Masters at Work

Masters at Work
Also known as	MAW KenLou Sole Fusion Nuyorican Soul
Origin	New York, New York, USA
Genres	House, Garage
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Cutting Records (1993) MAW Records (1998-present) Tommy Boy Entertainment
Associated acts	India Lil' Mo' Yin Yang
Members
"Little" Louie Vega Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez
Past members
Todd Terry
Notable instruments
Drum machine Sampler Synthesizer Electronic keyboard Sequencer

Masters at Work is the house/garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. They first worked together using the name, which had been given to them by mutual friend Todd Terry (who recorded several tracks under that name in the 1980s), in 1990. Cousin to Eric Vega, popular event creator and promoter in New York City.

The duo has also produced music together under the names MAW, KenLou, Sole Fusion, and Nuyorican Soul.

Their Nuyorican Soul project had the duo working extensively with real (as opposed to sampled or synthesized) musicians, in a variety of styles including Latin, disco, jazz, and more. Musicians who took part in this project include Vincent Montana Jr., Roy Ayers, George Benson, Jocelyn Brown, Tito Puente, and members of the Salsoul Orchestra. The self-titled album released under the name Nuyorican Soul in 1996 included original tracks as well as cover versions of songs by the performers with which the duo was working, such as "Sweet Tears" (Roy Ayers), and "Runaway," originally sung by Loleatta Holloway with the Salsoul Orchestra, here sung by India and featuring musicians from the original recording of 1977.

MAW has a history as remixers, having reproduced tracks for various acts both inside and outside the world of dance music. Some of the artists remixed by the two producers include Michael Jackson, Madonna, Donna Summer, Gus Gus, Jody Watley, Janet Jackson, Jamiroquai, Earth Wind & Fire, and Stephanie Mills.

Discography

Albums

• 1993 The Album
• 1995 The Essential KenLou House Mixes
• 1997 Nuyorican Soul (as Nuyorican Soul)
• 1998 The Remixes (as Nuyorican Soul)
• 2000 The Tenth Anniversary Collection - Part I
• 2000 The Tenth Anniversary Collection - Part II
• 2001 Our Time is Coming

Singles

Masters at Work

• 1991 "Blood Vibes/The Ha Dance"
• 1991 "Our Mute Horn" (with Ray Vega)
• 1991 "69 Steps"
• 1992 "Gonna Get Back to You" (with Xaviera Gold)
• 1993 "Can't Stop the Rhythm" (with Jocelyn Brown)
• 1993 "Give it to Me" (with Screechie Dan)
• 1993 "Hardrive EP"
• 1993 "I Can't Get No Sleep" (with India)
• 1993 "When You Touch Me" (with India)
• 1994 "Get Up"
• 1995 "I Can't Get No Sleep '95" (with India)
• 1997 "La India Con La Voe" (with India and Albert Menendez)
• 1997 "MAW Sampler"
• 1997 "To Be in Love" (with India)
• 1998 "Odyssey/I'm Ready"
• 1998 "Pienso en Ti" (with Luis Salinas)
• 1999 "To Be in Love '99" (with India)
• 1999 "MAW Expensive" (as MAW presents a Tribute to Fela, with Ibi Wunmi)
• 2000 "Brazilian Beat" (with Lilian Chachian)
• 2000 "Ékabo"
• 2000 "MAW Unreleased Mixes"
• 2001 "Lean On Me" (with James Ingram)
• 2001 "Dubplate Special 1"
• 2001 "Like a Butterfly" (with Patti Austin)
• 2001 "Work" (with Puppah Nas-T and Denise Belfon)
• 2001 "Dubplate Special 2"
• 2002 "Backfired" (with India)
• 2003 "Dubplate Special 3"
• 2006 "Loud" (with Beto Cuevas)
• 2007 "Work 2007" (with Puppah Nas-T and Denise Belfon)

Nuyorican Soul

• 1993 "The Nervous Track"
• 1996 "Mind Fluid"
• 1996 "Runaway" (with India)
• 1996 "You Can Do It (Baby)" (with George Benson)
• 1997 "I Am the Black Gold of the Sun" (with Jocelyn Brown)
• 1997 "It's All Right, I Feel it" (with Jocelyn Brown)
• 1998 "I Love the Nightlife" (with India)

KenLou

• 1995 "Moonshine/Hillbilly Song"
• 1995 "The Bounce/Gimme Groove"
• 1995 "What a Sensation" (with India)
• 1996 "MAW War/Mack Daddy Shoot"
• 1997 "Thru the Skies"
• 1998 "Bangin'"
• 2001 "Gone Three Times"

Groove Box

• 1996 "Casio's Theme/The More You Want"
• 1996 "Just Be Good to Me" (with Leena Marie)
• 2000 "I'm Your Man"
• 2001 "The More You Want"

Other aliases

• 1994 "Voices in my Mind", as Voices (with India)
• 1994 "My Love", as People Underground (with Michael Watford)
• 1995 "The Hard Times March", as 200 Sheep
• 1995 "The Drum", as WAM
• 1997 "Dance (Do That Thang)", as Black Magic
• 1997 "Let it Go", as Black Magic
• 2002 "Tranz/Body", as MAW Electronic
• 2004 "Danz/Time Travellers", as MAW Electronic

Productions for other artists

• 1993 Freedom Williams - "Voice of Freedom"
• 1994 Barbara Tucker - "Beautiful People"
• 1994 Willi Ninja - "Hot"
• 1997 Byron Stingily - "Flying High"
• 1999 Will Smith - "La Fiesta", with Keith Pelzer and Jeff Townes
• 2001 Jody Watley - "I Love to Love"
• 2005 Anané feat. Mr. V - "Let Me Love You"
• 2005 Anané & Mr. V - "Move, Bounce, Shake"

Mixed compilations

• 1995 Ministry of Sound Sessions 5
• 2001 West End Records: The 25th Anniversary Mastermix
• 2004 Soul Heaven Presents: Masters at Work in the House
• 2005 The Kings of House
• 2006 Soul Heaven Presents: Masters at Work
• 2007 Ministry of Sound Chillout Classics
• 2007 Strictly MAW

Selected remixes

• 1991 Michael Jackson - "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough"
• 1992 Desiya - "Comin' On Strong"
• 1992 Michael Jackson - "Rock With You"
• 1992 Madonna - "Erotica"
• 1993 Björk - "Big Time Sensuality"
• 1993 Debbie Gibson - "Losin' Myself"
• 1993 Jamiroquai - "Emergency on Planet Earth"
• 1994 Secret Life - "Borrowed Time"
• 1994 Barbara Tucker - "Beautiful People"
• 1995 Donna Summer - "I Feel Love"
• 1997 The Braxtons - "The Boss"
• 1997 George Benson - "Song For My Brother"
• 1997 George Benson - "Baby I'm In Love"
• 1998 Janet Jackson - "Go Deep"
• 1998 Melanie B feat. Missy Elliott - "I Want You Back"
• 1999 Gus Gus - "VIP"
• 2000 The Beatles - "Get Back"
• 2000 Nina Simone - "See Line Woman"
• 2000 Spice Girls - "Holler"
• 2002 Aaliyah - "More Than a Woman"
• 2004 Stephanie Mills - "Free- Louie Vega Mix"
• 2004 4Hero - "The Remix Album, Vol.1"

See also

• List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

External links

• MAW official page
• MAW video interview

• Masters at Work discography at Discogs