Song:It's Automatic
Album:Don't Stop The Rock: Greatest Hits
Though freestyle dance music started in New York in the early 80s, Miami was a big part of that scene when it went mainstream later on. And producer Pretty Tony Butler was a big part of that. Freestyle and hits like It's Automatic was his main production though he also produced popular acts like Debbie Deb and Trinere. As a teen, Butler was a DJ in Miami clubs. Record companies sent new dance records to DJs to get feedback. They discovered that Butler was good at predicting which songs would be hits. It was suggested that he should produce his own records. After Miami recording studios wouldn't let him in, he built his own studio and started his own Music Specialist label distributed by Pandisc. He started releasing singles as Freestyle in 1983. It's Automatic was released in 1986. Butler wrote and produced the music. Byron Smith and Garfield Baker wrote the lyrics and they along with Daryle Harris and Andrew Gillis performed as Freestyle. Butler did not tour with Freestyle. He wasn't interested in performing. He was only interested in producing the music. For a few years Butler had success with Freestyle and some of his other acts. Many of the Freestyle acts that crossed over to pop in the late 80s were from Miami. And Butler was a big part of establishing that. When music changed in the early 90s, Butler quit the music business. He wasn't interested in changing. This CD has Freestyle's biggest hits. Here's the video for It's Automatic by Freestyle. Thanks to Vivian Host at Red Bull Academy and her 2015 interview with Tony Butler for much of the info.
No comments:
Post a Comment