Boyd Jarvis
| Boyd H. Jarvis | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Boyd Jarvis |
| Born | 1958 (age 55–56) |
| Genres | Post-disco, garage house, dub, deep house, urban |
| Occupations |
Musician Producer Remixer |
| Instruments | Vocals, synthesizer, keyboards |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | Prelude, Wave Music, 4th & B'way Records |
| Associated acts | Timmy Regisford, Visual, Billie |
| Website |
Twitter page Last.fmpage |
| Notable instruments | |
| Yamaha CS-15 | |
Boyd H. Jarvis (born 1958) is an American record producer, remixer and musician, best known for his song, co-written with Jason Smith, "The Music Got Me"; released in 1983 by Prelude Records. He has musically collaborated with artists such as Herbie Hancock, La Toya Jackson and Johnny Kemp.[1]
In 1990, Jarvis sued Robert Clivillés and David Cole of C+C Music Factory for copyright infringement over their song "Get Dumb", which illegally incorporates parts of "The Music Got Me".[2][3]
He currently resides in New Jersey with his wife and continues to write, record, and produce music under his label, CFX Records.
History
1983: Visual
Visual[4] was a brainchild of Jarvis and also comprised Anthony Malloy, Jason Smith and Timmy Regisford; they were signed to Prelude Records circa 1982. Together, they recorded an influential proto-house track "The Music Got Me" that became crucial in the evolution of house music.[5] Although the song remained uncharted (didn't reached any position on the mainstream Billboard charts), the song gained underground following and was mentioned by Billboard "Out of the Box" column in the May 1983 issue.[6]
The next song "Somehow, Someway" was released in the same year, that is 1983.
1986: Billie
Jarvis met Billie (real name Robin Brown) at one of the last parties of the Famous Studio 54. He immediately mentioned that he was a producer, and she stated that she was a singer. They met soon after at his home, where she sang one of her all time favorite songs Tain't Nobody's Business if I do. Jarvis, liked the idea, and with the help of Regisford, created, produced, mixed the music with additional lyrics written by Billie. Jarvis, Regisford and Billie recorded a garage house cover of "Ain't Nobody's Business", a blues standard that was also performed by Bessie Smith.
Billie has also recorded with Masters at Work.[7] H20, Minus 8, Soul Central to name a few.
Solo career
He worked as a session musician for John "Jellybean" Benitez, Wally Jump, Jr. & the Criminal Element, Colonel Abrams, Herbie Hancock, and dance-pop acts like Club Nouveau and Pretty Poison.[8] and as a producer and remixer he collaborated with Little Louie Vega and François Kevorkian.[9]
Lawsuit
Jarvis v. A & M Records is one of the early cases involving digital sampling.[2]
"It is hard to believe that [a re-release of "The Music Got Me"] would be successful"—Robert Clivillés after being told that he and David Cole injured Jarvis' career by releasing "Get Dumb (Free Your Body)", [2]
Summary
"Get Dumb! (Free Your Body)" was recorded and released under names 'The Crew (featuring Freedom Williams)' and 'Seduction'. Multiple versions were released by Vendetta Records (sublabel of A&M Records).
"Get Dumb", written by Cole and Clivilles, incorporated elements of "The Music Got Me", most noticeably a distinctive keyboard riff and the bridge section composed of free your body sounds. Jarvis claimed that he has been damaged by $15 million, however he failed to demonstrate the amount of actual damages, which are measured by "[the] extent to which the market value of the copyrighted work at the time of infringement has been injured or destroyed by such infringement."[10] Total damage was estimated at $95,872, using the data from "Get Dumb" profits.[2]
Discography
Boyd Jarvis
- Albums
- 1985: Battle Of The Beats (co-produced by Timmy Regisford) (Next Plateau Records Inc.)
- Singles
| Year | Single | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Atmos-Fear" | Wave Music |
| 2001 | "Sunny Days" | Wave Music |
| 2002 | "Don't Deny Love" | King Street Sounds |
| 2004 | "Keep It Moving" | Trax Records |
Visual
- Singles
| Year | Single | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "The Music Got Me" | Prelude Records |
| "Somehow, Someway" | Prelude Records | |
Level 3
Level 3 was Jarvis' short-lived studio group.
- Singles
| Year | Single | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Central Line" | Fleetwood Records |
Circuit
Circuit was Jarvis' short-lived studio group.
- Singles
| Year | Single | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Release The Tension" | 4th & B'way Records |
| " A Little Help (From My Friends)" | 4th & B'way Records | |
Notes
- ↑ "Dancin' With Myself" by Johnny Kemp. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jarvis v. A & M Records 827 F. Supp. 282 (D.N.J. 1993) UCLA
- ↑ Anonymous, (West Publishing Company) (1993). West's federal supplement. U.S.: West Pub. Co., 1993, West Publishing Company. p. 299.
- ↑ ((( Allmusic ))) - Visual - Discography. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
- ↑ "untitled". Blues & soul: Issues 526-537 (Napfield Ltd., the University of Virginia '(originally)'). 1988. "[...] term as garage music now started about five years ago with the first Boyd Jarvis records and the group Visual who did the songs "Somehow, Someway" and "The Music Got Me""
- ↑ "Billboard (r) Out of the Box / Urban (tm)". Billboard/Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 95: 22. 5 Mar 1983. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ Billie at Discogs. Retrieved 2011-12-17
- ↑ Jellybean at Discogs. Retrieved 2011.
- ↑ Boyd Jarvis - Credits. Retrieved 2011-12-17
- ↑ Nimmer, supra, Sec. 14.02, at 14-8 to -9