Junior Vasquez

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Junior Vasquez, born Donald Mattern in 1949 (some sources say c. 1946) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a famous New York City club DJ and remixer/producer.

1 Career
2 Madonna controversy
3 Discography
- 3.1 Selected remixes
4 External links

[edit] Career

Mattern moved to New York as a young adult in order to pursue a career in music production. His early work, in the 1980s, was under the guidance of notable disco DJ and pop remixer/producer Shep Pettibone.

From 1989 to 1995, Vasquez gained national prominence — along with music industry influence — through his residency at the original Sound Factory, a club he cofounded at 530 West 27th Street in Manhattan's Chelsea District. Because of the heavy influence he had over his crowd, Vasquez was able to make or break new releases, and major record labels solicited Junior to craft club-friendly remixes of pop-oriented songs. Junior also created his own "private collection" of remixes of songs he was authorized to remix — and also for those he wasn't — that made his sets even more special to his audience.

After the closure of Sound Factory, Vasquez held residencies at the Tunnel, then his Arena party at the Palladium. In 1997, he returned to the Sound Factory's old space, remodeled to include a custom-designed DJ booth for Junior's exclusive use and reopened as Twilo, for a residency that lasted until that club's closure in 2001. Later that year, Vasquez began a new Sunday-morning afterhours residency -- Earth, at Exit Nightclub, that lasted until 2003. In the years that followed, he held shorter-lived residencies at various clubs in New York, including Discotheque (Fridays), Sound Factory (a club on West 46th Street, not to be confused with the "original Sound Factory"; since 2005, it has reopened with the name of Pacha), Spirit (the again-remodeled and reopened space at 530 West 27th Street that was formerly the home of legendary nightclub Twilo), and Roxy NYC. He now holds a small, monthly, Sunday-night residency at Cielo, a small bar located in the West Village section of Manhattan and spins at various other venues in New York and around the world.

In addition to his work as a DJ and remixer, he has co-produced albums for John Mellencamp, For Real, Lisa Lisa, and Cyndi Lauper, among others.

One of his most important project is to produce tracks for the next album of pop phenomenon Britney Spears.

[edit] Madonna controversy

Vasquez had a public falling out with Madonna in 1996, after the release of an unauthorized single titled "If Madonna Calls". The original version that Junior plays at clubs contains what is widely believed to be an actual phone message Madonna left on Junior's answering machine.

The song lyrics are as follows:

(voice recording ostensibly left by Madonna on Junior's answering machine at his home in New York):

"Hello Junior, This is Madonna. Are you there? (short pause) Call me in Miami."

This is followed by a male voice:

"If Madonna calls, I'm not here"

This is followed by hard tribal rhythms, with the samples of the message still playing in the loop of the track, and a male voice repeating the words shown above. Towards the end of the song, the words change and the male voice then says:

"If Madonna Calls…actually if she calls just disconnect her."

The song reportedly was produced after Madonna failed to show up for a surprise performance at one of Junior's parties held at legendary New York City club "Tunnel" at the last second. Although never confirmed, Madonna did not approve of Junior's actions, ending their professional relationship on bad terms. Chances for a reconciliation are impossible according to Madonna's longtime rep Liz Rosenberg, who in a June 2003 news story in New York Magazine said “I can assure you that Madonna will never work with Junior again.”[1]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Selected remixes

Note: The industry standard by which a remix is considered "commercially released" is the track has been made available legally for retail sale. This can mean the remix was released on a CD single, 12" vinyl single, cassette single, or it can mean the remix was released on one of the artist's albums (sometimes on greatest hits collections, sometimes as a bonus track to a studio album's international release), or that it was included on a compilation or soundtrack album. The tracks listed below have all been released commercially in one of the aforementioned forms, with a few exceptions which are indicated with a note in parenthesis explaining the track's status.

Ace of Base - "Beautiful Life"
Amber (performer) - "This Is Your Night"
Annie Lennox - "No More I Love You's/Take Me To The River/Downtown Lights (Medley)"
Angelique Kidjo - "Shango"
Angelique Kidjo - "Wombo Lombo"
The Beatles - "Come Together" (Unreleased)
Beyoncé - "Baby Boy"
Beyoncé - "Crazy in Love"
Beyoncé - "Deja Vu" (Unreleased)
Britney Spears - "Me Against The Music" (unreleased, due to Madonna bad relationship with Junior)
Britney Spears - "Toxic" (Unreleased)
Britney Spears - "Breathe On Me" (Unreleased)
Britney Spears - "My Prerogative" (Unreleased)
Britney Spears - "Touch Of My Hand" (Unreleased)
Billie Ray Martin - "Your Loving Arms"
Billie Ray Martin - "Running Around Town"
Billie Ray Martin - "Space Oasis"
Billie Ray Martin - "True Moments Of My World" (Unreleased)
Billie Ray Martin - "Systems Of Silence"
Billie Ray Martin - "18 Carat Garbage"
Casey Stratton - "House Of Jupiter"
Casey Stratton - "Blood"
CeCe Peniston - "Hit By Love" (Released only on promo)
CeCe Peniston - "I'm Not Over You"
CeCe Peniston - "He Loves Me 2"
CeCe Peniston - "Movin On"
Charlotte - "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark"
Charlotte - "Skin"
Cher - "One By One"
Cher - "Paradise Is Here"
Cher - "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"
Cyndi Lauper - "That's What I Think"
Cyndi Lauper - "Come On Home"
Cyndi Lauper - "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun / Hey Now (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun)"
Cyndi Lauper - "True Colors" (Unreleased)
Cyndi Lauper - "You Don't Know"
Dannii Minogue - "Success"
David Bowie - "Little Wonder"
David Longoria Featuring CeCe Peniston - "Deeper Love"
Deborah Cox - "Who Do U Love"
Deborah Cox - "Mr Lonely"
Deborah Cox - "It's Over Now"
Deborah Gibson - "Only Words"
Deborah Gibson - "Only In My Dreams 1997 Mixes"
Deep Forest featuring Peter Gabriel - "While The Earth Sleeps" (Unreleased)
Dolce And Gabbana (Band) - "Music"
Dolce And Gabbana (Band) - "More More More"
Dolly Parton - "Peace Train"
Donna Summer featuring Bruce Roberts - "Whenever There Is Love"
Donna Summer - "Melody Of Love"
Duncan Sheik - "Reasons for Living"
Duran Duran - "White Lines"
Elton John - "Made In England"
Elton John - "Rocket Man" (Unreleased)
Elton John - "Your Song" (Unreleased)
Emer Kenny - "Golden Brown"
Everything But The Girl - "Missing" (Released only on DMC Remix Service promo)
For Real - "Like I Do"
France Joli - "Touch"
France Joli - "Breakaway"
Funky Green Dogs - "Fired Up"
Gioia Bruno - "From The Inside"
Gladezz - "When You Need Somebody"
Gloria Estefan - "Higher"
Hypertrophy - "Beautiful Day"
Information Society - "Whats On Your Mind (Pure Energy) 2001 Mixes"
Irene Cara - "All My Heart"
Janet Jackson - "Runaway"
Janet Jackson - "Twenty Foreplay" (Released only on promo)
Janet Jackson - "So Excited"
Jars Of Clay - "Flood" (Released only on DMC Remix Service promo)
Jason Walker - "My Life"
Jason Walker - "Foolish Mind Games"
Jody Watley - "Whenever"
Joi Cardwell - "After The Rain"
Joi Cardwell - "Trouble"
John Mellencamp - "Emotional Love" (Unreleased)
Joyce Sims - "All & All"
Joyce Sims - "What The World Needs Now"
Juliet Roberts - "I Want You" (Released only on DMC Remix Service promo)
Justin Timberlake - "Cry Me A River"
Justin Timberlake - "Rock Your Body"
Justin Timberlake - "Like I Love You" (Unreleased)
Kariya - "Let Me Love You Tonight"
Ke - "Strange World"
Ke - "Believer"
Kamasutra - "Storm In My Soul" (Released only on DMC Remix Service promo)
K.D. Lang - "If I Were You"
K.D. Lang - "Theme From The Valley Of The Dolls"
Kelly Clarkson - "Miss Independent"
Kristine W - "Fly Again"
Kristine W - "Save My Soul"
Kristine W - "Feel What You Want"
Kristine W - "Loving You"
Kristine W - "Stronger"
Kristine W - "Land Of The Living"
Kristine W - "One More Try"
Kristine W - "Sweet Mercy Me" (Unreleased)
Kristine W - "Don't Wanna Think" (Unreleased)
Kylie Minogue - "Too Far"
Lisa Lisa - "When I Fell In Love"
Lisa Stansfield - "Never Gonna Fall"
Livin' Joy - "Dreamer"
Livin' Joy - "Don't Stop Movin"
M People - "Padlock"
Madonna - "Like A Prayer" (Unreleased)
Madonna - "Rescue Me"
Madonna - "Bedtime Story"
Madonna - "Secret"
Madonna - "You'll See" (Unreleased)
Madonna - "I Want You" (Unreleased)
Mariah Carey - "Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely"
Mariah Carey - "Bringin On The Heartbreak" (Unreleased)
Maroon 5 - "This Love"
Mary J. Blige - "Your Child"
MC Hammer - "Pray"
Meja - "How Crazy Are You"
Moby - "Into The Blue"
Orgy (band) - "Fiction (Dreams In Digital)
Paula Abdul featuring Ofra Haza - "My Love Is For Real"
Paula Abdul - "The Promise Of A New Day"
Peter Lazonby- "Wave Speech"
Pet Shop Boys - "Yesterday, When I Was Mad"
Pilgrimage - Land Of Ecstasy
Prince (musician) - "Cream"
Prince (musician) - "Thieves In The Temple"
Queen - "Bicycle Race" (Jazz)
Quindon Tarver - "When Doves Cry"
Qkumba Zoo - "The Child Inside" (also known as "The Sea World" song)
Qkumba Zoo - "I'm Scared, You're Scared"
Rank 1 - "Airwave"
Real McCoy (band) - "Runaway"
Real McCoy (band) - "Come And Get Your Love"
Rickie Lee Jones - "Living It Up" (Unreleased)
Sandy B - Nothingness
Seduction (band) - "Feel Brand New"
Shannon (singer) - "Let The Music Play"
Siouxsie and the Banshees - "Fear (Of the Unknown)"
Skunk Anansie - "Brazen (Weep)"
Sounds Of Blackness - "Children Of The World"
Sophie B. Hawkins - "Beautiful Girl" (Released only on promo)
Sphinx featuring Sabrina Johnston - "What Hope Have I"
Spice Girls - "Wannabe"
Spice Girls - "Say You'll Be There"
Tevin Campbell - "Strawberry Letter 23"
Toni Braxton - "He Wasn't Man Enough"
Toni Braxton - "Unbreak My Heart" (Released only on DMC Remix Service promo)
Vanessa L. Williams - "You Are Everything"
Vernessa Mitchell - "Reap (What You Sow)
Vernessa Mitchell - "This Joy"
Vernessa Mitchell - "Trouble Don't Last Always"
Vernessa Mitchell - "Took My Life"
Vernessa Mitchell - "Accept Me"
Vernessa Mitchell - "Love Will Find A Way"
Wes Madiko - "Awa Awa"
Whitney Houston - "Step By Step"
Whitney Houston - "I Learned From The Best"
Whitney Houston - "How Will I Know"
Whitney Houston - "The Greatest Love Of All"
Whitney Houston - "I'm Every Woman" (Released only on DMC Remix Service promo)
Wild Orchid (band) - "Talk To Me"
Zelma Davis - "Power"