简介：byJohnBush OneofthefewDJswhosecareeratthehubofdancemusic(NewYork)spannedthe1970s,80sand90s,TonyHumphriesisoneofthemostimportantnamesintheevolutionofhouse.Hisstatusisespeciallyvaunted,consideringhisroleinthedevelopmentofgaragemusic(alsoknownastheJerseySound,inhonorofHumphriesworkatNewarksClubZanzibar).ThoughLarryLevanisconsideredtheseminalgarageDJ(hisParadiseGarageclubgaveitsnametothestyle),Humphriesnurturedthestylethroughoutthe1980sand90sandwaspotentiallyLevansequalatinspiringaudiencestohigherandhigherflightsofdancefloorbliss. BorninBrooklynin1957,hebegancollectingrecordsattheageoftenandjoinedaDJclubwhileatcollegeinManhattan.Humphrieshadneverconsideredacareerinmusic,butwhenhisjobintheeditorialdepartmentofNewYorksDailyNewswastemporarilyhaltedduetoastrikeearlyinthe1980s,heneverlookedback.HumphriesbeganworkingatarecordstoreandspenthisextratimespinningatNewYorks98.7KISSFMin1981.Oneyearlater,hedebutedwitharesidencyattheClubZanzibarinnearbyNewark,NewJersey. ThoughLarryLevansDJingattheParadiseGaragegaveanametothesoulfulNewYorkvariantofearlyhousemusiclatertermedgarage,Humphrieswasjustasinstrumentalinbringingthesoundtoawideaudience.EverymajorEastCoastproducercomingupinthelate80sandearly90snamecheckedhimwithvigor,andhisDJingwasalsoinfluentialonmanysecondwaveBritishacts.TheU.K.connectioncameinhandybytheturnofthedecade—HumphriesbecameoneofseveralAmericanDJstomakeaname(andquitealargepaycheck)onBritishshores.Severalyearslater,theLondonsuperclubMinistryofSoundtappedHumphriesforanexclusivedealtoDJandproduceforitsclub/labelcombo,andHumphriesalsoworkedonremixingforChakaKhan,DeeeLite,theSugarcubesandJanetJackson,amongothers.BesidesmixalbumsforStrictlyRhythmandTribalUK,HumphrieshasrecordedseveralofhisownproductionsastheTonyHumphriesProject.