Nick Balodimas a.k.a. Niko, was born in Dorchester MA and raised in the South End of Boston. Growing up in the city with a diverse culture, Nick was influenced by many form s of music. During junior high he was introduced to Latin freestyle, hip-hop and house music. He instantly fell in love with mix tapes that were given to him by friends who had cousins and older brothers who were dj’s. From there he began collecting records and buying music from some of Boston’s famous dj shops in the late 80’s like Dance Music Plus, and many others.
   
In high school he caught the dj bug when the dj he booked for the high school dance didn't show up. Nick and his friend ended up grabbing their records and stereo system from their house to play for the dance. Between summer vacations Nick would hang out at Youth Essential Services in Chinatown (a place for young people to stay out of trouble) only to find out that they had turntables that he would use to practice mixing and scratching with his friends. This is where he first honed his skills making mix tapes for his friends and himself.
   
After high school, Nick went on to study recording arts at New England Collage of Communication (now called The Art Institute) where he learned about music production and engineering. During this time he was introduced to the Loft (Boston’s famous after-hours night) by Dj Bruno who he first met at Boston Beat records in 1993. This is where, like many others Nick fell in love with deep house music. Then in 1996, Nick began to dj professionally and met Dj Kelvin through another mutual fried Cool_Dj BigOnes at Kelvin's night "House 2 Swing".
 
They instantly click because of there love of the music and realizing they shared the same goals, which they eventually decided to work together on being producers and Dj’s, following in the footsteps of there favorite producer duo’s at the time The Masters At Work. By 1997 they came up with the group name The Shadow Kings, during this time Nick was also introduced to Dana Kelly (D.K.M.A) a Boston house music producer known for tracks like Krimp on Strictly Rhythm and other labels like Guidance recordings. Dana taught Nick the finer points of arrangements and production as well as some keyboard lessons for house music by watching what Dana did in his own studio. By 1999 The Shadow Kings put out there first single on Gossip Records from N. Y. City called the “Disco-nnected” E. P.

The rest is history... but more is to come with the instalment of The Alpha Channels!

 

 

Joe grew up in Mansfield, Ohio and was taught his first blues scale in 3rd grade. After rocking out in the key of C for a few years he moved on to play jazz piano in high school and also played percussion in band and orchestra.

He fell in love with computers and technology and later would discover Berklee College of Music's Music Synthesis program where he focused his studies on sound design and composition for multimedia applications.

Joe was introduced to the Shadow Kings by his brother Tony in 2003, who was good friends with Nick. After their first meeting it was obvious Joe's musical background had made him a perfect fit for the musical styling's of the Shadow Kings. Joe has played keyboards on many tracks as well as help produce and arrange. Most notably on "Soul-4-Reel", "Soul music", "So Beautiful" and "Song 4 Her".

 

 

U-KEY [a.k.a. Yuki Kanesaka] | DJ / Keyboarder / Producer (Boston/USA)

U-key was born in Japan in 1981. When he was 4 years old, he asked his Mother how to become a NINJA. And his mother said, "First you better take Piano lessons!! Then you can be a NINJA!!" ... “Only thing she wants, is to see me playing piano”... He truly believed and started playing the piano.

At the age of 5, he starts composing, at the age of 9, he was exposed to jazz funk, jazz-fusion and starts playing the synth as well as how to program. By the age of 10 he becomes exposed to hip-hop and house music in Los Angeles and easily moves into dance music production work.

At the age of 14, he starts professional experiences at YAMAHA Japan as a keyboardist. When he becomes 19, he moves to Boston U.S.A. to study at "Berklee College Of Music". At 21, he starts professionally doing studio "production work" and touring with major rap artist Cee-lo (Goodie Mob), Maceo (De La Soul), Medusa, and MC Supernatural.

Further more he has worked professionally with Darren Barret (trp / Elvin Jones), Giovanni Hidalgo (per)and John Blackwell (dr / Prince) He has also won 1st prize at "THE SOURCE National rap music competition" as a producer.

He founded his own studio called "KOMUGIKO", working on his own and foreign music productions (bands & artists).

 

 

Greg Capozzi is a multi-talented musician and entertainer with over 15 years in the music industry. As a DJ/Emcee, C-Zone has performed at countless special events including weddings, corporate functions, private parties, and much more. He has also entertained crowds in some of Boston's hottest venues including Felt, Il Panino, Mantra, Pravda, and The Blue Cat. And let's not forget a few private parties for Clint Eastwood and Sean Penn during the filming of Mystic River. C-Zone's personality, professionalism, and ability to keep the dance floor moving make him the ideal choice for your event.

As a saxophone and woodwind player, Greg has performed all over the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean with appearances at several International Jazz Festivals, Disney World, Epcot Center, Club Med, Carnival Cruise Lines, and a guest appearance with performers from Cirque de Soleil.

Some highlights of C-Zone's career include a 5 year tenure with Rippopotamus, voted "Best Funk Band" at the Boston Music Awards in 1996. This 8 piece all original funk/rock band routinely packed clubs such as The Middle East, Mama Kin, and Ryles. In the fall of 1996, one of Rippo's songs was selected as the theme for "Singled Out," a popular dating show on MTV. In 1998 Rippo performed at the internationally famous Montreal Jazz Festival, and rang in the New Year in 1999 with a week long stint at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in Key West, FL.

Greg a.k.a. C-Zone met up with the Shadow Kings in 2004 and played sax on "Soul Music" on Undo Records NYC which was released in 2005

 

 

Throughout his career, Arnold Jarvis has been nothing but consistent - consistent when it comes to getting noticed. His is a brilliant career that began at the prime of his youth. While only a teenager, his voice and talent landed him front and center of the Baltimore Gospel Choir for whom he was a prodigious soloist.

In 1984, modest academic pursuits led him to New York City. However, his talent and love of music did not lie dormant for long. He was drawn to music industry circles and was quickly embraced by them. He began to write, perform and record. Among the more notable gems from this early period in his career are his collaboration with Fonda Rae on “You’re The Best,” a song written by Lem Springsteen (Mood II Swing) and produced by Kerri Chandler; and his debut single, “Take Some Time Out” (Fourth Floor Records) produced by Tommy Musto and Yvonne Turner, which enjoyed huge underground and global success.

In the 90s, he made it known that he meant business and showed audiences everywhere that he was a force to be reckoned with. First came his guest appearance on Satoshi Tomiie’s “And I Loved You” (FFRR, Polygram UK), produced by Grammy winner, Frankie Knuckles. Then followed the monumental classic, “Inspiration” (Freetown Records), produced by Kerri Chandler. He reached a new pinnacle and gained notoriety when he recorded Swing 52’s epic songs, “Color of My skin” (FFRR/Cutting Records) and “The Joy You Bring” (Cutting Records), which he co-wrote.

At around this time, he began touring the world and has since performed alongside the likes of Queen Latifah, Kenny Bobien, Barbara Tucker, Ultra Nate, Ce Ce Peniston, Loletta Holloway, Jocelyn Brown, and Byron Stingly, to name a few.

The 21st century has seen increased impetus and creative output from Arnold. In fact, he’s outdone himself and his already impressive legacy many times over. In 2000 alone, he released “Learn to Give” (Hysteria Records) produced by Eric Kupper; “Life Goes On” (MAW Records), the brainchild of his collaboration with legendary DJ/producer Louie Vega and vocalist Lisa Fischer; and “Special Kind of Love” (King Street Records) produced by Benji Candelario and remixed by Jazz and Groove. He then released his debut full-length album, Arnold Jarvis, “The Collection” (MFL Records), in 2002 and followed it with a string of extraordinary singles, including: “Love Of My Life” (West End Records) produced by the Basement Boys; “You’ve Let Love Slip Away” (King Street Records) which reached the top 5 on Billboard’s Dance Sales chart; “Make The Time” which was written and produced by Blaze for Keep Hope Alive, a benefit CD for LIFE BEAT; and “Take Good Care Of Me” (Sole Channel Music)

In 2007 the Shadow Kings were approached by the Jumo Bro's to do a remix they did with Arnold Jarvis called "Never Cared". To say the least the Shadow Kings were eager to do so. It was soon released on SoulFunk Digital, which became a  great success and won the Shadow Kings respect world wide as well as recognition by Arnold himself for a job well done.

 

 

Lee Wilson The 24 year old singer, songwriter, and performer from Boston, MA has been called the "Top Unsigned Artist in America" by Vibe Magazine (Jan '06 Issue). Lee Wilson is the real deal. No hype, No gimmicks, just THE TRUTH. Lee's music is a fusion of Pop/R&B. His live shows are emotional roller coasters, electrifying, and inspirational. See why BET (106 & Park), Fox 25 Morning Show (Boston), and MTV (True Life), are all proud to say that they have worked with Lee Wilson the NEXT BIG THING.

The first collaboration with the Shadow Kings occurred when the co-wrote a song with Duane Harden called ‘So Beautiful’. The song was signed to Soul Funk Digital Records (UK) and was released in early 2007. In addition, the Shadow Kings were given an opportunity to remix Lee Wilson’s single, ‘Life’, due for release soon on Home Recordings.

 

 

Dee Lavender has performed all over the Continental U.S., Germany, Switzerland and Africa. Classically trained and raised in the church, she draws from these different points of reference to add flavor and spice to her vocal performance. Her wide range, clear tone, sweet, sultry, soothing vocals as well as her professionalism, and modesty are what set her apart from other aspiring vocalists. Dee also enjoys other aspects of performance such as lead vocal and background vocal arranging, producing shows and production consultation. She has been a member of Lee Wilson music since it's conception in 2000.

She has been professionally teaching individual/group voice, piano, guitar and percussion lessons for almost 7 years. She taught voice lessons for two years at the Abundant Life Music Instruction - a community music program in Cambridge, MA, where she also instructed Master Classes that offered vocal training to groups, praise and worship teams and choirs. She has worked at many local institutions for higher learning including Berklee College of Music mentor Program, Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School, Charles Taylor Elementary School Music, The Boston Community Music Center, and Setae Dance and Music Studio.

She is currently the Music Department Director at the Epiphany School (www.epiphanyschool.com) She also serves as the Director of the Big Draw Creative Arts Summer Camp in Robbery, MA. Having successfully trained in the 5 year Music Therapy and Vocal Performance Dual Degree program at Berklee, Dee looks forward to a promising career in the music industry and in educating the worlds' next generation of stars.

Dee met with the Shadow Kings back when they were recording the single they produced with Lee Wilson called "So Beautiful". From there they have collaborated on many tracks. The first release is set for the end of this year called "This is (a song for her)" on Utopia Boston Recordings.

 

 

Liza grew up in Lawrence, Massachusetts surrounded by rap and freestyle music. At home, her parents introduced to her native land’s rhythms, Salsa. At age 13, she discovered House music on the FM dial one late Friday night. She then started frequenting under 21 clubs where should could house music.

She then began to absorb all she could about house music, from buying records, learning about its origins, producers, vocalists, labels and venues. Liza had become a true house head and a self confessed Little Louie Vega junkie. Liza is also known for her dancing and her spoken word poetry, that hits straight to the heart. Some 15 years later, she’s still backpacking, ding, songwriter, spoken word artist and promoter.

Liza met up the Shadow Kings back in 2005. Since then they have worked on numerous projects with them with one slated for release soon called “Never Thought” on Women On Max Detroit.

You can catch Liza at poetry events all around Boston like Sulkier and Sisters Doing It For Themselves as well as other locations like Providence, Montreal and Tampa. She Is Currently working on a book of poetry she hopes to publish soon.

 

 

Diesel is a New York native who learned to play the drums at nine under Jazz drummers Keno Duke and Charlie Per sip. At the age of eleven he had an opportunity to study percussion with Latin Jazz greats Mongol Santa maria and Tit Punted at a percussion clinic in the Henry Street Settlement, a Community Center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. As well as studying various arts like Ballet, Jazz and Tap, Bob took up Ding when he was in junior high. Later on Bob soon moved up to playing for WRKS 98.7 KISS F.M. at various special events in the New York Tri State area.

In 1987 he moved to Boston where he became an instrumental part of pushing the house music scene. Later he became a part of the B.H.M.C. (Boston House Music Coalition), which in part helps in keeping the vibe alive, by hosting and promoting house nights all over Boston MA. From there on he has Djayed from Canada to Mexico as well parts of Europe.

Back in 2000 Bob Diesel met the Shadow Kings, they always new that Bob had a great voice for a spoken word track. Finally in 2007 they got Bob in the studio and have created an underground joint that will please house heads from sea to shining sea. Still in the process of being released and remixed. This track will be sure to please any house head from around the world! Expect to hear a lot more from Bob Diesel with the Shadow Kings.

 

 

What is a warm body? A body that you hire for the overnight shift to simply be there just in case something goes horribly awry? A body that still has a feeble pulse as you pull it out from the wreckage? That softly exhaling body sleeping next to you? The answer is all of the above, and paradoxically, none of the above. Warm Bodies are definitely not “cool”, and at the same time, certainly not “hot” (as the young kids would say these days). Warm Bodies ARE a talented yet grossly untrained musical tag-team from Boston, comprised of Paul Foley (aka Milk Edwards) and Kno Supreme (aka Jimmy Fingers).

The two have been making music together since their voices started changing and they started acquiring pubic hair. As far back as 1987, they started rhyming together and contemplated a musical future as they sat side by side on the bench of they’re local traveling basketball team. Only a short time thereafter, they actually started recording their own rap songs, using nothing but their mouths, a tape deck and the occasional turntable scratch using the Thriller album. After inventing and reinventing themselves several times over, they finally became the rap group known as “falsehood” in 1993. At that time they incorporated high school friend Rich, aka Midge Kid, LeBranti to add to the cypher. Rich still collaborates on musical projects to this day. In 1995 they recruited the talented DJ and producer extraordinaire, Mister Jason, who later went on to form Porn Theatre Ushers. Falsehood spent the next 3 years putting out a full-length (and unreleased) album, doing shows all over New England, opening up for such acts as Sweet Tee, Coolio, and the Violent Femmes, doing radio spots on local stations such as WERS, and in general melting faces. They attained some underground acclaim, however, never broke through.

By the turn of the millennium Paul had quit the rap scene in order to satiate his growing musical appetite. He fumbled around and learned how to use a sampler, a mulit-track recorder, as well as live drums. At the same time Kno was beginning to become enamored by synthesizers, vocoders and drum machines. There was no longer any limit to their musical expression as they dabbled in whatever genres happened to tickle their collective pickle. Even though they are both equally capable of laying down vocals on a track, Paul quickly assumed this role as lead, and furthermore acts as the face and the mouth of the Bodies. As an up-and-coming DJ in the Boston scene, Paul can be found running around the city several nights a week promoting and talking shit. All the while, Kno remains unseen. A mad scientist, cooking up concoctions in his underground, and slightly fetid, laboratory.

And so goes Warm Bodies. As much New Order as they are the Bomb Squad. As much Beck as they are Andre 3000. As much analog as you can handle. Enough to make you feel all Warm inside.

Enter the Shadow Kings: Paul and the Shadow Kings knew each other for a while, but while hanging out one night at a house night in Boston, Nick and Kelvin heard one of the local dj’s playing a song that sounded like an old Strictly Rhythm track. Curious to find out what track it was, they asked and were completely floored to find out that the Warm Bodies crew did it! After congratulating Paul on a job well done, S. K. asked Paul if they could do a remix. Paul said yes, and then it was on! The track is called ‘What U Do 2 Me’ feat. Tashi Pique and is in the process being finalized to be released.