John Rocca

John Rocca (born 23 September 1960) is an English dance music performer, remixer and record producer, most well known for his band Freeez.[1]

John Rocca
Born (1960-09-23) 23 September 1960
London, England
GenresHouse, post-disco, freestyle, electro
Occupation(s)Singer, record producer
InstrumentsVocals, percussion, synthesizers, drum programming
LabelsBeggars Banquet, Cobra, Vinyl Solution
Associated actsFreeez
Pink Rhythm
Midi Rain

History

During the early 1980s, Rocca formed, played with, wrote for, produced and managed his first band, Freeez. After his entrepreneurial first self-funded and self-released effort, "Keep in Touch", became a No. 49 hit in the 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.[2][3]

During 1983, one of the first records to use digital sampling, "IOU", featured Rocca's falsetto voice and became one of the major dance successes of the 1980s 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.

As a solo artist, Rocca scored number one again, this time with "I Want It To Be Real", on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart during 1984.

After releasing some experimental output on his own Cobra Records label in the late 1980s, Rocca resurfaced in the early 1990s with his Midi Rain project. Several singles were popular in the UK dance charts including "Eyes", "Always", and "Shine" - the latter reaching No. 1 on the Billboard US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Rocca would retire from the music business during 1993, moving into IT and Telecommunications.

Discography

Albums
  • Unreleased album (Beggars Banquet, 1984)
  • Extra Extra (Avenue Records, 1987)
  • I.O.U. - The Best Of John Rocca (Criminal Records, 1996)

Singles
Year Song Title / Label UK Singles Chart US Dance Chart
1980 "Keep in Touch" Freeez (Pink Rythm/Pye) 49
1981 "Southern Freeez" Freeez (Pink Rythm/Beggars Banquet) 8
1981 "Flying High" Freeez (Pink Rythm/Beggars Banquet) 35
1983 "I.O.U." Freeez (Beggars Banquet/Streetwise) 2 1
1983 "Pop Goes My Love" Freeez (Beggars Banquet/Streetwise) 24 5
1984 "I Want It To Be Real" John Rocca (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) 1
1984 "Once Upon a Time" John Rocca (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) 5
1985 "I Want You" John Rocca (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise)
1985 "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" Pink Rhythm feat. John Rocca (Metropolis)
1986 "I.O.U" (Remix) Freeez feat. John Rocca (Criminal Records)
1987 "I Want It To Be Real" (The Ultimate Mixes '87) John Rocca (City Beat)
1987 "Move" John Rocca (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) 10
1987 "Extra Extra" John Rocca (City Beat)
1989 "X. Y. Zee" John Rocca (Cobra Records)
1989 "The River Must Flow" John Rocca (Cobra Records)
1993 "Shine" Midi Rain (Vinyl Solution) 1

[4]

See also

References
  1. "Freeez Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. "An Interview With John Rocca / Freeez & Pink Rhythm". Testpressing.org. 7 March 2018.
  3. "Interview / John Rocca". Banbantonton.com. 21 March 2018.
  4. Album and Singles Discography. Discogs.com. Retrieved 22 January 2020
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