Bobby Orlando
| Bobby Orlando | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Bobby O |
| Origin | New York City |
| Genres | Disco, Hi-NRG |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, artist, multi-instrumentalist, composer |
| Labels | "O" Records, Bobcat Records, Memo Records, MenoVision, |
| Associated acts | The Flirts, Oh Romeo, Hotline, Waterfront Home, Divine, Pet Shop Boys |
| Notable instruments | |
Robert Philip Orlando (1958), also known as Bobby Orlando or just Bobby O, is an American record producer, dance music artist, musician, and songwriter.
The son of a suburban New York schoolteacher, Orlando declined a classical music scholarship to pursue his then current musical interest, glam rock. In the late 1970s, his professional interests turned to disco and shortly thereafter, he established his own record label, "O" Records.
Bobby Orlando is a highly prolific music producer, songwriter, musician, and record label impresario. During the 1980s he produced, composed and performed on hundreds of music productions that he released under a myriad of record labels, including: "O" Records, Bobcat Records, Memo Records, Telefon Records, MenoVision Records, Beach Records, Plastic Records, Eurobeat Records, Obscure Records, Beat Box Records, Riovista Records, Intelligent Records, Basic Records, Knowledge Records and others. In the late '80s, at the peak of his success, the one-man-band halted his extensive production output.
Orlando is credited as one of the founding fathers of Hi-NRG dance music. His productions are easily identifiable by their dense synthesizers, rolling bass lines, and resounding percussion. Orlando tracks showcase him playing multiple instruments including keyboard, guitars, bass, synthesizers, drums, piano, assorted percussion and saxophone. The ringing cowbell percussion lines and robotic sequencers heard in "She Has A Way", "The Best Part of Breakin' Up", and "Native Love (Step By Step)" define his trademark sound.
As a solo artist, Orlando scored hits with tracks "She Has a Way", "How To Pick Up Girls", and "I'm So Hot for You". He created his project concept, The Flirts, to further front his performances. With its ever-revolving roster of female session singers and models, Orlando churned out international hits "Passion", "Danger", and "Helpless", which featured Orlando as the sole musician. His legendary association with underground film star Divine resulted in classic club anthems "Native Love (Step By Step)" (featuring Orlando's voice in the chorus), "Love Reaction", and "Shoot Your Shot". He also is famed for producing The Fast, later to be known as Man 2 Man.
When Neil Tennant, then an assistant editor at Smash Hits, and later a member of Pet Shop Boys, was sent to interview The Police in 1983 in New York, he sought out Orlando. Both Tennant and fellow Pet Shop Boy Chris Lowe were obsessed with Orlando's sound and productions – "Passion", by The Flirts, being a particular favourite. Orlando decided to produce a Pet Shop Boys album and released their earliest 12"s including the original "West End Girls" and "One More Chance". Orlando & Pet Shop Boys recorded twelve tracks together, including the original "It's A Sin", "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)", and "I Get Excited". Many of the original Orlando/Pet Shop Boys recordings have recently surfaced on YouTube.
...
Wikipedia