genre of music to capture your attention?
“Before disco, there was black music, which was very early ’70s. Disco didn’t hit me until around 1976/77. You heard some on the radio, but I didn’t go to a club until was 15 years old. The first one
