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31 Facts About John Benitez

1.

John Benitez has produced and remixed artists such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and the Pointer Sisters.

2.

John Benitez was later the executive producer of Studio 54 Radio.

3.

John Benitez grew up enjoying music and would watch deejays at local clubs.

4.

John Benitez borrowed his sister's record player and practiced on two turntables.

5.

John Benitez would skip school and play at hooky parties.

6.

In 1976, John Benitez got a weekend job deejaying between salsa bands at a club called Charlie's in the Bronx.

7.

John Benitez convinced the owner to open a non-alcoholic dance club, and he used the live audience to experiment on.

8.

John Benitez wanted to move to Manhattan, so he worked at a club called La Mariposa in Washington Heights.

9.

In 1978, John Benitez was making $100 for a four-night week when he moved to an apartment on the West Side of Manhattan.

10.

In 1979, John Benitez worked back and forth between Manhattan and Long Island.

11.

John Benitez worked seven nights a week at Hurrah, and Le Mouches in New York City, Club Marrakesh in Westhampton, Blue Cloud in Southampton, and La Falafel.

12.

Between 1976 and 1980, John Benitez played at New York New York, Studio 54, Le Jardin, and the Grand Ballroom.

13.

John Benitez eventually settled at the Electric Circus and Xenon in New York City.

14.

John Benitez hosted a weekend dance radio show at WKTU.

15.

John Benitez pushed the records "Planet Rock" and "Let the Music Play".

16.

John Benitez produced "Holiday", which was her first international top ten hit song.

17.

John Benitez continued to deejay at the Funhouse while producing and remixing for other artists.

18.

In 1984, John Benitez remixed Madonna's hit song "Like a Virgin" and landed a producing deal with EMI America Records.

19.

John Benitez remixed songs for various artists, including for Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Sting, Talking Heads, Deniece Williams, Elvis Costello, Fleetwood Mac, the Pointer Sisters, and ZZ Top.

20.

In 1985, John Benitez signed a production deal with Warner Bros.

21.

John Benitez produced Whitney Houston's top ten hit "Love Will Save the Day" from her 1987 sophomore album Whitney.

22.

John Benitez was the musical producer for the film The Principal and produced the theme for Mel Brooke's film Spaceballs.

23.

John Benitez composed the film score for the 1995 independent comedy Lie Down With Dogs.

24.

John Benitez owns Jellybean Productions, Jellybean Soul and Jellybean Music Group.

25.

In 2005, John Benitez was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame.

26.

John Benitez is currently the executive producer of Studio 54 Radio, which is heard exclusively on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

27.

John Benitez dated Madonna and model Nikki Scorsese in the 1980s.

28.

John Benitez married former Wilhelmina model and restaurateur Carolyn Effer in 1991.

29.

John Benitez composed the theme song to Ricki Lake and The Charles Perez Show.

30.

John Benitez produced motion pictures and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy for his role as an Executive Producer for HBO's For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story starring Andy Garcia.

31.

John Benitez served as music supervisor and created and mixed tunes for many soundtracks.