Jellybean Benitez discusses his extended journey spanning decades as a disc jockey, composer, and remixer.
Jellybean Benitez discusses his extended journey spanning decades as a disc jockey, composer, and remixer.
In the pulsating heart of New York City's 80s scene, DJ sensation John "Jellybean" Benitez crossed paths with an up-and-coming songstress named Madonna at the iconic Funhouse nightclub. Attended by Sire Records' promotions man, Madonna's single "Everybody" had already captivated Benitez's Funhouse audience, and their shared love for music sparked a collaboration that would leave an indelible mark on both their careers.
As a deejay, producer, and remixer, Benitez played a pivotal role in New York's club culture during the 80s. Raised in the South Bronx, the vibrant music scene and the mesmerizing power of music that made people forget their troubles captivated him at a young age. Influenced by the South Bronx, Benitez mastered the art of seamlessly transitioning tracks without pause, an element that would later become his signature style.
With an extraordinary knack for reading an audience's mood, Benitez could effortlessly fill the dance floor and keep partygoers entertained for extended hours. By 1982, he had become the resident deejay at the Funhouse, playing from 10 p.m. to noon the next day, where he showcased music from a diverse range of artists, from Afrika Bambaataa to Pat Benatar.
The 80s marked a vital period of experimentation and musical evolution for Benitez, and the power of DJing offered him an expansive canvas to explore new sonic landscapes. Madonna's meet-up with Benitez solidified her place in the New York scene, and Benitez's production and remixing talents vaulted her to international fame.
At Funhouse, Madonna and Benitez connected, and their collaboration resulted in remixing her second single, "Borderline," and her self-titled debut album tracks, "Burning Up" and "Physical Attraction." Initially recorded as a duet, the song "Sidewalk Talk" featuring Madonna's backing vocals reached Billboard's Top 20, catapulting Benitez's music career to new heights.
Unsurprisingly, Benitez's capabilities as a remixer soon garnered the attention of big-time acts like Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Cyndi Lauper. In his pursuit to transform the unexpected into dancefloor anthems, Benitez's unwavering skill kept him in high demand throughout the decade.
Making an auspicious entrance into the burgeoning 90s, DJ David Mancuso invited Benitez to host a Loft party, an opportunity that rekindled his passion for deejaying. With his unique blend of styles and pulsating energy, Benitez has continued to captivate audiences globally, leaving behind a legacy deeply rooted in New York City's 80s music scene.
Adopting charitable causes as a means of giving back to the community, Benitez became actively involved in supporting the Cristian Rivera Foundation, whose mission is to find a cure for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive pediatric brain tumor.
As Benitez ventures into his latest project, a record store named Jellybean's Funhouse in Fort Lauderdale, he explains, "Meanwhile, I'm currently launching my latest venture: a record store in Fort Lauderdale called Jellybean’s Funhouse, whose space is acoustically designed, [with] isolated small rooms where you can go in and listen to vinyl."
His heartfelt contributions to the industry and his unwavering passion for music have cemented Jellybean Benitez as an indispensable figure in the realms of dance and pop music.
In the 80s club scene, dance music played a significant role in Benitez's career, with tracks from artists like Afrika Bambaataa and Pat Benatar being popular at his gigs. The collaboration between Benitez and Madonna, resulting in remixes of her songs, significantly boosted both their careers. Benitez's talents as a remixer were sought after by many big-name artists, including Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Cyndi Lauper, during the 80s. In his philanthropic endeavors, Benitez supports the Cristian Rivera Foundation, dedicated to finding a cure for DIPG.
In this text, 'dance music', 'club culture', 'deejay', 'madonna', 'music', 'john benitez', 'jellybean benitez', 'afrika bambaataa', 'pat benatar', 'paul mccartney', 'michael jackson', 'whitney houston', 'cyndi lauper', and 'cristian rivera foundation' are all mentioned in various contexts.