DJ Spinna celebrates Earth, Wind, and Fire, Shine and the Moonbeams

DJ Spinna

DJ Spinna is something of an anomaly in music. A humbling example of what it takes to truly succeed within the framework of multiple fields. With a steadfast work ethic, an obsessively extensive vinyl library and the willingness to pursue the full extents of his roots. Which are deeply rooted in Funk, Soul and Jazz, and the foundation in Hip-Hop and future Electronic/Dance music without any restraints. A cornerstone of Hip-Hop’s late 90’s indie-uprise, DJ Spinna made much of his first impression on listeners as the musical background of his group The Jigmastas (having released an impressive slew of 12″ singles on his then self-run label Beyond Real during this time) as well as providing the canvas for an array of that era’s lyrical giants. As an emcee in New York City, if you didn’t have a Spinna production under your belt, well, you just hadn’t accomplished all there was to accomplish. Turning heads throughout the industry, Spinna’s Sonics soon infiltrated numerous genres. Tapped by everyone from George Michael to Mary J. Blige to Motown Records (for his brilliant Michael Jackson homage to “We’re Almost There”). It’s here his production presence would flourish greatly, as Spinna would go on to revive and revise Soulful marvels like Donald Byrd Eddie Kendricks, Betty Carter, Roy Ayers and Al Jarreau. Always relevant to the current, Spinna has taken to new mixes for the J Dilla bred Platinum Pied Pipers and Bay Area songstress Goapele as with the well respected Les Nubian.

Shine and the Moonbeams

Shine and the Moonbeams exploded on the children’s music scene four years ago and have not stopped rising to the top of the genre. They bring the soulful melodies of family life along with rhythm and bass of childhood to the party. They are currently working on their second CD due out this summer.