In this episode, Robert sits down with Johnny D De Mairo, founder of iconic house music label Henry Street Music and an influential figure in the growth of house music through heavy hits in the 90s era of house music. Johnny shares his story from sneaking into Studio 54 with a fake ID to becoming a respected DJ, record collector, and label owner.
We discuss his early years in the New York music scene, his passion for vinyl that led to a collection of over 100,000 records (at peak), the origins of Henry Street Music, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and a real world class in the business of the music industry.
Along the way, Johnny talks about working with legends like Kenny Dope, Louie Vega, Todd Terry (& more), and creating iconic tracks like The Bomb. School is in session, so get your pens and pencils ready for this history lesson – this episode, is not to be missed.
Transcript:
https://learningtodj.com/btd008-transcript
EPISODE LINKS
Johnny’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henrystreetmusic
Johnny’s Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7xQ4M4LwZ5ifRedqWUoDC8
Johnny D Experience: https://live365.com/station/THE-JOHNNY-D-EXPERIENCE-a47613
UNDER THE RADAR, ON REPEAT & GUILTY PLEASURE
Under the Radar
- King Brit – Non Stop Action The Force
On Repeat
- Falling in Love – Halmton Joe Frank
- Cool Night – Paul Davis
- You’re The Only Women – Ambrosia
Guilty Pleasure
- Heartbeat Its a Love Beat – Tony De Franco
PODCAST INFO:
Beyond the Decks is your guide to mastering the art and business of the DJ, electronic and dance music industry.
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OUTLINE
Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:00)
Johnny’s Early DJ Experience (00:02:51)
Influence of Studio 54 (00:04:27)
Discovering Vinyl Mania (00:11:46)
Working at Atlantic Records (00:16:17)
A Life-Changing Decision (00:20:26)
Parallel Journey with Henry Street (00:26:20)
The Birth of Henry Street Music (00:29:05)
Collaboration with Nicky P (00:36:32)
Creating Hits with Kenny (00:42:08)
Impact of “The Bomb” (00:48:14)
Challenges in Record Labels (01:05:10)
Transition to Digital (01:08:16)
The Demise of Traditional Music Business (01:15:51)
Future Plans and Autobiography (01:21:17)
