Victor Calderone

Victor Calderone (born in Brooklyn, New York) is a house music producer and DJ in the international nightlife scene.

History

Raised in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, Calderone was introduced into New York City's nightlife by his older brother, Cesar, who was very active in the club music business. Calderone began to dabble with turntables and other DJ-related equipment at the age of 15. A decade later, in 1991, music mogul Seymour Stein signed both Calderone and his partner Joey Beltram (they collaborated on a short-lived techno act called Program 2) to a contract deal with Sire Records. Shortly after the release of their first album, the group disbanded and Calderone took a self-imposed exile away from the music industry.^[1][2]

During the time he removed himself from the club music industry, Calderone ventures into the restaurant business. While the restaurant was a success, his love of music and his unhappiness with the restaurant business made him reanalyze his goals. Encouraged by the woman who would eventually become his wife, Calderone returned back to studio to work on new projects that would follow the success of his first solo record,“Give It Up.” This record, which helped launch the Calderone's mainstream success as a both a DJ and producer, was followed up by his second record "Beat Me Harder." Both records topped the Billboard's dance charts and Calderone's career skyrocketed.

Further inspired by New York’s then-thriving club scene, Victor landed gigs spinning at many major events in the city and on the predomionately gay seaside community of Fire Island. Nightclubs such as The Limelight came calling and eventually Calderone obtained residencies at both the Roxy in New York and Liquid in Miami Beach. It was while spinning at these clubs, that Victor would meet and commence his successful relationship with superstar singer Madonna in 1998. Impressed by Calderone's innovative vision and style, Madonna bestowed upon him the honor of remixing Frozen, the first single released from her Ray of Light album. Since 1998, he has remixed nine other records for Madonna and has established an cherished friendship with the Grammy-award winning singer.

Following up on Madonna’s recommendation, legendary singer Sting selected Calderone to remix his song "Desert Rose," the second single from his 1999 "Brand New Day" album. The British singer did not only hired Calderone to remix the single, which was something he had never done before with his music, but even returned back to the studio with him to re-record the vocals to match the remixed song’s new dance-oriented rhythms. The song spent an impressive 80 weeks on the Billboard dance charts including nine consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart.

Besides his work with Madonna and Sting, his credits as a remixer asre extensive. He has crafted remixes for such artists as Beyoncé Knowles, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Sarah Brightman, among others. He also released several songs on his own, and he has twice hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. In 1997, he spent a week at the top spot with "Give It Up." Calderone returned to #1 spot for two weeks in 2001 with "Are You Satisfied?," featuring vocals by Deborah Cooper.^[3]

He has also collaborated with other house music producers—including Mac Quayle and most notably Peter Rauhofer, the first Grammy Award winner in the Dance Music category. Their joint effort, known as The Collaboration released a popular multi-CD set and several hit single tracks.

Personal life

Calderone resides with his wife Athina, and their son in Brooklyn.

Discography

Albums

• 1999: E=VC²
• 2001: E=VC², Vol. 2
• 2003: Resonate
• 2004: Statrax Unmixed, Vol. 1
• 2007: Evolve

Singles/EPs

• 1997: "Give It Up"
• 1997: "Beat Me Harder"
• 1997: "The Price of Love"
• 1999: "Give It Up 2000"
• 1999: "In Front (Wan It)"
• 2001: "Are You Satisfied?"
• 2002: "The Drive"
• 2003: "Deep Dark Jungle"
• 2004: "Resonate"

Selected remixes

• "American Pie" - Madonna
• "Audience" - Ayumi Hamasaki
• "Beautiful Stranger" - Madonna
• "Die Another Day" - Madonna
• "Don't Tell Me" - Madonna
• "Emotion" - Destiny's Child
• "Everytime" - Britney Spears (unreleased/leaked in 2005)
• "Heaven's What I Feel" - Gloria Estefan
• "Frozen" - Madonna
• "Hollywood" - Madonna
• "Insatiable" - Darren Hayes
• "Lola's Theme" - Shapeshifters
• "Naughty Girl" - Beyoncé Knowles
• "Precious" - Depeche Mode
• "Push It" - Garbage
• "Ray of Light" - Madonna
• "Soak Up the Sun" - Sheryl Crow
• "Strict Machine" - Goldfrapp
• "Survivor" - Destiny's Child
• "What It Feels Like for a Girl" - Madonna
• "Work It Out" - Beyoncé Knowles

See also

• List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

• Official Website
• Victor Calderone on the Internet Movie Database

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