Joey Negro

David Russell Lee, born on June 18, 1964, on the Isle of Wight and raised in Thorpe-le-Soken, England, embarked on his musical journey by collecting disco, soul, and funk records in the late 1970s. His professional career began in 1986 at Smithers & Leigh, followed by a move to Rough Trade’s dance division, Demix. At Demix, Lee played a role in the success of artists such as Bomb the Bass and MARRS. In partnership with Rough Trade, he founded Republic Records, known for its “The Garage Sound of Deepest New York” compilation albums, and marked his early foray into studio production under the name M-D-Emm with “Get Busy (It’s Partytime!)” in 1987. Breaking through with the assumed name Raven Maize in 1989, Lee consistently utilized disco samples in his work, a signature element of his career.

Lee’s most prominent pseudonym, Joey Negro, debuted in 1990 with a single released on Nu Groove, a New York indie house music label. This marked his transition to a solo career, allowing him to freely explore his musical direction through his self-financed label, Z Records, which remains his primary outlet. The 1990s saw Lee’s reputation as a remixer grow, with commissions for artists including Diana Ross, M People, and Pet Shop Boys. He also introduced additional aliases such as Z Factor, Doug Willis, Akabu, and Sessomatto. In 1993, he collaborated with Take That, producing their cover of “Relight My Fire,” which became a number one hit in the UK. His album “Universe of Love” (1993) featured Gwen Guthrie and The Trammps, showcasing live instrumentation, which would later become a hallmark of his work with the Sunburst Band.

The early 2000s were a period of commercial success for Lee. In 1999, his track “Must Be the Music” (as Joey Negro featuring Taka Boom) reached number 8 in the UK charts. The following year, under the Jakatta alias, “American Dream” became his biggest hit, peaking at number 3 in the UK, followed by “So Lonely” (UK No. 8) and “My Vision” (UK No. 6). His album “Visions” (under the Jakatta alias) reached number 12. In 2005, “Make A Move On Me” (as Joey Negro) reached number 11 in the UK. Lee is also noted for his extensive work as a music compiler, curating over 20 albums featuring rare disco and club music, including the “Jumpin'” series, “Disco Spectrum,” and “Disco Not Disco.” He founded Z Records, which has released over 200 tracks from various artists. In July 2020, following the George Floyd protests, Lee announced he would no longer use the stage name Joey Negro.