Jr
Real Name:
Donald Mattern
Profile:
Born in 1946 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The Hit Maker, The Deejay’s DJ, The Innovator, The Infamous, The Diva: Each of these fitting monikers can point to only one man, and that man is Junior Vasquez. 2008 marks the 25th Anniversary of Junior’s career as disc jockey, music producer, songwriter, ‘remixer’ and sound designer.
A pioneer in each discipline and tireless in his pursuits, the span of Junior’s career is dotted by landmark achievements in American popular music. New York’s famed Sound Factory nightclub, which Junior co-founded, marked the first of many milestones that he is continuing to mark in his illustrious and unstoppable career. From Sound Factory, Junior went on to hold some of the most coveted residencies in New York and hosted most of the legendary parties at New York hotspots including: the Tunnel, Arena at the Palladium, Juniorverse at Twilo and Earth at Exit. Junior’s career not only spans longer than his peers’, but his creative energies continue unrivalled.
Junior not only created and marked his spot as the world’s most influential DJ, but he continues to nurture his career with unwavering ambition and dedication. In the spring of 2003, Junior proudly launched ‘JUNIOR’S WORLD,’ on KTU. The show was syndicated successively in other regional markets in summer 2003 and through the DJ’s heavily-trafficked website.
Superstars and developing talents alike seek his ‘midas touch’ to increase their exposure to untapped fans and markets. Junior has a keen sense for helping veterans like Elton John, The Pretenders or Cyndi Lauper stay current and appealing to a young demographic.
The Hit Maker, The Deejay’s DJ, The Innovator, The Infamous, The Diva: Each of these fitting monikers can point to only one man, and that man is Junior Vasquez. 2008 marks the 25th Anniversary of Junior’s career as disc jockey, music producer, songwriter, ‘remixer’ and sound designer.
A pioneer in each discipline and tireless in his pursuits, the span of Junior’s career is dotted by landmark achievements in American popular music. New York’s famed Sound Factory nightclub, which Junior co-founded, marked the first of many milestones that he is continuing to mark in his illustrious and unstoppable career. From Sound Factory, Junior went on to hold some of the most coveted residencies in New York and hosted most of the legendary parties at New York hotspots including: the Tunnel, Arena at the Palladium, Juniorverse at Twilo and Earth at Exit. Junior’s career not only spans longer than his peers’, but his creative energies continue unrivalled.
Junior not only created and marked his spot as the world’s most influential DJ, but he continues to nurture his career with unwavering ambition and dedication. In the spring of 2003, Junior proudly launched ‘JUNIOR’S WORLD,’ on KTU. The show was syndicated successively in other regional markets in summer 2003 and through the DJ’s heavily-trafficked website.
Superstars and developing talents alike seek his ‘midas touch’ to increase their exposure to untapped fans and markets. Junior has a keen sense for helping veterans like Elton John, The Pretenders or Cyndi Lauper stay current and appealing to a young demographic.
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Junior Vasquez
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Discography
| Remixes: | ||||
| Got To Be Remixes! (CD) | Good Time (Jr's Gospel... | Avex Trax | 1996 | |
| Fly Again (CD, Maxi) | Fly Again (Jr's World ... | Tommy Boy Silver Label | 2003 | |
| Appears On: | ||||
| Fly Again (CD, Maxi) | Fly Again (Junior Vasq... | Tommy Boy Silver Label | 2003 | |
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Reviews & Discussion
Review by
Dec 10, 2005
(edited over 4 years ago)
I can say this about Junior: I had some of the best times of my life on the dancefloor of the Sound Factory in it's prime, circa 1992/93. Perhaps it's gotten lost in the mists of time, but the Factory, for most of it's existence (up until the last year or two, anyway) was primarily an underground black gay dance club. It certainly wasn't a snooty New York poser palace. Sure he had bad mood nights, but when he was on, he was really on. The crowd would go wild when he was working it, and - before blind DJ worship set in toward the end - would also let him know when he wasn't. Perhaps surprisingly, given the twists and turns of his tastes after the club closed, Junior played deep house much of the time and big records back then were things like the Luna Project's I Wanna be Free and and Chaka Khan's Love You All My Lifetime. He DJ'd typically from 1 or 2am until early Sunday afternoon, usually leaving the children from the voguing houses still screaming for more. Much as his reputation may have suffered self-inflicted damage since then, he really did earn his legendary status with the way he rocked that club.
I have read all the comments about MISS Vasquez, and, well, I think its time that you hear it from someone who has followed Junior's career for almost 15 years, and I am a native New Yorker, and a prominent DJ in NY's underground scene who wishes to remain being known as just my sign on, dungeondj. Junior is, hands down, THE BEST EVER. I have experienced just about all the greats, have been on their dancefloors, and nobody comes close to working the way Junior did, and sometimes still does, at what, 60 something. He can bring you to tears. As far as remix work and production goes, his music makes you want to dance, and this house scene is suppose to be about the dance and the music, right? His top tracks in my opinion, and you should check these out if you are clueless and ignorant to Jr., and just comment on him anyway, are these legendary tracks: Dream Drums, Who Do You Love?, Reap What You Sow, As The Earth Sleeps, As I Am, and even check out Cyndi Lauper's Come On Home. He captures everything you want to hear in not just a dance track, but an underground dance track. Beauty, emotion, uplifting melodies, and heavy, raw drums, with deep housey basslines. Even ask DT himself, who I have heard drop Dream Drums, Reap, and Come On Home on occasion. Need I say more.
Vasquez has been criticised here for not travelling well outside a residency. I think one reason is that he isn’t a “circuit” DJ, playing identikit sets featuring the Top Ten tracks which are spun by just about everybody. Like all the greatest DJs, Levan, Humphries etc. Vasquez has a reputation for pushing new sounds, often produced and remixed by himself, which may not have the familiarity which some clubbers want. You can do this when you have a residency with a well-known crowd because you know what pushes their buttons. These new sounds often eventually make their way onto the circuit, as happened with the Sound Factory vibe in the early nineties.
Another reason is that I think Vasquez is more concerned with the programming of tracks into an emotional journey than necessarily with flawless mixing. I have found that to be a difference you can often find between DJs in the US and those in Europe.
Finally, I think Vasquez is a bit more playful and humorous than most DJs, as his Ellis D productions testify, and I guess that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Another reason is that I think Vasquez is more concerned with the programming of tracks into an emotional journey than necessarily with flawless mixing. I have found that to be a difference you can often find between DJs in the US and those in Europe.
Finally, I think Vasquez is a bit more playful and humorous than most DJs, as his Ellis D productions testify, and I guess that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
The first time I got to hear Junior Vasquez play was in 1994 at the original Sound Factory. It was an awesome experience for any Junior fan, and myself as a fellow DJ. I had never seen a DJ work and control the crowd the way he did before that night and haven't seen it since. At one point Junior turned off the music and lights for a few minutes. The crowd "Junior's Crowd" began stomping their feet, clapping their hands and chanting. Finally after a few minutes he hit them with a Kick Drum and the Strobelight. Then turned it all off again. This went on for a 2nd and 3rd time till he finally turned it all back on and began the next part of his set. The night was topped off with a performance by Kristine W singing "Feel What You Want". She is one of my all-time favorite dance music divas, and didn't dissapoint at all. So say what you want about Junior, but in my opinion he is a great DJ/Remixer/Producer, as well as a DJ's DJ. He hasn't been around as long as he has because he sucks, no matter what your opinion.
I can't comment on the guys live sets as I've never experienced them, although the various reviews he's recieved from numerous clubbers doesn't bode well. I can, however, comment on his remixes. Looking at his previous work reveals he has re-worked some truly mediocre (and occasionally terrible) records. Unfortunatley, many of his re-works don't rise above the originals in any way. If you look at other industry leaders (Morales, Knuckles and MAW as prime expamples) they have transformed many wafer-thin pop records into instant House Classics of thier down. I just don't see this quality in Jr's work, sadly. And there is often this deeply shallow and "It's 8 Minutes Long so MUST be perfect for the clubs" kind of feel with his stuff.
A case of style succeeding over substance? I'm certainly not qualified to say, but I'd have to say in my own very humble opinion it's a yes I'm afraid.
A case of style succeeding over substance? I'm certainly not qualified to say, but I'd have to say in my own very humble opinion it's a yes I'm afraid.
Review by
Jan 28, 2005
(edited over 4 years ago)
Junior Vasquez is a true conductor of dance music regardless of where he plays or what country he plays in. I notice that when he is over seas the listeners are bitter but when Europeans come to New York to experience Junior's home, Junior's house, or call it Junior's world they end up wanting more. Why is that? Maybe because the DJ is actually in his own surroundings that he can control to indulge the minds with all sorts of acts in his live mixing. Many have become discourage because the clubs that he has had residency at sooner or later close due to laws altering the club scene not because of Junior himself. The fans become impatient and bitter. Once Junior gets a new home to exploit his musical visions, the fans feed on it and need it consistently. It's quite obvious. For a man that has been around 20 years plus, he still stay updated with the new sounds and never stays behind.
Love him or hate him, Junior Vasquez will be talked about because he is an inspiration in the world's dance music industry. Once one is on top of the world there will be people that will try to bring you down the ladder. It will take more than a several people to prevent Junior from being one of the most talked about DJs in the 20th and 21st century. In his book and many others the legend continues on.
Love him or hate him, Junior Vasquez will be talked about because he is an inspiration in the world's dance music industry. Once one is on top of the world there will be people that will try to bring you down the ladder. It will take more than a several people to prevent Junior from being one of the most talked about DJs in the 20th and 21st century. In his book and many others the legend continues on.
Junior is often misunderstood. However, I won't focus on the negative, instead I'll make honorable mention that the man in 20 years of his career has been a pioneer in the House style music, as has been Danny Tenaglia, Frankie Knuckles, and David Morales, to mention a few. He is considered by many, the successor of Larry Levan of our time. I have seen and experienced Junior's ups and downs throughout the years. Been to a few of his residencies in NYC where he can play with his mind, body and soul. It's unfair to belittle someone who has brought so much joy and laughter in our lives. So what if he's had his crowd, his own sound system and tunes? That doesn't make him any less, it makes him unique.
Yes, Clubbbers in the UK were equally disappointed with Vasquez as the French when he came to play (at enourmous cost) at venues such as The Ministry of Sound and Cream a few years ago.
The prime example of the 'Emperor's New Clothes' school of DJing, Vasquez created his own myth around himself and the Sound Factory for years by refusing to play anyway else. He had his own crowd, his own sound system, his own tunes. Take the setting away and what you have? A selection of dull bassy house and stacks of his own remixes of credability-seekers like Elton John and Cher. Rumour has it that he isnt even that good at mixing - the ultimate triumph of style over substance? Well considering he plays in New York, thats about right.
Junior Vasquez - The 'Sex and the City' of DJs.
The prime example of the 'Emperor's New Clothes' school of DJing, Vasquez created his own myth around himself and the Sound Factory for years by refusing to play anyway else. He had his own crowd, his own sound system, his own tunes. Take the setting away and what you have? A selection of dull bassy house and stacks of his own remixes of credability-seekers like Elton John and Cher. Rumour has it that he isnt even that good at mixing - the ultimate triumph of style over substance? Well considering he plays in New York, thats about right.
Junior Vasquez - The 'Sex and the City' of DJs.
