"Aphrosoul", Aphro, of African origin, Soul, of the spirit. Put the two together, and you are walking deep in the spirit of Africa. Since we as African Americans are not directly from African, we all are of African descent. So we can only walk in the spirit of Africa, walk deep that is. I have been in the club scene since my mid teens, first as a lover of the music, then as a dancer, a promoter, and now as a DJ. My background ranges from Disco, to House, Gospel to Soul, Jazz to Down tempo, Afro Beat, to Dub. After meeting DJ Rocky B (www.djrockyb.com), my Thursdays and Friday nights were spent being taught to mix and work the turntables at Club 410 in Downtown Houston, TX. Since then, I have held down many residencies as well meaning guest spots in Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA, and the NYC/New Jersey area where I am presently based. I have open for artists such as Antoinette Roberson, Chance, Barbara Tucker, Donnie, The Punany Poets, DJ Tommy Bones, Rich Medina, DJ Spinna, DJ Quentin Harris, Danny Krivit, Herb Martin, DJ Disciple. Aphrosoul can be heard every week at Lola and E-Man's weekly Tuesday night gathering "Deep See NYC", along with DJ Spider, and special guest that come through. At The Sapphire Lounge in Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY. Now making my way into the production side, I am actively working on tracks that is to be an album project featuring various artists. Through organization and restructuring, I present to you "Star In The East". A multi media organization that covers the Deep and Soulful House Music scene in these area, promotion (Dressed2Sweat), deep dance music get together ("Refuge"), music production, publishing, and a record label Refuge Music. In edition, an online magazine is in the works with interviews as well as happenings in the scene. For more info, email aphrosoulmusic@gmail.com. Love peace and blessed light to you and the path you walk, Aphrosoul
Interests
The Most High, My Mother, Capoeira Angola, Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Stevie Wonder, John Coltrane, Maceo Parker, Earth Wind & Fire, Teddy Pendergrass, Lenny Williams, Chaka Khan, Phyllis Hymen, Stephanie Mills, Sade, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Larry Levan (Paradise Garage), Kevin Hedge & Josh Milan (Blaze), Timmy Regisford (Shelter), Louie Vega (Masters At Work), Glenn Underground, Eric "E Man" Clark, Osunlade, DJ Rocky B, Kenny Bobien, Josef Saddler, Martin Luther King Jr., El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X), Gil Scott Heron, Martial Artists/Philosiphers Bruce Lee & son Brandan Lee, Dan Inosanto
Favorite Music
Roots Music, Deep House Music, Soul, Jazz, Dub, Loft/Paradise Garage Classics, all Deep Rooted with The Ancestral Spirits
Favorite Quotations
"Be Like The Water My Friend, Be Like The Water"- Bruce Lee. "No, It Is Do Or Do Not, There Is No Try." "For The Force Is My Ally, And A Powerful Ally It Is." "That Is Why You Fail."- Yoda.
Favorite TV Shows
Soul Train (70's era only), Saturday Night Live (1st generatuion, The Original Not Ready For Prime Time Players), all the Law And Order shows, CSI New York, CSI Miami, Battlestar Galactica (The New Version), The Aprentice, Inside The Actor's Studio, Ovation TV, IFC (Independant Film Channel), The Sundance Channel, The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, HBO's Real Sex
Activities
The Energy of Creation, Music, Meditation, Fitness, Martial Arts (the more indigenous african based), Researching and Learning.
Favorite Books
Various books on The Yoruba Culture, "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do" by Bruce Lee, "The Autobiography of Malcom X" as told to Alex Hailey, "The Little Capoeira Book" and Capoeira: Roots of the Dance-Fight-Game" by Nester Capoeira, Various books on Kundalini Yoga.
Favorite Movies
Maestro, the documentary on the early days of the NYC underground dance music scene (The Loft, The Gallery, The Paradise Garage), Let The Circle Be Unbroken, the documentary on Capoeira in Brazil, Malcom X, City of Men, Thank God It's Friday, The Wiz, Fame, Love Jones, She Hate Me (A Spike Lee Joint), Cooley High, Coffy, Foxy Brown, Claudine, Uptown Saturday Night, Let's Do It Again, Star Wars Episodes 1 through 6, The Matrix Trilogy, Underworld trilogy, The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, The Crow (The First One with Brandon Lee) Enter The Dragon, Rapid Fire (Brandon Lee), Ghost Dog- The Way Of The Samurai, Saturday Night Fever (Yeah I Said It), Swingers (Classic Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn)
