{{Short description|American record producer}} {{story|date=March 2017}} '''Vince Lawrence''' (born January 6, 1964, Chicago, Illinois, United States) is an American dance music record producer, businessman and is one of the leading innovators of the genre of music called house music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://remixmag.com/transmissions/chicago-house-080405/ |title=Site Maintenance |publisher=Remixmag.com |access-date=2014-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917031408/http://remixmag.com/transmissions/chicago-house-080405/ |archive-date=2009-09-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name = "aeon">{{Cite web|author = Meares, Hadley| url=https://aeon.co/ideas/the-night-when-straight-white-males-tried-to-kill-disco?preview=true | title = The night when straight white males tried to kill disco | publisher = Aeon Media Group | date = February 28, 2017 }}</ref><ref name = "pulse radio">{{Cite web | author = McCauley, Jay | url = http://househasahome.pulseradio.net/ | title = House Has A Home | date = September 6, 2016 | publisher = Pulse Radio | access-date = March 1, 2017 | archive-date = October 13, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181013080000/http://househasahome.pulseradio.net/ | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name = "npr">{{Cite web | author = John, Derek | url = https://www.npr.org/2016/07/16/485873750/july-12-1979-the-night-disco-died-or-didnt | title = July 12, 1979: 'The Night Disco Died' - Or Didn't | publisher = National Public Radio| date = July 16, 2016 }}</ref> Industry insiders recognize Lawrence as co-author of "On and On", the first recording officially designated "house music".<ref name = "pulse radio" /><ref name="buzzlife.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.buzzlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112395&page=4|title=The Oldskool Series - Page 4 - Buzzlife Message Board|date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708105737/http://www.buzzlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112395&page=4|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-date=2011-07-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Will Hermes |url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/1998-10-22/music/into-the-groovy/ |title=Into the groovy |publisher=Dallas Observer |date=1998-10-22 |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><ref name="sonycreativesoftware.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/loop_libraries/liner/chicagofire.asp |title=Sound Series - Chicago Fire - Interview with the Artist |publisher=Sony Creative Software |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><ref name="music-101.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.music-101.com/s2/content/view/25/9/|title=Music 101 - Vince Lawrence|date=6 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106055259/http://www.music-101.com/s2/content/view/25/9/|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-date=2009-01-06}}</ref><ref name="slangmusicgroup.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.slangmusicgroup.com |title=Chicago based music producers creating remix and original music for Artists, Television Commercials, Film, and Gaming |publisher=Slang Musicgroup |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref> He worked with Jesse Saunders in the initial creation of Jes Say Records, designing its logo by hand. He served as head of marketing and was the lyric writer for "Funk U Up" (the first House track to ever make it onto the Billboard charts), "Undercover" by Dr. Derelict, "Real Love", and many other songs released in the label's heyday. He also co-authored "Love Can't Turn Around", which featured Daryl Pandy and reached No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart in 1986, starting the house music revolution in the UK.<ref name="buzzlife.com"/><ref name="discogs.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Vince+Lawrence |title=Vince Lawrence Discography at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |date=2010-09-04 |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 216}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28760217.xml?dids=28760217:28760217&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+18%2C+1990&author=Greg+Kot%2C+Rock+music+critic&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Global+range+Darryl+Pandy+has+the+7-octave+voice+heard+%27round+the+world&pqatl=google | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131202145112/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28760217.xml?dids=28760217:28760217&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+18,+1990&author=Greg+Kot,+Rock+music+critic&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Global+range+Darryl+Pandy+has+the+7-octave+voice+heard+'round+the+world&pqatl=google | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 2, 2013 | title=Global range Darryl Pandy has the 7-octave voice heard 'round the world}}</ref> He organized Trax Records, a Chicago house label.<ref name = "pulse radio" /><ref name = "npr" /> He is the founder of Slang MusicGroup, which has received numerous gold and platinum awards for their contributions.
== Early years == At the time, Vince's father worked with Eddie Thomas of Curtom Records. Eddie managed several soul and funk acts, one of which was Captain Sky, who was a Funk artist that played on Soul Train and other shows. One year, Vince got to go on tour with the musicians. He did their pyrotechnician work and watched the guy that played the synthesizers and keyboards. He thought the guy was cool and decided to learn a little bit about his synthesizers and got a job as an usher at Comiskey Park to pay for them. One night he was on duty turned out to be the infamous Disco Demolition Night.<ref name = "aeon" /><ref name = "npr" />
After becoming the victim of a hate crime, Vince settled out of court for $5000 with a view to buying his first synthesizers <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gimletmedia.com/episode/1-disco-demolition-night/|title=» #1 Disco Demolition Night|website=Gimlet Media|access-date=2016-11-23}}</ref>
He saved up enough money to buy a small synthesizer, a Moog Prodigy. Looking up to his mentors, Vince started his own band called Z Factor with Fred Riley – keyboards, Bernadette Rabaya – singer, Carlos Giammarese??? – guitar, Cordell – drums. Vince sang and played keyboards.<ref name="Fleming 1995 233-236">{{cite book |title= What Kind of House Party is This?|last= Fleming|first= Jonathan |year= 1995|publisher= MIY Publishing Ltd.|location= England, UK|isbn= 0-9523932-1-2|pages= 233–236}}</ref>
Their first record was called “(I Like To Do It In) Fast Cars” and came out in 1982 when he was eighteen. Vince's dad put the record on his label, Mitchbal Records. The record was played on WGCI in regular rotation and a few records were sold. At the same time, Vince was also going to a teen club called The Playground, which was the brainchild of a young entrepreneurial man, Craig Thompson. He then met Jesse Saunders and Farley Keith, who were the DJs. They would play old disco records, which they would mix with The B-52's music. Vince got a job there, through Jesse, doing lights. He brought Jesse and Farley his record and they would play it. Vince told them that the stuff they were playing could be put on record and would make them even more popular DJs. By making a record, crowds at the clubs would know who the announced DJ was and would make the crowd attendance bigger. Vince told Jesse that he had a synthesizer and was in a band. They decided to work together to make what became the first house record.<ref name="Fleming 1995 233-236"/><ref name="Brewster 1999 306-315">{{cite book|title= last night a dj saved my life|last= Brewster|first= Bill|author-link= Bill Brewster (DJ)|author2= Frank Broughton|year= 1999|publisher= Headline Book Publishing|location= London|isbn= 0-8021-3688-5|pages= [https://archive.org/details/lastnightdjsaved00brew/page/306 306–315]|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/lastnightdjsaved00brew/page/306}}</ref>
They wrote the beginnings of the “On And On” record along with ten or eleven more songs. Then they made “On And On Traxs” and went to Precision Records, a pressing plant, to pay for 500 records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livingart.com/raving/articles/housemusic101-38.htm |title=Living Art Productions - Rave: Articles |publisher=Livingart.com |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref> These records would be played in the clubs. In three weeks it became the hottest song in the city. Vince told Jesse that they should sell the records at the concession stand at The Playground. They met the guy that ran the concession stand, Duane Buford, and when it turned out that Duane played piano, they decided to make some music together.<ref name="Fleming 1995 233-236"/><ref name="Brewster 1999 306-315"/>
It was a pain selling the records at the concession stand so they decided to go to a record store called Imports Etc., where they sold a thousand records for four dollars each. They threw a party at Duane's house and wrote “Night Flight”, “Dum Dum”, “I’m The DJ,” and many other songs that would eventually become popular. Some of them came out of Vince's dad's label, Mitchbal, and the others came out on a label Vince named for Jesse called Jes Say Records. The logo was written in Vince's own handwriting.<ref name="Fleming 1995 233-236"/>
Vince went back to the Precision Records to get more records from the owner, Larry Sherman, every couple of weeks. The teenage repeat customer made the owner curious, so Larry asked him what he was doing with the records. After Vince told him that he was selling them for four dollars, Larry and Vince made a deal that Larry would press the records for no charge and share the profits. Vince wanted to have a label that would fit what they were doing and came up with the name Trax Records.<ref name="sonycreativesoftware.com"/><ref name="Fleming 1995 233-236"/><ref name="Brewster 1999 306-315"/>
Vince wanted to show people in Detroit the music that he was doing, because he thought the records would sell in other cities as well. He went to the clubs in Detroit and gave the DJs copies of the records. After creating relationships with the underground record shops, he set his sights on New York City. He met Bruce Forrest in New York, gave him some records and ended up staying there for three months finding stores and selling records. He called up Duane and Jesse and told them to come to New York. After seeing how much Vince was making selling these records in New York, Larry financed his trips to other states to find all the DJ stores and clubs.<ref name="Fleming 1995 233-236"/><ref name="Brewster 1999 306-315"/>
Other DJs started teaming up, following what Vince had started. Frankie Knuckles teamed up with Jamie Principle to make their first record and Steve Hurley teamed up with Rocky Jones to start DJ International. This was happening when Vince met Marshall Jefferson in the clubs with his friends, Sleazy-D and Adonis (artist). Marshall wanted to get a record out under his nickname, Virgo, so Vince told them to do it under his own label. Vince and Marshall made the EP, “Virgo Trax”, which still gets played today.<ref name="Fleming 1995 233-236"/><ref name="Brewster 1999 306-315"/>
== Slang MusicGroup == After exposing some of the dance world's best artists such as Marshall Jefferson, Adonis (artist), Byron Styngly, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Ron Hardy, Screamin’ Rachel, and Jesse Saunders at Trax Records, Vince founded Slang MusicGroup. Staying in Chicago, Vince evolved from an artist and producer to the entrepreneur and marketer that he is today. With Slang MusicGroup Vince becomes a sort of “pop culture divining rod,” creating original and remix music for bands, gaming, and TV along with innovative advertising campaigns, working with brands and their agencies. Multiple producers and artists work for Slang MusicGroup and Vince has received many RIAA Gold and Platinum awards for his work. Vince has worked with top selling acts such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Korn, R. Kelly, Wyclef Jean, John Legend, and Beyoncé. Slang MusicGroup has become a destination for electronic music makers of every genre.<ref name="slangmusicgroup.com"/>
== Chicago Fire: A Dance Music Anthology == For the musician and non-musician alike, Lawrence wanted to make it as easy as possible for anyone to make good-sounding music. He spearheaded the development of the Chicago Fire: A Dance Music Anthology in conjunction with Sony Acid. This anthology covers many types of electronic music: electro, deep house, old school, progressive, and drum & bass. Vince was able to create a way for anybody to use loops to create new and improved house music. Vince when interviewed, expressed his hope that the tool set would help foster a new generation of house music makers and fans. He also expressed how he thought this would bring the house music genre out of the underground into the mainstream.<ref name="sonycreativesoftware.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/chicagofire |title=Loops & Samples: Chicago Fire: A Dance Music Anthology |publisher=Sonycreativesoftware.com |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref>
== Personal life == Lawrence's father is an independent songwriter and his mother is now a retired assistant buildings manager for the city's two main federal buildings. He attended Lake View High School and later studied marketing at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. He decided to leave College when he realized he was making more money than most seniors.<ref name="Fleming 1995 233-236"/>
==Discography== {{Cleanup|section|reason=Formatting, non-use of wikitable(s), laundry list appearance, needs additional references, lacks dates|date=January 2021}} '''Remixes:'''
Lupe Fiasco- Jump remix-1st &15th/Thirty Tigers<br/> Beyoncé- Ego ---remix<br /> John Legend- saveroom ---remix<br /> John Legend ~ GREEN LIGHT ---remix<br /> Justin Stein ~ LOOSE CONTROL ---remix<br /> Jonathan Davis ~ GOT MONEY ---remix<br /> Omarion - icebox ---remix<br /> Omarion ~ TOUCH ---remix<br /> Omarion ~ I'M TRYNA ---remix<br /> Solange Knowles- tony ---remix<br /> Solange Knowles- sandcastles ---remix<br /> Wyclef Jean- sweetest girl ---remix<br /> Wyclef Jean- touch your button ---remix<br /> Amerie ~ TOUCH ---remix<br /> Vivian Green - I Like It (But I Don't Need It) - Columbia ---remix<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/431033/vivian+green/chart |title=Vivian Green - Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><br /> R. Kelly – Thoia Thoing- Jive ---Club Mix<br /> P1-In My Soul-Novo ---Club Mix<br /> P1-Terranova (Vespa) -Novo ---Club Mix<br /> P1- Heat it Up -Novo ---Club Mix<br /> Michael Jackson - One More Chance - Epic ---Club Mix (2)<br /> R. Kelly – Ignition – Jive ---Club Mix (2)<br /> Whitney Houston/Deborah Cox - Same Script Different Cast – Arista ---Club Mix (3)<br /> Donell Jones - Where I Wanna Be – Arista ---Club Mix (2)<br /> R. Kelly - I Wish – Jive ---Club Mix<br /> Absolute - Is It Really Like That – Atlantic ---Club Mix<br /> Lina (American singer) - No More – Atlantic ---Club Mix<br /> Sisqo - Incomplete - Island/DefJam ---Club Mix<br /> 112 - Anywhere - BAD BOY ---Club Mix<br /> Crystal Method – Comin’Back – Outpost ---Club Mix<br /> KMFDM - Light - WaxTrax/TVT ---Club Mix<br /> Concrete Blonde - Wanna Be Your Friend ---Club Mix<br /> Taffy - I Love My Radio (UK Mix) – Mute ---Club Mix <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 546}}</ref>
'''Releases:'''
Cara Snower ~ Criminal ---Prod<br /> JQ ~ Dixie Cups ---Prod<br /> JQ ~ Superfly Guy ---Prod<br /> JQ ~ go down and show ---Prod<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/jqhitsit |title=JQ | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos |publisher=Myspace.com |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><br /> Morgan Mallory ~ echoes ---Prod<br /> Morgan Mallory ~ spotlight ---Prod<br /> Morgan Mallory ~ still you love me ---Prod<br /> Morgan Mallory ~ come feel me ---Prod<br /> Jana G ~ sleepin ---Prod<br /> Jana G ~ make me ---Prod<br /> Jana G ~ open up ---Prod<br /> Nikki Lynette ~ BIG ---Prod<br /> Nikki Lynette ~ need a man ---Prod<br /> Savvy and Mandy- dream ---Album Prod<br /> Melody Swink- Today is Someday -Iris ---Album Prod<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=13663|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124221953/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=13663|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-11-24|title=Melody Swink|access-date=March 16, 2026}}</ref><br /> Ms. Alto- Heat/Taste the Wine-Slang Recordings ---Writer/Prod<br /> Ms. Alto-Sunrise/My First Love-Slang Recordings ---Writer/Prod<br /> Liquid Soul-Evolution- Shanachie ---Writer/Prod<br /> Yvonne Gage-Mirror Mirror/So Good- Slang Recordings ---Writer/Prod<br /> Katia-Let Me Be Free- Slang Recordings ---Writer/Prod<br /> Poundseven-Self Titled-Hatelove ---Album Prod<br /> Felix Da Housecatt-I Know ElectricBoy- Emperor Norton ---Writer/Prod<br /> Urban Knights IV- Clubland- Narada ---Writer/Prod<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FBAEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Vince+Lawrence%22&pg=PA26 |title=Billboard - Google Books |date=2002-02-16 |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><br /> North Avenue - Solutions/Someday - Music101 ---Writer/Prod<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://music-101.com/ssps/label/catalog/m101-001|title=Music-101|date=20 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820155924/http://music-101.com/ssps/label/catalog/m101-001|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-date=2008-08-20}}</ref><br /> MOB - Creepin/Breaks Em Off - PD Waxx ---Engineer<br /> KoS - Take U There - Long Tall Salley ---Writer/Prod<br /> KoS - Summer Nights - Long Tall Salley ---Writer/Prod<br /> Vince Lawrence - The Night is Young - KTM/Tressor ---Writer/Prod<br /> Vince Lawrence - Songs Without a Singer - KTM/Tressor ---Album Prod<br /> Terminal White - The Colorline – White ---Album Prod<br /> Donna Summer – What Is It You Want - Atlantic ---Writer/Prod<br /> Richard Rodgers - Bed of Roses – Sam ---Writer/Prod<br /> Bang Orchestra- Rush- Trax ---Writer/Prod<ref name="pqasb.pqarchiver.com">{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28803747.xml?dids=28803747:28803747&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+22%2C+1990&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Bang+Orchestra&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021161304/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28803747.xml?dids=28803747:28803747&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+22,+1990&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Bang+Orchestra&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |title=Bang Orchestra |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=1990-06-22 |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><br /> CCP - A Solution – Mute ---Writer/Prod<br /> The Swans - Girl with a Gun – Mute ---Writer/Prod<br /> Bang Orchestra - Sample That – Geffen ---Writer/Prod<ref name="pqasb.pqarchiver.com"/><br /> Shay Jones – Time To Party – Trax ---Writer/Prod<br /> Shay Jones – Feeling the Need – Trax ---Writer/Prod<br /> Gwendolyn - Come to Me - Precision / Trax ---Writer/Prod<br /> Cath Carroll - Too Good To Live ---Writer/Prod<br /> LeNoiz - Wanna Dance – Trax ---Prod<br /> Fresh - Dum Dum – Trax ---Prod<br /> Farley Jackmaster Funk - Love Can't Turn – Trax ---Writer<br /> Marshall Jefferson - Move Your Body – Trax ---Engineer/Prod<br /> Virgo/Marshall Jefferson - VirgoTrax / Go Wild - Other Side ---Prod/Engineer<br /> Dezz7 / 10City - Funny Love – Trax ---Prod<br /> Darryl Pandy - Climax – Brightstar ---Prod<br /> Ron Hardy - Sensation – Trax ---Writer/Prod<br /> Grant - Dance – Trax ---Prod<br /> Midnight - In a Heartbeat – Jessay ---Writer<br /> The Homeboys – It's Your Night – Jessay ---Writer<br /> Dr. Derelict - Undercover – Jessay ---Writer<br /> Z Factor – Z Factor – Mitchbal ---Writer/Prod<br /> Jesse Saunders – On & On ---Writer<br /> Z Factor – Fast Cars ---Writer/Prod<br /> <ref name="discogs.com"/> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slangmusicgroup.com/index.php?vince-lawrence |title=Vince Lawrence is an internationally recognized innovator in dance music |publisher=Slang Musicgroup |access-date=2014-08-10}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{LinkedIn page|in/vincelawrence}} * [http://www.myspace.com/vingo Vince Lawrence Myspace] * [http://www.slangmusicgroup.com Slang MusicGroup Website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Vince}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Record producers from Illinois Category:American house musicians