Europe S Stars Of 80s Dance Pop

Beginning early in the 1980s, a dance music revolution swept across Europe and Britain, merging rock, new wave, disco and worldbeat sounds. The resulting explosion of high-energy, increasingly electronic dance-pop caused a sensation worldwide. In this book of original interviews, 32 of the era's most celebrated artists, producers and industry professionals discuss their lives and careers: Thomas Anders (Modern Talking's "You're My Heart, You're My Soul"), Pete Burns (Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"), Desireless ("Voyage Voyage"), Phil Harding (PWL Mixmaster), Junior ("Mama Used to Say"), Leee John (Imagination's "Just an Illusion"), Liz Mitchell (Boney M.'s 1988 "Megamix"), Fab Morvan (Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True"), Taco ("Putting On the Ritz"), Jennifer Rush ("The Power of Love"), Sabrina ("Boys"), Spagna ("Call Me"), Amii Stewart ("Knock on Wood"), Yazz ("The Only Way Is Up") and many more. Includes special commentary by Academy Award winner Mel Brooks and Audrey Landers, star of Dallas.

Stars of 80s Dance Pop - The European Edition is a fascinating look at the artists behind the massive creative revolution that swept mainland Europe and Britain's pop music scene beginning early in the 1980s. Merging rock, new wave, disco, worldbeat, and classical sounds, an exciting new era of electronic dance-pop recordings caused an international sensation. No cultural or political border could contain the popularity of this genre's artists or their hits. More than 50 of the period's defining singers, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals share fascinating memories of their lives and accomplishments. Participants include Pete Burns of Dead Or Alive, Thomas Anders of Modern Talking, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli, Liz Mitchell of Boney M., Jennifer Rush, Sabrina, Harriette Weels of MaiTai, Ryan Paris, PWL Mixmaster Phil Harding, Yazz, Taco, Desireless, Hazell Dean, Spagna, Fancy, Amii Stewart, Pedro Marin, Leee John of Imagination, Fancy, Caroline Loeb, Gazebo, Jo Bogaert of Technotronic, Five Star's Stedman Pearson, Jaki Graham, Engelbert Humperdinck, Audrey Landers, Academy Award winner Mel Brooks, and many more."

Beginning early in the 1980s, dance-pop music artists in Europe and the UK ignited a high energy firestorm that burned across international borders. As exciting new beats flooded radio airwaves and filled the clubs, a generation of hitmakers got the world on its feet and brought people together as never before. In this book of original interviews, 33 celebrated singers, songwriters, producers and industry professionals who reached the top of the European, British and American charts during this era share personal memories of their lives, careers and unforgettable hits. They include Dutch remix master Ben Liebrand ("Lovely Day - The Sunshine Mix" by Bill Withers), Sven van Veen of MC Miker G & DJ Sven ("Holiday Rap"), Walter Werzowa of Edelweiss ("Bring Me Edelweiss"), Engelbert Humperdinck (Träumen Mit Engelbert LP), Helen Scott of The Three Degrees ("The Heaven I Need"), Marcus Gabler of O.K. ("OKAY!"), Lino Nicolosi of Valerie Dore ("The Night"), Tracy Spencer ("Run To Me"), Tony Esposito ("Kalimba De Luna"), Chaz Jankel ("Glad To Know You"), Kurt René Plisnier of Opus ("Live Is Life"), Jean-Pierre Morgand of Les Avions ("Nuit Sauvage"), Stedman Pearson of Five Star ("System Addict"), Lian Ross ("Fantasy"), Francesco Napoli ("Balla..Balla - Italian Hit Connection"), Precious Wilson, Judy Cheeks, Savage, producer Christian de Walden and more. Special commentary by Sandy Marton ("People From Ibiza") and Christa Mikulski (General Director of ZYX Records).

The 1990s produced some of the greatest artists and hits in dance music history. And the decade was among the genre's most successful in terms of energy, sales and global popularity. In this retrospective, 29 singers, songwriters, producers, DJs and industry professionals who enjoyed stardom on the club circuit and on pop radio candidly discuss their careers. Interviewed artists include Richard and Fred Fairbrass of Right Said Fred ("I'm Too Sexy"), Nicki French ("Total Eclipse of the Heart"), Haddaway ("What Is Love"), Lane McCray of La Bouche ("Be My Lover"), Martha Wash, vocalist of C+C Music Factory ("Gonna Make You Sweat [Everybody Dance Now]"), Robin S ("Show Me Love"), Frank Peterson, formerly of Enigma ("Sadeness, Part I"), CeCe Peniston ("Finally"), Dr. Alban ("It's My Life"), Thea Austin, formerly of Snap! ("Rhythm Is a Dancer") and many more. Commentaries are provided by former Billboard dance music editor Larry Flick, renowned producers/songwriters The Berman Brothers (Real McCoy's "Another Night") and acclaimed DJ Susan Morabito.

 Dance music has seen an unprecedented explosion in the 21st century as a stampede of subgenres, such as dance pop and EDM (electronic dance music), have come to define the pop music scene worldwide. In this collection of original interviews, 33 hitmakers from 11 countries discuss their lives and careers in this still-unfolding new age—including Alcazar’s Andreas Lundstedt, Dave Audé, Bart & Baker, Bimbo Jones, Chris Cox, Darude, Inaya Day, Deepend, Freemasons, D.O.N.S./Warp Brothers’ Oliver Goedicke, Xenia Ghali, Gryffin, Harrison, In-Grid, Kimberley Locke, Paul Oakenfold, Suzanne Palmer, Ralphi Rosario, Sak Noel, Richard Vission and more. Special commentary provided by Moto Blanco’s Danny Harrison and clubland queen Martha Wash.

The female vocalists who pioneered the disco genre in the '70s and early '80s were an extraordinarily talented group who dazzled the world with an exciting blend of elegance, soulful passion and gutsy fire. In this book of original interviews, 32 of these women tell their stories, explaining how they view their music, careers, connection to gay audiences, and their places in dance music history. Interviewed artists include: The Andrea True Connection; Claudja Barry; Pattie Brooks; Miquel Brown; Linda Clifford; Carol Douglas; Yvonne Elliman; Rochelle Fleming (First Choice); Gloria Gaynor; Debbie Jacobs-Rock; Madleen Kane; Evelyn "Champagne" King; Audrey Landers; Suzi Lane; Cynthia Manley (Boys Town Gang); Kelly Marie; Maxine Nightingale; Scherrie Payne; Wardell Piper; The Ritchie Family, 1975-1978: Gwendolyn Wesley, Cassandra Wooten and Cheryl Mason-Dorman; The Ritchie Family, 1978-1982: Theodosia "Dodie" Draher; Barbara Roy (Ecstasy Passion & Pain); Pamala Stanley; Evelyn Thomas; Jeanie Tracy; Anita Ward; Martha Wash; Carol Williams; Jessica Williams and Norma Jean Wright.

Presents year-by-year chronologies of influential artists from the past fifty years.