Chris Barbosa
Chris Barbosa is an American record producer from New York who redefined electro-funk as Latin freestyle in the early 1980s with Shannon's "Let the Music Play".
Early career
In 1981, the Bronx-born Barbosa was a reporting DJ to New York's WKTU. This was a process in which the radio station called up select club and mobile DJs. Including New York City Mixology Disco Spinner staff member Ralf Rivera and Frank Forti Jr.) whose variety show had a part in Twister’s huge success. These reports would determine which records were added to the station's playlist.
In 1982, his grandmother purchased a Roland JX-3P keyboard for him. An executive from Emergency Records named Sergio Cossa signed Barbosa to do production work with the record label. Some of Barbosa's greatest musical influences were Arthur Baker and John Robie, the duo that invented electro funk with Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock".
Later on in 1983, he teamed up with Mark Liggett to look for a singer to lay down the vocals to "Fire and Ice", which was the instrumental track of "Let the Music Play". A young African American R&B background vocalist named Brenda Shannon Greene recorded the song.
The "Fire and Ice" or "Let the Music Play" track invented by Barbosa was produced differently from the rest of the electro-funk records. It had a more Latin American-based rhythm with a heavy syncopated drum sound than the records produced by Baker and Robie. This style of electro funk was redefined as "freestyle" because of the way it was produced and mixed. Barbosa is widely credited as the genre's founder. Baker and Robie eventually copied his sound three months later on Jenny Burton's "Remember What You Like" (released three months after "Let the Music Play"), Tina B's "Honey to a Bee" (1984) and the Goon Squad's "Eight Arms to Hold You" (1985).
In September 1983, the 12-inch single of the song was released. Greene was then re-dubbed Shannon. After the initial success of the song and some contract negotiations, Shannon went on to record a full-length album of the same name. This Grammy Nominated single was frequently played on radio stations nationwide. Her album released in February 1984, was also the first freestyle album in dance music history and was certified gold (selling over 1 million copies at the time). Both the 12" & 7" singles where also certified gold.
During the course of 1984, Barbosa and Liggett sought out other session singers to lay down tracks on more freestyle songs. These artists were Nolan Thomas, who was Jewish,[citation needed] and Jay Novelle and Xena, who were African-American. He also played sequencers and produced Robin Gibb's album Secret Agent.
Barbosa has been awarded Multiple RIAA Certified Gold, Platinum & Silver Records for various projects as well as an Ampex Golden Reel Award for "Let The Music Play"
1986–present
Unfortunately for Barbosa, in 1986 Emergency Records stopped signing new artists, forcing Barbosa and Liggett to launch their own Ligosa Records. The duo immediately signed Monet and George Lamond. In addition, Ligosa Entertainment was a subsidiary of Ligosa and produced songs for upcoming freestyle music acts like Judy Torres (dubbed the "Queen of Freestyle"), Sa-Fire, and Mark Kalfa. Barbosa also found chart success in 1990 with George Lamond's "Bad of the Heart", which hit the Billboard Top 100 and peaked at #25.
In 1995, Barbosa and Liggett dismantled their company and parted ways. Barbosa continued producing for underground artists. In 1999, Shannon invited him back to update her 1980s singles "Let the Music Play" and "Give Me Tonight". Barbosa also has strong affiliations with the audio tape-editing scene. Barbosa served as the Director of Multimedia Services at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in New York City from 2006-2012. In September 2011 he relocated to Orlando, FL where he telecommuted until January 2012.
He is currently volunteering at IEC House of Worship where he is a Camera Operator, Producer/Master Control Operator/Engineer utilizing a NewTek Tri Caster 855 Live Multi-Camera Video Production system as well as a FOH Sound Technician.
Barbosa is married with two children. His son Brandon is autistic. Barbosa is also involved in various charities and organizations related to autism.[citation needed]