Whether he is DJing by himself or acting as half of Masters at Work, Little Louie Vega is a permanent part of the history of the New York City house music and club scene. Vega made a name for himself as a DJ in the New York City club circuit spinning in the historical clubs Studio 54, Devil's Nest, and Hearthrob. Besides producing his own work, he has worked with artists from the likes of Information Society to Debbie Gibson and Marc Anthony.
Little Louie Vega grew up in a Latin music household. His father, Louie Vega, Sr., was a jazz and Latin saxophone player and his uncle, Hector Lavoe, was a popular salsa singer. Born and raised in the Bronx, Vega began DJing at 18 after he watched some fellow high school friends spin records. He was soon a regular at high school parties and formed his own small label. While spinning at the infamous Studio 54, Vega met house producer Todd Terry, who would regularly give Vega his new mixes to try out on the 54 crowd. Vega's own first remixes included Information Society's "Running" and Noel's "Silent Morning" and also some work for then-budding star Debbie Gibson.
In 1989, Vega produced the instrumental "Don't Tell Me" for SBK Records and "Keep Pumpin' It Up" under the name Freestyle Orchestra. Vega had been commissioned to do songs for the movie East Side Story when he met the singer Marc Anthony. With Anthony, Vega would sign on to CBS Records' subsidiary WTG Records. Together they produced the single "Ride on the Rhythm," which did remarkably well in the clubs and rewarded both men with lots of recognition. He would later team up with house vocalist Barbara Tucker to produce Beautiful People and also establish the Underground Network Club in New York. Vega also teamed up again with Todd Terry to produce "Todd's Message" with vocalist India, Vega's former wife. Vega also contributed to the Deee-Lite remix compilation Sampladelic Relics & Dance Floor Oddities.
Though Vega has produced much as a solo act, he is more widely known as half of the production team Masters at Work. Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, who originally used the name for his own DJ crew, met Vega through Todd Terry. Under the Masters at Work name, Vega and Gonzalez have remixed the likes of Jamiroquai, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. Using the name Nuyorican Soul, the two worked with such jazz legends as Tito Puente and George Benson for a self-titled album. Vega continues to tour the world with his unique blend of New York disco classics, obscurities, and Latin dancefloor anthems both old and new. He has also released a series of critically acclaimed mix CDs. ~ Diana Potts, Rovi
