Chris Panaghi

Chris “The Greek” Panaghi
Background information
Birth name Chris Panaghi
Also known as CP Project, CTGP, DJ Greek, DJG[1]
Born November 3, 1972
Valley Stream Long Island, USA
Genres Electronic Music, Dance, Trance & House
Occupation(s) Producer, Remixer and Recording Artist
Years active 1990 to present
Labels Various including Amathus Music, DJG Records & Tommy Boy Records
Website www.christhegreek.com, www.djgproductions.com

Chris “The Greek” Panaghi is a DJ, producer and remixer based in Long Island, New York. He performs in the electronic music genre with remixes spanning electronic dance, trance and house music and has remixed for artists including: Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson, Celia Cruz, Jon Secada, Marc Anthony, Aqua and Yoko Ono.[2] [3] His studio work has been described as incorporating “True-to-the-vocal, pop-oriented remixes and harder, progressive house tracks”.[4]

Panaghi has principally performed in the United States, but has also developed a fan base in Europe, principally in France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands and the UK.[5]

Early career

Chris Panaghi’s career began in high school at the age of 15, when he started experimenting with record turntables. Within a couple of years he had begun to perform as a mobile DJ and in local bars in his hometown of Valley Stream, Long Island. By the time he was 18 he had progressed to performing in local clubs, such as Malibu, J. Sprats, Metro 700, DNA and Zachary’s.[6] He later began playing clubs in the New York Tri-state area, including Manhattan and Queens before travelling further in the U.S. (South Beach, Miami) and internationally (Greece, Mexico, Netherlands and the UK).[7] By this time Panaghi had also built a small studio in Long Island and brought in other musicians and staff to make records.[8]

Educational background

The producer studied business management and marketing at Adelphi University, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in marketing.[8][9] In describing the course, he said:

"My goal was to get a good, general understanding of the whole industry. A lot of guys are very creative, but when it comes down to it, they don’t understand how the business works.”[8]

Radio & Print

Chris Panaghi has co-hosted “The Island Underground” with B-Man (Brian Rosenberg), a syndicated radio show broadcast on Garden City-based WLIR.[9] He has also featured or guest DJ’d on stations such as Sirius XM Radio, XM Radio, 88.7 WRHU.[10] [11]

In addition to broadcasting, Panaghi has been a Billboard reporter and has written for DMA (Dance Music Authority), Streetsounds and Prime Cuts U.K.[12][13]

Chart success

Panaghi has achieved chart success with a number of singles achieving gold and/or platinum status. Seven songs from his 2008 album “Now’s The Time” charted in the Billboard Dance Club Play Chart, with two breaking the top 5 – 'The Feeling’ and ‘The Time’.[14] He has also achieved BillBoard chart success with ‘As Good as Sin’ featuring Sophia Cruz.[15]

Chris Panaghi has produced remixes for a range of artists including Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson, Celia Cruz, Jon Secada, Marc Anthony, Aqua and Yoko Ono.[16][17] In 2005 he was commissioned by Sony (Greece) to remix ‘My Number One’, which had won the Eurovision Song Contest for Greece. The remix achieved European success for the release, going gold and reaching number one in both Greece and Sweden.[17][18]

Year Song Album Artist Record label Status [19][20]
2005 “My Number One” Protereotita Helena Paparizou Sony Music Greece Gold
2002 “A New Day Has Come” A New Day Has Come Celine Dion Epic Records Gold & Platinum
2007 “En Que Fallamos” Sentimiento Ivy Queen Universal Music Group Gold & Platinum
2002 “I’ve Got You” Mended Marc Anthony Columbia Records Gold
2000 “Como Me Duele Perderte” Alma Caribeña Gloria Estefan Epic Records Gold & Platinum
1999 “Is it Scary?” Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix Michael Jackson Epic Records Gold & Platinum
1998 “Oye!” Gloria! Gloria Estefan Epic Records Gold & Platinum
1997 “Lollipop” Aquarium Aqua MCA Music Gold & Platinum
1994 “Ella Tiene Fuego” Ella Tiene Fuego (Remixes) Celia Cruz Sony Discos Gold & Platinum

International

While best known in the U.S. Panaghi has also performed in Europe, growing a fan base in France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands and the UK[16] and has been described as a ‘key player in the field’ by USA Greek Reporter.[21]

Remixing technique

Chris Panaghi has had solo responsibility for remixes and original productions for artists such as Gloria Estefan and Michael Jackson through DJG Records.[6] Other artists he has worked with include: Jessica Simpson, Celia Cruz, Jon Secada, Marc Anthony, Aqua and Yoko Ono.[16][17] Panaghi has additionally remixed for Sony in Greece and ZYX in Germany.[12]

Chris also runs the record label Amathus Music, a label that has produced artists such as Laylah, Kamarova and Keven Maroda.[12][16] Alongside this, it has produced the compilation series 50 Techno Club Tracks – Vol.1 and Vol.2, which broke the top 100 iTunes Dance Charts worldwide.[12]

When remixing Panaghi tends to work from the a cappella production of a vocalist, arranging chords with a keyboardist ‘from the ground up’[6] centred on the singer’s voice. He also adds percussion and strings to produce a sound more oriented towards dancing. In describing this sound, he has said:

"Traditional dance music is very commercial… There's singing, there's lyrics, there's melodies. Underground dance music is very musically driven. There's [sic.] a lot of beats. There's [sic.] a lot of keyboards. That's where the essence comes from."[22]

Describing his remix of John Lennon’s 1969 classic, Give Peace a Chance, Panaghi said:

“I wanted to bring it to a new era and give it more of a European uptempo-trancey vibe that would make dancefloors scream.”[23]

Select discography

[13]

Albums

2008

2007

2006

2004

2002

2001

2000

1998

Compilations

1999

Singles & EPs

[9][13]

2008

2006’

2005

2000

1997

Selected remixes

[9][13]

2010

2006

2005

2004

2002

1999

1997

References

  1. ↑ "Chris "The Greek" Panaghi". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  2. ↑ "Avenue1">"The "Time" has come for Chris The "Greek" Panaghi". Avenue1.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  3. ↑ "Discjockey 101">"DJ/Remixer: Interview with Chris "The Greek" Panaghi". Discjockey101.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  4. ↑ "DJ Times">"Chris the Greek Pushes to the Next Level". djtimes.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  5. ↑ "Avenue1”
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "DJ Times"
  7. ↑ "NY Times">"Long Island Journal; Way Stations on Freedom's Road". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 ”DJ Times”
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 ”NY Times”
  10. ↑ "Boston Music Coalition">"Groundbreaking Producter/Remixer/DJ Chris "The Greek"Panaghi". Bostonmusiccoalition.com. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  11. ↑ "Long Island 1">"Chris The Greek Panaghi Reaching New Heights". Longisland.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 ”Boston Music Coalition”
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Allmusic Discography"
  14. ↑ "Billboard">"Chris "The Greek" Panaghi". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  15. ↑ "Billboard"
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Avenue1"
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 ”Disc Jockey 101”
  18. ↑ "Wikipedia 1">"My Number One". Wikipedia.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  19. ↑ "RIAA 1">"Searchable Database". Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  20. ↑ "Wikipedia 2">"Aqua discography". Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  21. ↑ "USA Greek Reporter">"NY Based DJ Brings Forth Slamming Tracks". usa.greekreporter.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  22. ↑ "NY Times"
  23. ↑ ”Disc Jockey 101”