Tony
Humphries has entertained
dance music fans across the
globe with his “Hump-in-the-Homefries”
brand of uptempo soul
music. This Brooklyn, New
York native landed his first
“professional” DJ gig at
Manhattan’s posh Club El
Morocco in 1975.
From there Tony’s trek to
Boystown a.k.a. Club Tribeca
NY, NY would prove
successful, where he was
then recognized as a
talented DJ.
In
July 1981, producer Shep
Pettibone asked Tony for a
mastermix show tape to fill
in for a no show on his
KISS-FM NY radio show. A
vacancy left by Pettibone at
the station opened the door
for his own permanent mix
show. Simultaneously,
schooled under the “I’ll-leave-you-in-the-booth-and-see-what-happens”
antics of resident DJ Larry
Patterson of NJ’s Club
Zanzibar fame, resulted in
him gaining “THE”
residency in 1982.
Developing
his creative experiences
behind the recording studio’s
control board only enhanced
his style and magic.
Artists like Mtume (Tonys’
first gold record “Juicy
Fruit”), Chaka Khan, Karen
White, Regina Belle,
Donna Summer, Jungle
Brothers, Queen Latifah, and
The Cover Girls were all
governed by the “Humphries
handicraft”.
By
the mid to late 80’s, Tony
became the sole helmsman
weaving the tunes three
nights a week, thus making
dance music superstars out
of local talent embedded in
the heartland of Newark and
her surrounding areas.
Summoned across the Atlantic
by the British in
1987. The “Jersey
Sound” was coined by their
press. In addition to
traveling, remix projects
mounting, pumping out
a weekly radio mix show, and
holding down the fort at the
club, Tony was in his prime
making the world of dance
music exciting, hip, and
refreshing.
By
November 1990, his 8 year
tenure ended with a tearful
refrain, but this didn’t
discourage Tony as he became
in demand worldwide and
relocated to London,
England. In January of
1993, Tony took up the offer
to be the resident jock at
the Ministry
of Sound
club. That year was rounded
off with a residency at “Echoes”
in Rimini, Italy. This
Italian residency continued
for 4 years while
simultaneously relocating
back in NJ to launch
his Yellorange
Production Co.
It
can be said that Tony
Humphries has left an
unerasable impression on the
global dance music industry.
To date over 300 venues he
has gigged worldwide, done
over 200 studio remixes, the
latest being Janet Jackson’s
hit “Together Again”.
Throughout tremendous
recognition, tons of awards
and accolades from his
peers, he has remained
humble. |