In Short

Raf n' Soul, roots from Sicily island, lives in New York City, zodiac sign Virgo, he created his celebrity status in 2005 hosting the world-class New York Time Radio Show on Radio Time 94FM broadcasting Underground Dance Music.

He grew up in a house during the early 70's where his mother was always listening the music from the radio while she was doing tailoring-fashion works, when he was a teen-ager he was attracted by the music from artists like Daniel Santa Cruz Ensemble, Pavarotti, Lisa Stansfield, RUN DMC, Erick B & Rakim, AC/DC, Riccardo Cocciante, Public Enemy, Matia Bazar, James Brown, Lucio Dalla, Depeche Mode, Frankie Knuckles, Chaka Khan, Van Hallen, Barry White, L.L. Cool J, Stevie Wonder, Pet Shop Boys, Rockets, Jazz Musicians like Tony Scott, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane just to mention a few, he was too young to understand the artistic level of those names but for some reason he was attracted from their music. In the early 80's his father bought a Turntable-Cassette/8 Tracks to listen the music on Sunday during his day off, and it became already his toy to make music experiments.

 

He started to DJ in 1987 in his home town for a friend's birthday parties. In 1988 a couple friends brought him to Cerchio Discoteque at that time the top night club in the City. While his friends were hangin around with girls in the club, he was more attracted by the art of DJing, that was the first time when he saw a professional DJ Booth, the resident DJ of this discoteque was "Toti Marfia" who was considered a Pioneer DJ in the city, this man became right the way his mentor at the point that Raf every weekend was spending hours and hours watching him mixing music in this club, it took just one year for him to learn how to use two turntable and one mixer, especially during a Top DJ's Competition held in the same discoteque directed by his mentor DJ Tai Marfia, who also noticed him during the DJ battle.

 

Few years later in 1993 he participated at the Italian DJ's Convention organized by the Major Record Label "Media Records" in collaboration with A.I.D, "Italian DJ's Association" Art Director Pietro Di Meglio, the event was held at Area Disco in Cuotto Forio area, Ischia an Island off the coast of Naples, in this competition he was awarded with  a "Silver Record" being second classified on the category Cutting & Scratch. After this experience he started to be recognized for his talent, creativity and professional attitude as DJ in so many clubs, one of those has been Sole & Luna Disco Bar in Pantelleria an Island  right next to Africa where the world-famous fashion designer Giorgio Armani still a regular during his gigs.

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1995 was the year when he met talented music producers "Ti.Pi.Cal. band members",  "Blast" & "The Cop", top Italian artists who strongly influenced him musically in dance music production until when in 1999 he produced his first record titled "Raf n' Soul feat. Michelle Marrero - Old" released on "Rise Records" a member label of Time Records a Major Italian records company, getting reviews together top Producers Black Legend-You will Be in Trouble with me, Joey Negro-Must Be The Music.

 

While his club DJ activity he was able to produce music like in 2004 using the nickname "Rockefeller feat. Tony Marino-I Feel America" on Plan Records a member label of New Music International. In 2005 during a gig at "Casa Cuba" a well-know club on the beach he met the Radio Time's director "a Top City Radio Station in Sicily" who asked him to do a Saturday Night Radio Mix Show with his underground music selections and from that moment The New York Time Radio Show was born, getting "Ten Thousand Listeners" in just sixty minutes during the first broadcasting, at that point he felt that it was a good moment to improve the show with sharing music news On Air then this radio mix show turned into a "talk-radio mix show" spreading infos, behind the scene/history of dance music underground scene worldwide, for this radio show have been released interviews from world-class Artists like: Tony Humphries, Grammy Award Louie Vega, Victor Simonelli, Tedd Patterson, Grammy Awards Nominee Todd Terry, Tom Moulton "12 inch Disco Mix Inventor", Ivan Iacobucci, Hector Romero, Paolo Martini, Barbara Tucker, Grammy Awards Winner Congas player Luisito Quintero, and many more. In 2008 he produced "Raf n' Soul Feat. Tony Marino-Man on The Prowl" released on Gotta Keep Faith Records, track also included on Global Underground 001 Compilation UK by Nick Fanciulli, Deep & Soulful Compilation Vol. 14 Time Records Ita, Deep Train Compilation Vol. 6, Germany by Time Writers, Phard Compilation-Spain by Lello Mascolo.

 

In 2009 The New York's Finest DJ Victor Simonelli noticed Raf's talent, releasing his production on his Stellar Records from Brooklyn which is a deep timbales solo session performed by the drummer Giovanni Militello titled "Raf n' Soul Feat. Giovanni Militello - Latin X-Pression. 

 

In 2010 he moved to New York City as radio reporter, keeping alive his support to the dance music culture via radio broadcasting from House Music Internet Television USA "CEO Charles McDougald"., same year when he produced and coordinated a "One Night" called the "Italo House Story Party" an event made for a Film-Documentary that talks about the beginning of House Music in Italy, a film produced by the Italian manager Maurizio Clemente CEO of Keynote Multi Media, Rome. For this event Raf became officially the bridge for the dance music scene connecting Italy and New York, party held at "The SkyRoom Rooftop Lounge" in Manhattan, it turned into a night to remember in music industry world-wide with special guest Tony Humphries as guest DJ.

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During his gigs and other in Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey's clubs and having guests on his radio show, in 2012 he produced "Raf n' Soul feat. Charles McDougald - This is Amazing" released on Bassline Records, Victor Simonelli's record company from Brooklyn getting radio support by Radio WBAI 99.5FM New York, Grammy Award Winning Louie Vega with his radio show on WBLS New York" this legendary NY's DJ/Producer also invited him at his world-famous Root party at Cielo Club, New York to do a release party. 

 

In 2013 the well-know writer Daniele Sabatucci wrote a book titled "Palermo a Tempo del Vinile = Palermo City During The Vinyl Era" a book that talks about the roots and the evolution of music scene in Palermo from 1960 until the modern era with live bands, pirate radio stations era and DJing, dedicating several pages to Raf as one of the most contributor to the history of Dance Music of all the times in Sicily Island.

 

In 2015 was also the year when he was sponsoring the House Music Singer/Diva Barbara Tucker's New York Dance Parade Float, and also the year when he received a phone call from the House Music Icon Johnny "D" De Mairo former A&R of Atlantic Records America and CEO of the Henry Street Music from Brooklyn who asked him to make a compilation "mixed live" with the Henry Street Music tracks in occasion of 20th anniversary of his label, bonus compilation also released on BBE Music UK. Raf declared during an interview: "Not every day you are woken up from a phone ring come from Johnny De Mairo who ask you to make a one hour mix selection to promote the 20th anniversary's music package for his Huge Records Company, you don't know if you are dreaming or is all real". On the same year one of the most representative underground New York

 

DJ-Producer Benji Candelario wanted to co-produce with him a remake of "Hold On" a tribute to the legendary duo Sam & Dave with the featuring of Tony Marino released on Stellar Records. Few months later Johnny "D" De Mairo asked him to create-supervise-coordinate and to DJ for a party to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of his label "Henry Street Music", party later after held at Meridian 23 Club, New York. His New York Time radio show got the exclusive to broadcast this anniversary, including interviews with all the artists who attended this industry party like; Tommy Musto, Ralph D'Agostino "DJ originator of Odyssey 2001 Disco" where Saturday Night Fever Movie was filmed with John Travolta". Bill Klatt "Todd Terry's manager", Mike Delgado "Original Maters at the Work", Nicholas Palermo "Johnny D & Nicky P", Yahya & Charles Mcdougald, Jeannie Hopper LSL Radio Show - Radio WBAI 99.5FM NY, Jeremia Santiago, DJ Cuba & DJ Dres aka "Ritmo Y Tumbao" just to mention a few.

 

In the meantime he still hosting the New York Time radio show on HMTV, USA in simultaneous broadcasting to Italy on Radio Time 94FM, where many world class artists still love to be part of it releasing Interviews for the listeners pleasure like Grammy Award Ann Nesby "Sound of Blackness", Grammy Nominee DJ-Producer Todd Terry, Josh Milan, Jerry Williams "New York City Gospel Choir Music Director and pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, founded by Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's Mother", Victor Simonelli, Barbara Tucker, Dawn Tallman, Grammy Awards Nominee Bob Sinclar, Sandy B, CeCe Rogers, Benji Candelario, Johnny De Mairo, Charles Mitchell "Weequahic Park House Music Festival's Director", Grammy Awards Voting Member Aldo Marin "Cutting Records, DJ Danny "Pooch" Pucciarelli who started the career of "Sylvester-You Make me Feel Mighty Real", Lenny Fontana, Grammy Awards Latin Jazz Congas Player Giovanni Hidalgo, Grammy Award Louie Vega who promoted On Air his album Louie Vega Starring XXVIII "same album that few months later on 2016 got a Grammy Award Nominee". On the same year the radio announcer originator Gioacchino Caponetto has wrote a book about his fortieth years of radio career, dedicating to Raf five pages of this book talking about his experience being interviewed together Charles Dixon from Radio WBLS 105.5FM on New York Time Radio Show live from USA.

 

In 2017 his long music career was enough to be recognized by Mr. Neil Portnow, President of Recording Academy - GRAMMY'S®, California, then he become a Voting Member at the Academy, New York Chapter. In the meantime through the years he still getting influence from a new culture which is from his American wife with Korean roots and later after he decicated a production to her producing a n homage to her with the folk singer Michela Musolino, revamp a very ancient Sicilian song titled "Mi Votu e Mi Rivotu-I Turn and Turn all Night" a public domain song from "year 1799 circa", involving in studio Jerry Williams which is "The New York City Gospel Choir Music Director" as piano player, Phil Passantino as acoustic guitar player, Michela Musolino signing in Sicilian dialect and Charles McDougald as studio engineer, directing this talented people he was able to combine many music style at once such Gospel, Jazz, Arabic, Pop, Dance Underground, Afro, Sicilian, production re-titled "Raf n' Soul Ft. Michela Musolino-Shanshu in Sicily" which is the name of his wife, released on Bassline Records Brooklyn. Actually this has been the first time ever for a song old almost half century produced in dance music.

 

Few month later Raf n' Soul & Michela Musolino performed this song live at The Weequahic Park House Music festival in New Jersey State, sharing the stage with Legends of Funk Brass Construction Band, BT Express, Crown Heights Affair, House Music Legends like Michael Watford "Zanzibar" & Chanelle "Top of The Pop TV show, UK". This production few months later became "For Your Consideration" at the Grammy's 2018.

 

The House Music Icon DJ Victor Simonelli introduced Raf to "Ann Nesby the lead singer of The Multi Grammy Award Winner Ensemble The Sounds of Blackness to remix a song co-witten by by Victor SImonelli & Ann Nebsy for the Atlanta Olimpic Games, Georgia, remix released on 2018 that incl. also the Grammy Awards Winning Gospel Choir/R&B Band The Sounds of Blackness and the diector Gary Hines titled Ann Nesby & The Sounds of Blackness-We Rise [Raf n' Soul New York Remix} released on It's Time Child Records from Atlanta, GA, for this remix Raf has involved again Jerry Williams "The New York City Gospel Choir Music Director" as well, as piano player and the 3x Grammy Award Winning Mixing Engineer Dave Darlington CEO of Bass Hit Studio, NYC. 

 

In 2019 he produced a dance remix for a song titled "Get Your Thing Together" originally performed by Roberta Gilliam, written by Lenny D, Victor Simonelli & Ralphie D (this last name is the DJ Originator of Odyssey 2001 Disco while was shot the movie Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta 1978), song engineered by John Poppo who later became [Chair of the Board for The Recording Academy GRAMMY's] for this song laterafter the 6x Grammy Nominees & 2x Grammy WInning Singer Ann Nesby joined Victor Simonelli & Lenny D revisiting the lyrics of this song that turned into "Soulmagic & Ebony Soul Ft Ann Nesby - Get Your Thing Together [Raf n' Soul New York Remix] released on Bassline Rec., production FYC at The 62 Grammy Awards as Best Remixed Recording.

 

In 2020 Raf is keeping busy producing a remix to submit at The GRAMMY's with the Legends of Funk from New York "Brass Contruction" Band Grammy Awards Nomination in the year 1976 as Best Instrumental Performance., in 2021 The Choreographer, Actor & Radio Host Lacy Phillps aka Uncle Earl asked Raf to mix OnAir during his The Ultimate Underground Experience on KledLive a two millions listeners radio station from Hollywood, California. 

 

2021 he produced a reinterpretation of an Italian Pop Smash Hit titled "No Tu No" feat Michela Musolino, a song originally produced by the 80's Pop rock Band Cugini Di Campagna "The Cousins of the Country Side" this remix includes Jerry Williams on keyboard and Kevin Hunter on Guitar, fusing the original vibe of this song with the modern sound, even with the video clip available on Youtube, with this unique combination Raf and the whole band was featured on DownTown Los Angeles News, on this year he also produced The Brooklyn Soul Compilation on Brooklyn Tract Records that includes the best of the House Music Classics released during the last past 20 years on VJS Inc. Brooklyn, NY reaching great response from Japan, Korea, China, USA. 

 

2022 is the year when he wanted to discover new jury on music, combining folk, electronic dance underground, Zimbabean, classical, latin as arrangement for a Sicilian song titled "Palummedda" written in 1979 circa "according to the musicologist Lionardo Vigo with the featuring of Michela Musolino, Grammy Award winning congars player Luis Quintero "former timbales player of Chick Corea jazz band", the cello player of classical music Marta Bagratuni from Ukraine, Ismail Butera on accordion and Michael Delia on Mbira African instrument, Grammy Awards Winning mixing engineer Dave Darlington and The Iconic New York House Music DJ Benji Candelario as studio engineer. Production released on Bassline Records CEO Victor SImonelli from Brooklyn. A song entered in the For Your Consideration list as Best Remixed Recording, Best GLobal Music Performance, Best GLobal Music Album, Best instrumental recording.at the 65th Grammy Awards receiving great response from Grammy Awards Winning Artists like Ruben Salas, Danae Vlasse, Luisito Quintero just to mention a few.Check out videos on YouTube Raf n' Soul Ft Michela Musolino - Folk Palummedda. To be continu