Boyd Jarvis
Boyd H. Jarvis (October 26, 1958 – February 17, 2018)[1] was an American record producer, remixer and musician, best known for his song, co-written with Jason Smith, "The Music Got Me"; released in 1983 by Prelude Records. He has collaborated with artists such as Herbie Hancock, La Toya Jackson and Johnny Kemp.[2]
Boyd H. Jarvis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Boyd Henry Jarvis |
| Also known as | Boyd Jarvis |
| Born | October 26, 1958 New York City |
| Died | February 17, 2018 (aged 59) East Orange, New Jersey |
| Genres | Post-disco, garage house, dub, deep house, urban |
| Occupation(s) | Musician producer Remixer |
| Instruments | Vocals, synthesizer, keyboards |
| Years active | 1981–2017 |
| Labels | Prelude, Wave Music, 4th & B'way Records |
| Associated acts | Timmy Regisford, Visual, Billie |
| Website | Twitter page Last.fmpage |
Boyd Jarvis started his career as an intern for renowned professor of Anthropology Pearl Primus, training under Sandra Ross in theater lighting and set design. He went on to design lighting for shows in Lincoln center, Perry Street theater, and Riverside church theater.
In the early 1980s, a time in which NYC was the world’s nexus of burgeoning musical movements such as underground club/post-disco, rap, hip hop and electro, Jarvis created a musical sound through the use of home made, reel to reel and hand-played sparse synthesizer & drum machine tracks that were featured extensively as overdubs on early-mid '80s NYC WBLS FM “extended music sweeps” with DJs Timmy Regisford and later, Merlin Bobb. Those unreleased tracks, as well as records, were widely played in other parts of the world club scene, and in Chicago were the crucial element in the Chicago house music revolution that swept Europe in the mid-late 80s and continues as the world’s foremost dance music. His influence was also felt in mainstream dance music when British producers, following a mid-80s NYC visit and exposure to Jarvis vocalist Colonel Abrams, created similar records with Rick Astley, known for the hit “Never Gonna Give You Up”.
In 1990, Jarvis sued Robert Clivillés and David Cole of C+C Music Factory for copyright infringement over their song "Get Dumb", which illegally incorporates parts of "The Music Got Me".[3][4]
He resided in New Jersey with his wife and continued to write, record, and produce music under his label, CFX Records.
Solo career
He worked as a session musician for John "Jellybean" Benitez, Wally Jump, Jr. & the Criminal Element, Colonel Abrams, Herbie Hancock, and dance-pop acts like Club Nouveau and Pretty Poison.[5] and as a producer and remixer he collaborated with Little Louie Vega and François Kevorkian.[6]
Lawsuit
Jarvis v. A & M Records is one of the early cases involving digital sampling.[3]
"It is hard to believe that [a re-release of "The Music Got Me"] would be successful"
— Robert Clivillés after being told that he and David Cole injured Jarvis' career by releasing "Get Dumb (Free Your Body)", [3]
Summary
"Get Dumb! (Free Your Body)" was recorded and released under names 'The Crew (featuring Freedom Williams)' and 'Seduction'. Multiple versions were released by Vendetta Records (sublabel of A&M Records).
"Get Dumb", written by Cole and Clivilles, incorporated elements of "The Music Got Me", most noticeably a distinctive keyboard riff and the bridge section composed of free your body sounds. Jarvis claimed that he has been damaged by $15 million, however he failed to demonstrate the amount of actual damages, which are measured by "[the] extent to which the market value of the copyrighted work at the time of infringement has been injured or destroyed by such infringement."[7] Total damage was estimated at $95,872, using the data from "Get Dumb" profits.[3]
Discography
Productions
| Year | Single | Label | Recorded by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "The Music Got Me" | Prelude Records | Visual | |
| 1983 | "Somehow, Someway" | Prelude Records | Visual | |
| 1984 | "Release The Tension" | 4th & B'way Records | Circuit | |
| 1984 | " A Little Help (From My Friends)" | 4th & B'way Records | ||
| 1985 | " Battles of the Beats" | Next Plateau Records Inc. | Boyd Jarvis | co-produced by Timmy Regisford |
| 1985 | "One Love" | Supertronics | Janice Christie | co-produced by Timmy Regisford |
| 1986 | "Central Line" | Fleetwood Records | Level 3 | Reissued and remixed in 2001 as Boyd Jarvis feat. Level 3 |
| 1986 | "Hey Boy" | Supertronics | Tammy Lucas | Co-writer with Tammy Lucas. Co-produced with Timmy Regisford. |
| 1986 | "Nobody's Business" | Fleetwood Records | Billie | Co-produced with Timmy Regisford. |
| 1987 | "Love Reaction" | Minimal Records | React | Co-produced with Timmy Regisford. |
| 1987 | "I've Got the Music" | Movin' Records | ||
| 1991 | "Blink Blink" | Movin' Records | Boyd Jarvis At Last | |
| 1997 | "Stomp" | Novus/Cisco | Instrumental version of Visual's 'The Musics Got Me | |
| 1997 | "Tribal Juice" | Jazz Club Records | Nyles-Jarvis Project | |
| 1997 | "We Can work It Out" | Jazz Club Records | Nyles-Jarvis Project | |
| 1997 | "Love and Respect" | Maxi Records | Carlos Sanchez Movement | |
| 1997 | "2000 Miles - A Tribute to Miles Davis" | Jazz Club Records | Jazz Explosion | |
| 1998 | "It's You" | Lifeline Records | Level 3 | |
| 1999 | "Alibokolijah" | Shelter | Boyd Jarvis | |
| 1999 | "Dis Poem" | Guidance Recordings | Mutabaruka | Co-produced with Joe Claussell. |
| 1999 | "Right Size" | U.N.I.T.Y Records | Boyd Jarvis | |
| 2000 | "Elements" (EP) | Dance Tracks | Boyd Jarvis | |
| 2000 | "Atmos-Fear" | Wave Music | Boyd Jarvis | |
| 2000 | "Jazz Funeral" | Guidance Recordings | Joe Claussell & Chuck Perkins | |
| 2001 | "Sunny Days" | Wave Music | Boyd Jarvis | |
| 2002 | "Don't Deny Love" | King Street Sounds | Boyd Jarvis | |
| 2004 | "Keep It Moving" | Trax Records | Boyd Jarvis | |
Other selected credits
| Year | Single | Label | Recorded by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "I Got a Song For You" | Half Moon Records | Free Russell | Mixed by Boyd Jarvis and Timmy Regisford |
| 1984 | "Sidewalk Talk" | EMI America | Jellybean | Synthesizer |
| 1984 | "On the Floor" | Half Moon Records | Tony Cook & The Party People | Remix |
| 1985 | "Can't Wait Until Tomorrow" | Cootillion | Johnny Gill | Remix |
| 1988 | "A.C." | MCA Records | The Crusaders | |
| 1988 | "Don't Be Cruel" | Bobby Brown | ||
| 1988 | "You Laid Your Love on Me" | Motown | Gerald Alston | Additional overdubs |
| 1988 | "Secret Rendezvous" | Warner Bros. Records | Karyn White | Programming |
| 1988 | "Lovin' on Next to Nothin' | MCA Records | Gladys Knight & The Pips | |
| 1988 | "Beat Wise" | Columbia | Herbie Hancock | Keyboards |
| 1988 | "Wonderful' | Reprise Records | Rick James | Keyboard Programming |
| 1988 | "Stop It" (LP) | EMI-Manhattan | Evelyn King | Bass |
| 1988 | "Watching You" | Virgin Records | Loose Ends | Keyboards |
| 1988 | "Dancin' with Myself" | Columbia Records | Johnny Kemp | Additional production |
| 1988 | "Addicted to You" | ATCO Records | LeVert | Co-producer (overdubs) |
| 1989 | "That's the Way Love Is" | Atlantic | Ten City | Mixed by |
| 1989 | "Life Is a Dance: The Remix Project" (LP) | Virgin Records | Chaka Khan | Keyboard Programming |
| 1994 | "I Get Lifted" | Strictly Rhythm | Barabara Tucker | Keyboards |
| 1997 | "Lost and Found" | Columbia | D*Note | Programming, arranging |
| 1998 | "Innerside" | Columbia | Shazz | Remix |
| 2001 | "Speak To Me Lord" | Estereo | Roland Clark | Remix |
| 2001 | "London Lowdown" | Spiritual Life Music | Ronny Jordan | Keyboards |
| 2001 | "Dan Gna" | Les Go | Keyboards | |
| 2001 | "Touch" | Wave Records | Milk & Honey | Engineer & Remix |
References
- Slotnik, Daniel E. (March 1, 2018). "Boyd Jarvis, Whose Synthesizer Fueled Dance Music, Dies at 59". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- "Dancin' With Myself" by Johnny Kemp. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
- Jarvis v. A & M Records 827 F. Supp. 282 (D.N.J. 1993) UCLA Archived April 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- Anonymous, (West Publishing Company) (1993). West's federal supplement. U.S.: West Pub. Co., 1993, West Publishing Company. p. 299.
- Jellybean at Discogs. Retrieved 2011.
- Boyd Jarvis – Credits. Retrieved 2011-12-17
- Nimmer, supra, Sec. 14.02, at 14–8 to −9
