Tony Moran

Tony Moran: Still Going Where the Music Takes Him

What has Tony Moran been doing more recently?
He is tearing up todays circuit scene, headlining at big dance events all over the world. He’s released 4 albums on Centaur Entertainment, as well as “Tour Da Beats” on Tommyboy Records. He also wrote the score for the independent film Circuit.

How did Tony Moran begin his career?
He started in 1981 when he and friend Albert Cabrera cooperated in taking a whole new step in the record-making process as the Latin Rascals. They re-edited versions of already hit songs and spliced them together, resulting in major air-play on New York dance station WKTU. That radio exposure drew the attention of Shakedown Studios, who hired the Latin Rascals to transform radio hits into dance club hits.

Who did they help to launch?
Fever Records hired them to write and produce a song for one of their emerging acts, The Cover Girls. Thankfully they agreed, and created “Show Me,” which became Tony’s first Top 40 gold record and also helped to usher in music’s Freestyle era.

Is that it?
No way! They worked similar magic on new artists like TKA, Safire (Boy Ive Been Told), and Lisette Melendez (Together Forever).

And, with whom has he been working in recent years?
Tony has written and remixed for the likes of Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, George Michael, Patti Labelle, Michael Jackson, The Beach Boys, The Cover Girls, TKA, The Latin Rascals, Kenny G, Luther Vandross, Cyndi Lauper, Cher, Donna Summer, Becky Baeling, Britney Spears, Kevin Aviance, Deborah Cooper, Beyonce Knowles, Deborah Cox, Brooke Hogan, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. In 2007, he hit number one on the Billboard with Kristine W.’s “Walk Away.”

So, what’s the connection between the Freestyle music Tony Moran used to make, and the dance music he makes today?
Tony credits his freestyle background for the pop sensibility in his current music. He does not allow boundaries around his music nor around himself.

Why does he like being a DJ?
He loves the feel-good energy that comes from playing music. He likes to give commercial “hooks” to his remixes and productions to appropriate them for both the radio and the dance floor.

I heard a rumor that he played the original Michael Myers in the 1978 horror movie Holloween. Is that true?
No. That was another Tony Moran. No relation. Although, he does “slash” up the music charts and “kills” on the dance floor!

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