Brian Tappert is a DJ, producer, remixer as well as one of the driving forces behind world renowned record label Soulfuric Recordings and Traxsource.com, the international House scene’s premier digital download site. Collaborating and producing for well over a decade under various guises such as Jazz-N-Groove, Cleptomaniacs, and Urban Blues Project (together with Partner Marc Pomeroy and John Julius Knight respectively), the Florida-based NJ transplant has set the scene alight through his commitment to, and passion for, quality House music. In 2007, after a brief break, Brian is set to return to the studio and the decks, ready to get bodies moving on both sides of the Atlantic once again.
For Brian and the rest of the team, the past few years have been both the busiest and most challenging. The launch of Traxsource.com (the first legal Digital Download site dedicated to House music) in 2004 was, at the time, a very risky venture in a time of increasing change and uncertainty in the recording industry. Today though, the site is revered as one of the most respected and sophisticated sources of House music for DJs and clubbers all over the globe.
The establishment in 1996 of Soulfuric Recordings initially served as an outlet for Brian and Marc’s own productions; however, the label quickly became known and respected for both identifying and nurturing young talent. Artists such as Axwell, Copyright, Hardsoul, Richard Earnshaw, Jask and John Julius Knight were all early Soulfuric recruits, and their cuts released on the imprint both developed their already outstanding respective talents as producers and further exposed them to the international scene, making Soulfuric one of the more forward-thinking labels in the US, a reputation it still proudly holds today.
Originally from NJ, Brian started DJing way back in 1984, finding his love for soulful sounds through Tony Humphries’ radio show on 98.7 Kiss FM. In the mid 90s, Brian and partner Marc Pomeroy quickly established themselves as a world-class production outfit with a consistent output of quality tracks. Under the guises Urban Blues Project and Jazz-n-Groove, the duo penned and produced many of the most celebrated soulful house classics known to man, including Michael Procter's ‘Deliver Me’, Donna Allen’s ‘He Is The Joy’ and Jay Williams’ ‘Testify’. Brian and Marc have also remixed everyone from Loleatta Holloway to Arnold Jarvis to Bob Sinclar, in addition to collaborating with the likes of Grant Nelson and Brian’s long-time Cleptomaniacs partner John Julius Knight.
In 2006, ‘The Organ Track’ made major waves following its release on Soulfuric Trax, while Brian’s acclaimed mix CD for Purple Music – the eagerly-anticipated ‘My Boyfriend Is Out Of Town’ compilation – impressed with its eclectic track selection and, as always, tight mixing.
In 2007, Brian is set to continue juggling the many responsibilities of Soulfuric, Traxsource and his own busy production commitments but, with the underlying emphasis now being on getting back to basics and ‘having fun’, crowds around the world can look forward to Brian gracing the wheels-of- steel at a club near them soon. While he has taken a more selective approach to his DJ appearances in recent months, Brian’s reputation as a master behind the decks remains firmly intact and later this year he will return to some of the world’s most electrifying clubs to continue his assault on dancefloors worldwide; you’ve been warned!
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