Todd Terry

Todd Norton Terry, born on April 18, 1967, in Brooklyn, New York City, is an American DJ, record producer, and remixer known for his work in house music. His productions were instrumental in defining the New York house scene during the 1990s. Terry’s musical style is characterized by the extensive use of samples, blending classic disco sounds, Chicago house elements, and hip-hop influences.

Terry began his career in the 1980s by DJing at parties in New York. Initially, he played Italo disco and hip-hop, later shifting his focus to house music as it emerged in the mid-80s. He debuted as Masters at Work with the 12-inch “Alright Alright” in 1987. His early work is considered significant in the development of house and rave music. He was responsible for two notable crossover remixes: “I’ll House You” by the Jungle Brothers in the summer of 1988 and “Missing” by Everything but the Girl, rereleased in October 1995. His tracks, released under various aliases like the Todd Terry Project, Royal House, Black Riot, Swan Lake, and Orange Lemon, were influential in the UK acid house scene, with “Can You Party” (as Royal House) reaching No. 14 in the UK in 1988.

Throughout the 1990s, Terry continued to achieve commercial success with tracks like “Something Goin’ On” and “Keep on Jumpin'”, both of which became UK top-ten hits with vocals by Jocelyn Brown and Martha Wash. In 1997, his album “Ready for a New Day” reached No. 84 on the UK Albums Chart, featuring his successful singles. He also remixed “Stranger in Moscow” for Michael Jackson in 1996. In 1999, he released “Resolutions” on Astralwerks Records and later formed the Todd Terry All Stars in 2007, collaborating with artists such as Kenny Dope and DJ Sneak. Terry also manages his own record labels, InHouse Records (launched in 1999) and SoundDesign Records (launched in 2000), which feature a diverse catalog of artists and tracks in house and harder electronic styles. In 2013, he released the album “Todd Terry vs. That Trap Shitt” on Tommy Boy Entertainment.