John Rocca
John Rocca | |
|---|---|
percussion, synthesizer, computer programming | |
| Labels | Beggars Banquet, Cobra, Vinyl Solution |
John Rocca (born 23 September 1960)[1] is an English dance music performer, remixer and record producer, most well known for his band Freeez.[2]
History
During the early 1980s, Rocca formed, played with, wrote for, produced and managed his first band,
UK Singles Chart, his next effort, Southern Freeez, was a chart success in various countries in Europe and around the world, reaching No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart. Both singles were number one hits in the UK Blues and Soul charts.[3][4]
During 1983, one of the first records to use digital sampling, "
electro music style. It scored number one in dance charts in Europe and the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play and had popular music chart success across the world, spending three weeks at number 2 in the UK.[5]
As a solo artist, Rocca scored number one again, this time with "
Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.[6] As a producer, engineer and re-mixer John Rocca worked with bands as diverse as Bomb the Bass and General Public
, also touring Europe and the Japan respectively with the bands
In the late 1980s after releasing a number of tracks under the Pseudonym Pink Rhythm such as "Melodies of Love" John began more experimental output.Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1993.[6]
Rocca retired from the music business in late 1993 and after completing a 1st class honours degree at
IT and Telecommunications.[4] In 1997 Rocca became one of the founding members of the technology start up Intec Telecom Systems.[7] Intec Telecom Systems was successfully launched on the London Stock Exchange
in 2001 (symbol: ITL.L).
Discography
Solo albums
- Unreleased album (Beggars Banquet, 1984)
- Extra Extra (Avenue Records, 1987)
- I.O.U. - The Best of John Rocca (Criminal Records, 1996)
Solo singles
| Year | Song title / Label | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK
[8] |
US Dance [6] |
US R&B [6] | ||||
| 1984 | "I Want It to Be Real" (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) | 94 | 1 | 55 | ||
| "Once Upon a Time" (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) | — | 72 | — | |||
| 1985 | "I Want You" (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) | — | — | — | ||
| "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" (credited as Pink Rhythm) (Metropolis) | — | — | — | |||
| "India" (credited as Pink Rhythm) (Beggars Banquet) | — | — | — | |||
| "Melodies of Love" (credited as Pink Rhythm) (Beggars Banquet) | — | — | — | |||
| 1987 | "I Want It to Be Real" (The Ultimate Mixes '87) (City Beat) | — | — | — | ||
| "Move" (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) | — | 11 | — | |||
| "Extra Extra" (City Beat) | — | — | — | |||
| 1989 | "X. Y. Zee" (Cobra Records) | — | — | — | ||
| "The River Must Flow" (Cobra Records) | — | — | — | |||
| 1993 | "Shine" Midi Rain (Vinyl Solution) | — | 1 | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
See also
References
- ISBN 9780195313734.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Freeez Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "An Interview With John Rocca / Freeez & Pink Rhythm". Testpressing.org. 7 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Interview / John Rocca". Banbantonton.com. 21 March 2018.
- ^ "FREEEZ - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "John Rocca Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Intec secures $1 million deal with Maxis, Malaysia's leading GSM provider". 1 May 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "JOHN ROCCA - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
External links
- John Rocca discography at Discogs
- Midi Rain discography at Discogs
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
