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About 5 years ago,
I purchased a Yamaha CS1X dance music keyboard. I was
totally impressed and today, I still am — a great
dance tool. However, I thought the unit's built-in demos
were weak so I called Yamaha and, in short, told them
that I could do 100 times better because I was a total
dance-head. I'm sure that the guy on the other end (who
is still my friend today) must have thought I was a total
ass. He asked me to send a demo, which I did and I was
in.
I did a few projects
doing bits here and there — consulting, evaluating product and making
money. It was great. I started getting more work... then
the trips to Japan came. Some trips were three days long
for meetings only, some were for three weeks — a little
too long if you ask me. "I've got a studio to run back
home!"
My proudest moment
with Yamaha was serving as project leader for the DJX
II. I had done bits on the DJX I but the "II" was my
gig. I really went for it. I didn't get everything I
requested, but I think that keyboard is serious. People
don't check it out because they think it's just for kids.
Listen, dudes (as they say in America), I have one and
have used it on the
albums — wicked!
 I
enjoy going to Japan because it's so different. I'm 6'1" but
when in Japan, I'm 11'3"! It's great. So I went back and
forth and gained a lot of experience including learning
to speak Japanese. I learned important phrases like "Beer,
please," "Can I get a receipt, please," "You look really
sexy. What's yer name?" and so on. The Japanese are very
polite and I have always been looked after very well when
on business.
I started meeting
more people in the biz like at NAMM. I did demos for
keyboard products for Kawai's K5000s, Yamaha RM1X, Yamaha
DJX's, Korg Triton, EMU — a
bunch of stuff. I'm a freelance guy. My title is Dance
Music Composer / Producer / Remixer and — not to forget — DRUMMER
(20 years now).
 I
got involved with Roland, who are simply the best.
They have great dance tools. I get prototypes off them
and create voices & patches, make loops and more. I
have an XV5080 — a serious piece of hardware. If you
don't have one, save up and buy one. Now. I feel
really great working with Roland — their dance music
products are excellent. I just completed working on the MC-909
SRX dance series, Extreme Dance, GRV01, and World Voices,
too. All amazing, I might add.
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