Freestyle Dance Party

FFWD

Nelson Cruz aka FFWD aka Cruzin’ Nelson

Who is FFWD?
He is Nelson Cruz, a music producer who was used the name FFWD when he sang Freestyle music. He was born in Brooklyn, grew up in the tough streets of the South Bronx, and now lives in Queens.

What did FFWD stand for?
Fast speed that is always ahead of everybody and everything.

What is his personal definition of Freestyle music?
To FFWD, Freestyle is loving music to sing and dance to that serenades the one you love; it’s all about energy! To club owners, it was a degrading term because, to them, it meant cheap music that they didn’t have to pay people to perform. He maintains that club owners and managers had no respect for Freestyle music.

What other types of music does he produce?
While his roots are in Freestyle, he has also produced rock, jazz, and salsa, because he feels and adores the universality of music and tries to bring something new to each genre he touches.

Who were his major influences?
Earth, Wind, and Fire; Elton John; Luther Vandross; Billy Joel; Quincy Jones; Chicago; and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

How did he get involved in music?
He was a reporter and a club DJ when Billy Nichols noticed him. Mr. Nichols had an international hit with “Give your Body up to the Music.” Together, they mixed a few songs, and attended a house party in the Bronx, where he discovered Chris Barbosa, who was DJ-ing there.

Then what happened?
Nelson Cruz was so taken with Barbosa’s mixing talent that he introduced himself and they became fast friends and DJ-ing partners. They were signed to Emergency Records with the intention of becoming rappers and comic actors, which never came to be.

Chris Barbosa… How do I know that name?
Ever heard of a little song called “Let the Music Play”, by Shannon? Chris Barbosa wrote and produced that smash, and Nelson assisted on its mixing. Unfortunately, the ensuing demand for work they received as a partnership broke them up, although they still colalborated on mixing a handful of songs. They still have a friendship and mutual respect.

How came I didn’t see Nelson Cruz’s name on many of the songs he produced?
Some of the mixes were work for hire and others were label credit mistakes. Nevertheless, Nelson says that “Let the Music Play” will always have a special musical spot in his heart because it was the first number one song that he was personally involved with.

So, what happened after Cruz and Barbosa formally broke up?
Craig Peyton, another successful producer, asked Nelson to co-write and produce a dance song for Emergency Records. The result was “Love Oasis,” a hit by Patris that drew attention from Arthur Baker, who then asked him to join his new label, Criminal Records. Nelson Cruz ended up co-writing and producing many #1 hits for Criminal, Minimal, Micmac, and Tuff City Records.

What were some of those songs?
With producer Arthur Baker, he worked on “So This Is Love,” sung by John Rocca; he also worked with Tommy Uzzo and John Bastianelli on Donna William’s “Alabyes,” and Coco’s “Cross Your Heart.” He discovered thirteen-year-old Brenda K. Starr for Atlantic/Mirage Records and worked with Lisa Fischer. He co-wrote “Strike It Up” for Black Box and 2 songs for Nyasia, “Now and Forever” and “Who’s Got Your Love.” He was thrilled to be working and learning among those talented artists and credits those days with preparing him for his future musical and film work.

What else has he been doing?
In 2002, he released English and Spanish versions of a remake of “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by Artists Against Terrorism, a fundraiser for surviving victims and family members of the lost victims of the attacks on September 11, 2001. He also is recording Latin music. He’s been working as a state mental health therapist. He still dreams of working with Dionne Warwick and Quincy Jones, and reuniting with Michael Jackson.

What is his favorite Freestyle song?
He loves “Without You” by George Lamond, but he’s disappointed with the sad state of Freestyle music in the current market. He blames that on the stubbornness and disunity among the classic performers.

Will he go back to singing Freestyle songs?
Probably not. While he still performs “Baby Don’t Go,” and says that Freestyle music will always be a major part of his past, he sees producing as his future and doesn’t want to be trapped in the past. However, he says that he will not forget Freestyle and it will always influence everything he does. He promises that there will always be a Nelson “FFWD” Cruz Freestyle mix version on every song he writes, produces, mixes, or edits.

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