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Kevin "Sugar-Daddy" Woodley A&R Executive • Disc Jockey • On Air Personality•
“I’m the person who coordinates the music and the product flow. As for music it must appease the appetites of the urban population.Likewise, that target audience has to be hit with just the right flavors of music to promote satisfaction, ” says Kevin ‘Sugar-Daddy’ Woodley when posed with the question, “What exactly is it that you do?”Bronx born and Brooklyn bred music executive Kevin “Sugar-Daddy”Woodley spent many of his formative years in the entertainment industry spotlight. Woodley began his career as a rapper and disc-jockey at John Jay College radio station, WJJC, in New York. While in college “Sugar-Daddy” landed a gig as the house disc-jockey for Laff’s, a prominent NewYork nightclub where he befriended one of the club’s nightly promoters,Russell Simmons. Their love of music fostered a relationship both professional and personal, and Simmons began to manage Woodley.Simmons introduced Woodley to his brother then known as “DJ Run”.Under Simmons management Woodley released the rap version “Another One Bites the Dust”. Woodley and “DJ Run” began doing local shows,however Woodley’s love of music was focused on the turn-tables, not the stage. (1)
He gave up the mic temporarily and returned to the club scene spinning records in New York City’s prominent nightclubs including Justines,Leviticus, Pegasus, Xenon and Magique. While spinning at another prominent nightclub, Gothams New York, Woodley was approached by ayoung club owner who was looking for a disc-jockey with a name and afollowing to play at a new nightclub Bentley’s. Woodley accepted the gigand began breaking emerging R&B and hip hop acts from the tri-state area.Several clubs considered rap music taboo but being reared in the Bronx during the origin of hip hop Woodley understood the music as an emerging culture and embraced it. Woodley quickly coined Bentley’s the premiere club in New York for R&B and hip hop music”. (2)
Reigning as one of New York’s premiere disc-jockeys Woodley was praised for being the first DJ to play & break several records including Run D MC’s“Rock Box”, Keith Sweat “I Want Her”, Guy “Groove Me”, Howard Johnson“ [size=12]So Fine” and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam “Take You Home”. Woodley recalls his [/size]friend Larry Blackman sitting in the club writing songs in the DJ booth including “Attack Me With Your Love”, “Single Life”, and “She’s Strange”.The success of Bentley’s led to an array of successful nightclub ventures.Woodley continually established relationships with emerging artist,producers and managers, serving as entertainment director to severallegendary venues in New York including Union Square, The Red Parrot,The Silver Shadow and The Copacabana. Woodley booked first time NewYork performances for recording artist Salt and Pepper, Doug E Fresh,Slick Rick, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Johnny Kemp, Whodini, Jocelyn Brown, Loose Ends, Will Downing, EnVogue, Al B Sure and Heavy D & the Boys to name a few. (3)
Woodley’s “ear to the streets for hits” led to an invitation as a Billboard reporter and a request by WKTU then program director, Carlos DeJesus,and 98.7 Kiss FM program director, Tony Q for Woodley to serve as amusic consultant for the radio stations. Woodley’s new radio relationships and subsequent introduction to Kiss FM general manager Barry Mayo andincoming program director Tony Grey led to him becoming the first disc-jockey in New York to have a weekly “live” mix-show. Woodley alsobegan to build his international demand as a disc-jockey and began playingas a feature DJ in Atlantic City as well as abroad in Indonesia, China,Japan, Singapore, Bangkok, Tai Pei and Kuala Lumpar . (4)
Woodley’s lightning rod for talent caught the eye of CBS music executive,Cecil Holmes and in 1985 Woodley joined Columbia Records developingthe pop & urban music roster including directing four multi-platinum Lp’s for New Kids on the Block, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Full Force, Surface, JohnnyKemp, Regina Belle and Earth Wind & Fire . Woodley’s club rootsenabled him to also find & sign recording artist Raze releasing the dance hit “Break for Love” and to hire Shep Pettibone to remix George Michael’ssingle “I Want Your Sex”. “Everyone thought I was crazy. The Lp was notselling and I suggested Shep remix the single so I could play it in the cluband give the record an urban base. To make sure it worked I tested thesingle on the dance floor and it worked --the crowd went bananas. Urbanclubs embraced the artist, sales were phenomenal, the rest is history.”During Woodley’s tenure at Columbia Records, Def Jam Recordings wasin the process of joining Columbia as an independent label. Russell Simmons wanted someone on the inside who understood the music and the culture of hip hop. Simmons requested Woodley serve as liaison to the roster of Def Jam recording artist LL Cool J, Public Enemy, 3rd Baseand Slick Rick . Woodley also penned the acquisition of Chris Shwartz“Ruffhouse Records” which spurned the success of Jermaine Dupri, KrissKross, Xscape and The Fugees. (5)
In 1990 Woodley was approached by Sylvia Rhone to head the A&R division of Atlantic Records. During his (5) years at Atlantic Woodley signed platinum recording artist I.N.T.R.O. and supervised Lp’s for Levert,EnVogue, Glen Jones, The Rude Boys and Gerald Albright . Woodley also introduced Atlantic recording artist M.C. Lyte to hitmaker Teddy Riley producing the gold single “Ruffneck” accrediting MC Lyte as the first solo female rapper with a certified gold single. Woodley explains “My experience at Atlantic Records strengthened my administrative skillsas a senior executive and I learned the nuts & bolts of the recordbusiness & the recording process whereas Columbia was a verycreative environment and an extension of the club for me, I did in the boardroom what I did in the dj booth --I found hits. As a talent scoutits extremely frustrating to find talent and not be able to sign it because of bureaucracy." (6)
Two of the most memorable experiences in the music industry Woodley recalls a rap artist brought to him by his mentor Cecil Holme’s nephew Dame Dash and DJ Clark Kent, and an R&B artist he saw perform at Irving Plaza in New York. “Damon and Clark bought me this artist, Jay Z, andI thought he was phenomenal. We did a demo deal and I pretty muchput my job on the line to get this artist signed. Long story short Ididn’t have the authority to sign it without consensus. I will neverf orget Dame and Clark screaming to the entire floor “Your outta your fucking minds if you pass on this artist. He’s the Jesus Christ of HipHop”.I have knocked myself in the head for not quitting my job andputting the record out independently, I knew better. I keep the letter Ireceived from the label refusing to sign the artist framed on my wall inmy office as a reminder. The artist I saw perform at Irving Plaza wasamazing, his name was Maxwell again I knew better.” (7)
During his extraordinary career from rapper to disc-jockey, to music executive, to night-club investor and restaurateur, Kevin “Sugar-Daddy”Woodley has maintained the ability to keep his finger on the pulse of New York’s nightlife and entertainment attributing his success to God forblessing him with “ears” and to his mentors Cecil Holmes and Tony Grey.“Music has blessed me with a great life. “Working in clubs as a DJ then becoming an A&R executive is a natural progression. Being a DJ allows you to listen to music and program it. Playing for a largecrowd of people gives extra insight. It fine tunes my ears...keeps meon top of what’s hot and helps me understand why one record worksand another does not.” Currently, Kevin “Sugar-Daddy” Woodley continues to scout emerging talent for his independent record label,Genesis Recordings, and spin throughout the hottest nightclubs in the United States and abroad. (8)
. Brooklyn’s own D-LIFE just can’t stopIf you live in a place where people love Caribbean music, chances are you’ve heard D-LIFE’s unique voice. It might have been on Hot 97 in NYC, Mixx96 in Miami, or Sirius XM broadcasting all over the globe. The talented Trinidadian-born, Brooklyn-based DJ enjoys a unique partnership with Bobby Konders and Jabba from New York’s biggest reggae sound system Massive B. You can hear D-LIFE with Massive B on their weekly Hot 97 show, Fire Sundays. Fans catch him live weekly at the Fire Sundays party in Brooklyn, where he plays soca, hip-hop and reggae, adding a Trini touch to the jam-packed festivities. Recently he has added another remarkable achievement to his repertoire, joining forces with the Queen of Soca Alison Hinds as her official tour DJ. “It was my honor when I was asked to become her DJ ” he says. Touring with Alison, D-LIFE’s has captivated audiences throughout North and South America and the Caribbean. “He brings an energy to my performance…and I love his musical creativity,” said Hinds, who has had over twenty years of hits, including the recent remix to Bruk It Down, with Mr. Vegas. D-LIFE has also achieved success in the production world. Along with Beenie Man and Fatman Scoop, he was first featured on the 2005 remix to Soul on Fire by KMC. In 2007, D-LIFE penned an album deal with EMI Records/ Penalty Records and produced Extreme Soca: Volume 1, a CD-DVD compilation that received recognition from Billboard Magazine and remains on Amazon.com Top-10 Caribbean albums to ever be sold. He later co-produced the soca remix for Kanye West and Estelle’s smash hit American Boy for Atlantic Records – an infectious mix that continues to fill dance-floors and Ipods. He continues to be a highly sought-after producer for remixes and features.Many credit D-LIFE with breaking hit records like Turn Me On, Soul On Fire and Nookie that provided Kevin Lyttle, Rupee and Jamesy P. with major record deals. D-LIFE supported Alison Hinds’ “Roll It” record, which entered daytime rotation at Hot 97. However, D-LIFE has not forgotten his roots: he held a longtime residency at Brooklyn’s Club Nocturnal and can be found at Carnivals across the world—from Caribana in Toronto to Cropover in Barbados. Crossing borders and bringing the music—whether hip-hop, reggae, soca or r&b—to the people; that’s what D-LIFE specializes in. “I just can’t stop,” he says, adding “I love the music; music brings people together.
Kevin "Sugar-Daddy" Woodley A&R Executive • Disc Jockey • On Air Personality• “I’m the person who coordinates the music and the product flow. As for music it must appease the appetites of the urban population.Likewise, that target audience has to be hit with just the right flavors of music to promote satisfaction, ” says Kevin ‘Sugar-Daddy’ Woodley when posed with the question, “What exactly is it that you do?”Bronx born and Brooklyn bred music executive Kevin “Sugar-Daddy”Woodley spent many of his formative years in the entertainment industry spotlight. Woodley began his career as a rapper and disc-jockey at John Jay College radio station, WJJC, in New York. While in college “Sugar-Daddy” landed a gig as the house disc-jockey for Laff’s, a prominent NewYork nightclub where he befriended one of the club’s nightly promoters,Russell Simmons. Their love of music fostered a relationship both professional and personal, and Simmons began to manage Woodley.Simmons introduced Woodley to his brother then known as “DJ Run”.Under Simmons management Woodley released the rap version “Another One Bites the Dust”. Woodley and “DJ Run” began doing local shows,however Woodley’s love of music was focused on the turn-tables, not the stage. (1)
He gave up the mic temporarily and returned to the club scene spinning records in New York City’s prominent nightclubs including Justines,Leviticus, Pegasus, Xenon and Magique. While spinning at another prominent nightclub, Gothams New York, Woodley was approached by ayoung club owner who was looking for a disc-jockey with a name and afollowing to play at a new nightclub Bentley’s. Woodley accepted the gigand began breaking emerging R&B and hip hop acts from the tri-state area.Several clubs considered rap music taboo but being reared in the Bronx during the origin of hip hop Woodley understood the music as an emerging culture and embraced it. Woodley quickly coined Bentley’s the premiere club in New York for R&B and hip hop music”. (2)
Reigning as one of New York’s premiere disc-jockeys Woodley was praised for being the first DJ to play & break several records including Run D MC’s“Rock Box”, Keith Sweat “I Want Her”, Guy “Groove Me”, Howard Johnson“ [size=12]So Fine” and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam “Take You Home”. Woodley recalls his [/size]friend Larry Blackman sitting in the club writing songs in the DJ booth including “Attack Me With Your Love”, “Single Life”, and “She’s Strange”.The success of Bentley’s led to an array of successful nightclub ventures.Woodley continually established relationships with emerging artist,producers and managers, serving as entertainment director to severallegendary venues in New York including Union Square, The Red Parrot,The Silver Shadow and The Copacabana. Woodley booked first time NewYork performances for recording artist Salt and Pepper, Doug E Fresh,Slick Rick, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Johnny Kemp, Whodini, Jocelyn Brown, Loose Ends, Will Downing, EnVogue, Al B Sure and Heavy D & the Boys to name a few. (3)
Woodley’s “ear to the streets for hits” led to an invitation as a Billboard reporter and a request by WKTU then program director, Carlos DeJesus,and 98.7 Kiss FM program director, Tony Q for Woodley to serve as amusic consultant for the radio stations. Woodley’s new radio relationships and subsequent introduction to Kiss FM general manager Barry Mayo andincoming program director Tony Grey led to him becoming the first disc-jockey in New York to have a weekly “live” mix-show. Woodley alsobegan to build his international demand as a disc-jockey and began playingas a feature DJ in Atlantic City as well as abroad in Indonesia, China,Japan, Singapore, Bangkok, Tai Pei and Kuala Lumpar . (4)
Woodley’s lightning rod for talent caught the eye of CBS music executive,Cecil Holmes and in 1985 Woodley joined Columbia Records developingthe pop & urban music roster including directing four multi-platinum Lp’s for New Kids on the Block, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Full Force, Surface, JohnnyKemp, Regina Belle and Earth Wind & Fire . Woodley’s club rootsenabled him to also find & sign recording artist Raze releasing the dance hit “Break for Love” and to hire Shep Pettibone to remix George Michael’ssingle “I Want Your Sex”. “Everyone thought I was crazy. The Lp was notselling and I suggested Shep remix the single so I could play it in the cluband give the record an urban base. To make sure it worked I tested thesingle on the dance floor and it worked --the crowd went bananas. Urbanclubs embraced the artist, sales were phenomenal, the rest is history.”During Woodley’s tenure at Columbia Records, Def Jam Recordings wasin the process of joining Columbia as an independent label. Russell Simmons wanted someone on the inside who understood the music and the culture of hip hop. Simmons requested Woodley serve as liaison to the roster of Def Jam recording artist LL Cool J, Public Enemy, 3rd Baseand Slick Rick . Woodley also penned the acquisition of Chris Shwartz“Ruffhouse Records” which spurned the success of Jermaine Dupri, KrissKross, Xscape and The Fugees. (5)
In 1990 Woodley was approached by Sylvia Rhone to head the A&R division of Atlantic Records. During his (5) years at Atlantic Woodley signed platinum recording artist I.N.T.R.O. and supervised Lp’s for Levert,EnVogue, Glen Jones, The Rude Boys and Gerald Albright . Woodley also introduced Atlantic recording artist M.C. Lyte to hitmaker Teddy Riley producing the gold single “Ruffneck” accrediting MC Lyte as the first solo female rapper with a certified gold single. Woodley explains “My experience at Atlantic Records strengthened my administrative skillsas a senior executive and I learned the nuts & bolts of the recordbusiness & the recording process whereas Columbia was a verycreative environment and an extension of the club for me, I did in the boardroom what I did in the dj booth --I found hits. As a talent scoutits extremely frustrating to find talent and not be able to sign it because of bureaucracy." (6)
Two of the most memorable experiences in the music industry Woodley recalls a rap artist brought to him by his mentor Cecil Holme’s nephew Dame Dash and DJ Clark Kent, and an R&B artist he saw perform at Irving Plaza in New York. “Damon and Clark bought me this artist, Jay Z, andI thought he was phenomenal. We did a demo deal and I pretty muchput my job on the line to get this artist signed. Long story short Ididn’t have the authority to sign it without consensus. I will neverf orget Dame and Clark screaming to the entire floor “Your outta your fucking minds if you pass on this artist. He’s the Jesus Christ of HipHop”.I have knocked myself in the head for not quitting my job andputting the record out independently, I knew better. I keep the letter Ireceived from the label refusing to sign the artist framed on my wall inmy office as a reminder. The artist I saw perform at Irving Plaza wasamazing, his name was Maxwell again I knew better.” (7)
During his extraordinary career from rapper to disc-jockey, to music executive, to night-club investor and restaurateur, Kevin “Sugar-Daddy”Woodley has maintained the ability to keep his finger on the pulse of New York’s nightlife and entertainment attributing his success to God forblessing him with “ears” and to his mentors Cecil Holmes and Tony Grey.“Music has blessed me with a great life. “Working in clubs as a DJ then becoming an A&R executive is a natural progression. Being a DJ allows you to listen to music and program it. Playing for a largecrowd of people gives extra insight. It fine tunes my ears...keeps meon top of what’s hot and helps me understand why one record worksand another does not.” Currently, Kevin “Sugar-Daddy” Woodley continues to scout emerging talent for his independent record label,Genesis Recordings, and spin throughout the hottest nightclubs in the United States and abroad. (8)
. Brooklyn’s own D-LIFE just can’t stopIf you live in a place where people love Caribbean music, chances are you’ve heard D-LIFE’s unique voice. It might have been on Hot 97 in NYC, Mixx96 in Miami, or Sirius XM broadcasting all over the globe. The talented Trinidadian-born, Brooklyn-based DJ enjoys a unique partnership with Bobby Konders and Jabba from New York’s biggest reggae sound system Massive B. You can hear D-LIFE with Massive B on their weekly Hot 97 show, Fire Sundays. Fans catch him live weekly at the Fire Sundays party in Brooklyn, where he plays soca, hip-hop and reggae, adding a Trini touch to the jam-packed festivities. Recently he has added another remarkable achievement to his repertoire, joining forces with the Queen of Soca Alison Hinds as her official tour DJ. “It was my honor when I was asked to become her DJ ” he says. Touring with Alison, D-LIFE’s has captivated audiences throughout North and South America and the Caribbean. “He brings an energy to my performance…and I love his musical creativity,” said Hinds, who has had over twenty years of hits, including the recent remix to Bruk It Down, with Mr. Vegas. D-LIFE has also achieved success in the production world. Along with Beenie Man and Fatman Scoop, he was first featured on the 2005 remix to Soul on Fire by KMC. In 2007, D-LIFE penned an album deal with EMI Records/ Penalty Records and produced Extreme Soca: Volume 1, a CD-DVD compilation that received recognition from Billboard Magazine and remains on Amazon.com Top-10 Caribbean albums to ever be sold. He later co-produced the soca remix for Kanye West and Estelle’s smash hit American Boy for Atlantic Records – an infectious mix that continues to fill dance-floors and Ipods. He continues to be a highly sought-after producer for remixes and features.Many credit D-LIFE with breaking hit records like Turn Me On, Soul On Fire and Nookie that provided Kevin Lyttle, Rupee and Jamesy P. with major record deals. D-LIFE supported Alison Hinds’ “Roll It” record, which entered daytime rotation at Hot 97. However, D-LIFE has not forgotten his roots: he held a longtime residency at Brooklyn’s Club Nocturnal and can be found at Carnivals across the world—from Caribana in Toronto to Cropover in Barbados. Crossing borders and bringing the music—whether hip-hop, reggae, soca or r&b—to the people; that’s what D-LIFE specializes in. “I just can’t stop,” he says, adding “I love the music; music brings people together.
