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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260401T220000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260502T030000
DTSTAMP:20260403T134543
CREATED:20260325T155128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T041208Z
UID:3468-1775080800-1777690800@www.torontolatinradio.com
SUMMARY:Flagrant Drvms en Toronto Latin Radio
DESCRIPTION:Flagrant Drvms seran presentados en Toronto Latin Radio este Viernes\, Sabado y Domingo a las 9:00 PM \nTORONTO\, SE VIENE ALGO GRANDE! \nAntes de su esperada llegada a Soluna Restaurant\, prepárate para un fin de semana cargado de energía… \nFLAGRANT DRVMS EN EXCLUSIVA \nEste Viernes\, Sabado y Domingo a las 9:00 PM disfruta un: \nMix Exclusivo Especial \npresentado en Toronto Latin Radio con Frank Frenzy \nUna experiencia unica con el sonido que esta rompiendo la escena Latin House. \nY esto es solo el comienzo… \nMIERCOLES 1 DE ABRIL 2026\nEN VIVO en Soluna Restaurant \nFlagrant Drvms\nClase de baile por Salsa y Sabor\nInvitado especial: Alberth Moreno\nCena desde las 5PM\nCover después de las 10PM \n314 Queen St W\, Toronto\, ON M5V 2A2 \nEscucha el set exclusivo aquí:\nwww.torontolatinradio.com \nCalienta motores TODO el fin de semana…\ny vive la experiencia en vivo el miércoles \n#TorontoLatinRadio #FlagrantDrvms #LatinDj #SolunaToronto #FrankFrenzy
URL:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/event/flagrant-drvms-en-toronto-latin-radio/
LOCATION:Soluna\, 314 Queen St W\, Toronto\, ON\, M5V 2A2\, Canada
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ORGANIZER;CN="Toronto Latin Radio":MAILTO:info@torontolatinradio.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260424T203000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260425T020000
DTSTAMP:20260403T134543
CREATED:20260327T035806Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T035806Z
UID:3550-1777062600-1777082400@www.torontolatinradio.com
SUMMARY:Latin Friday: Oscar D'Leon Tribute w Son D'Aqui + Afrolatino Dance!
DESCRIPTION:Latin dance night with live band & DJ playing salsa\, cumbia\, merengue & more. Includes 9PM dance lesson and late night global dance party.\n\n\n\nJoin us for an unforgettable evening at Lula Lounge!\n \nArrive between 7pm and 8pm to indulge in a delectable three-course dinner and explore the Lula carefully curated bar menu\, featuring our signature tropical cocktails. The dance lesson at 9pm will ease you into the Latin groove\, preparing you for a night of dancing to the tropical rhythms of tonight’s special concert beginning at 10pm. \n\nAbout the Band\nSon D’Aqui is an all-star Toronto Latin ensemble dedicated to honouring and celebrating the classic repertoire of salsa through tributes to legendary figures in the genre’s history. This week\, they are performing a tribute to the legendary Oscar D’Leon!  \n \nDine & dance the night away\nFor the ultimate night out\, look no further than our specialluy priced $69* dinner prix fixe that includes the lesson\, the concert and a 3 course dinner. If you’re still ready to dance at 11:30\, your ticket allws you to stay for our late night Global dance night that follows the Juan Luis Guerra tribute concert. \nWhether you’re planning a romantic date night\, a festive birthday celebration\, an anniversary party\, a stagette\, or any other celebration of life\, this package has everything you need for a night to remember. \n \n\nDancing only tickets\nIf you’re ready to dance the night away and don’t need a reserved seat\, we have just the ticket for you! \n \nOur online DANCING | STANDING or Line By-Pass tickets are the perfect way to experience our lively venue without any fuss. These tickets are perfect for dancing enthusiasts and include admission to our venue and the 9pm dance lesson. \n \nPlease note that these tickets do not include seating or food\, but they’re a great way to enjoy the music\, atmosphere\, and energy of our venue. Buy early and get the special early bird pricing. \n\n\n\n\nLula Celebration Special!\n \nPlanning a special occasion and want to make it truly unforgettable? Lula has got you covered! Book a party of 12 or more guests and receive one complimentary Prix Fixe Dinner. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday\, anniversary\, or any other milestone\, our package includes everything you need for a night of celebration. \n\nBook your party now: https://www.lula.ca/celebrations \n \nThe Lula Celebration Special includes:\n \n\nCover for the live band\, dance lesson\, and DJ to keep the party going all night long.\nA scrumptious three-course dinner from our delicious prix fixe menu.\nA free 1oz mojito for the guest of honor to get the festivities started right.\nA free round of ‘Havana Nights’ shooters for the table to keep the good times rolling.\n\n \nIf you’re planning a large party\, don’t wait – book your celebration today and let us take care of the rest. With our Salsa Celebration Special\, you can relax and enjoy an unforgettable night of food\, drinks\, and dancing with your closest friends and family! \n\n\n\nElevate your party with the private VIP balcony!\n \nLooking to elevate your party experience to the next level of luxury and exclusivity? Look no further than Lula Lounge’s VIP Balcony Bar! Our VIP Balcony is the perfect space for hosting a private party\, reserved exclusively for you and up to 60 of your guests during our famous Friday and Saturday salsa nights! \n \nMore information – https://www.lula.ca/balcony-bar \n \nWith sweeping views of our vibrant venue\, the VIP Balcony offers a premium party experience unlike any other. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday\, engagement\, or any other special occasion\, our VIP Balcony is the perfect place to make your party unforgettable. Enjoy a private space for your group\, complete with your own bar and dedicated staff to cater to your every need. \n \nDon’t wait – book the VIP Balcony for your next private party and experience the ultimate in luxury and exclusivity at Lula Lounge. \n\n\n\n\nGet ready for your night out!\nNow that you’ve chosen the version of the Lula Experience that’s right for you\, get in the mood by listening to our Spotify Salsa Del Mundo playlist featuring chart-topping music by Toronto salsa bands including the stars of our Lulaworld Records label!
URL:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/event/latin-friday-oscar-dleon-tribute-w-son-daqui-afrolatino-dance/
LOCATION:Lula Lounge\, 1585 Dundas Street West\, Toronto\, ON\, M6K 1T9\, Canada
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/4207b22321f362629c4d37aa5cb7a091.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260425T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260425T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T134543
CREATED:20260327T035342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T035342Z
UID:3513-1777114800-1777125600@www.torontolatinradio.com
SUMMARY:Desayune Con Nosotros - `From Resilience to Influence
DESCRIPTION:From Resilience to Influence: The Power of Latin Entrepreneurship. The Road to Beyond Borders: Canada & Latam Business Forum\n\n\nFrom Resilience to Influence: The Power of Latin Entrepreneurship (11:00 – 2:00 pm) \nIt has been a while since we last gathered\, and on April 25\, we come together again at Desayune Con Nosotros\, an event created with you in mind. \nFirst held in 2011\, Desayune Con Nosotros\, “Join Us for Breakfast”\, has grown into a welcoming space where leaders\, entrepreneurs\, and professionals connect\, grow and celebrate our roots while contributing to the land of opportunity we proudly call Canada. \nThis edition will serve as a special prelude to Beyond Borders\, bridging local leadership with interprovincial and international opportunity. \nYou are also invited to join us on both April 25 and 27 for the Canada & LATAM Business Forum\, where you will engage with subject-matter experts in international trade and cross-border growth. \nOur Theme: From Resilience to Influence: The Power of Latin Entrepreneurship come from the topics of discussion: \nSandra Cobena – Member of the Federal Parliament: The importance of entrepreneurship and the resilience of the Latin American community (11:45 – 12:15 pm) \nPanel Discussion: From Challenge & Opportunities to Create and or Scale: Advancing Latin Entrepreneurship in Canada (12:20 – 1:25 pm) \nNetworking (1:25 – 1:55 pm) \nCap off the day by connecting with fellow entrepreneurs\, professionals\, and industry leaders during our Networking & Snacks session. This relaxed\, informal setting is the perfect opportunity to exchange ideas and make meaningful connections that could shape the future of your business. \nDon’t miss this chance to turn new contacts into lasting relationships! \nAbout our Keybnote speaker and Panelists: \nSandra Cobena is Member of Parliament for Newmarket–Aurora\, elected in 2025. With over a decade in commercial banking\, she champions economic discipline\, small businesses\, and opportunity\, bringing strong financial expertise and immigrant-rooted resilience to Parliament. Born in Ecuador and raised in Canada\, Sandra holds a degree in Finance and Global Commerce from Western University and earned a Global Executive Master’s in Management from the London School of Economics. \nRaquel Boechat is a Brazilian-Canadian international business strategist and Founder of Canada Starthub\, a Toronto-headquartered platform advising companies on strategic positioning\, institutional presence and long-term expansion into Canada. Raquel has supported more than 60 companies entering the Canadian market and prepared over 3\,000 executives for international growth\, focusing on reputation strategy\, social capital development and the cultural and commercial dynamics that shape business decisions between Brazil and Canada. \nIsabel Cuellar is a Community Leader. Colombian-born lawyer and founder of Canadian Latin Heritage\, championing Latin culture in Canada. Producer of major festivals\, including the Mississauga Latin Festival\, the Spring Latin Festival\, the Latin Christmas Festival and the Latin Heritage\, attracting over 50\,000 attendees annually\, award-winning community leader\, and recognized among Canada’s 150 Extraordinary Canadians for cultural impact. \nMateo Maslov is an Entrepreneur and business mentor specializing in the expansion of Latin American brands in Canada and the United States. Founder of Lola’s Food and Maslov Global\, he has supported more than 50 companies across North America in structuring\, scaling\, and navigating regulations within multicultural markets. His approach integrates commercial strategy\, innovation\, and an international vision to strengthen the business bridge between Canada\, the United States\, and Latin America. \nLuis Briceno is a Real Estate Broker and Co-Founder of White Oak Realty Inc. With over 25 years of private-sector experience across consumer packaged goods and technology industries\, he is also the founder of Desayune Con Nosotros\, a 15-year community and business platform\, and serves as President of the Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce aka THCC. \n—————————————————————————————————— \nThis event is also part of the Agenda of: \nBeyond Borders: Canada & Latam Business Forum presented by \nToronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & organized by Latam Leadership Network \n* Beyond Borders’ Preamble* \nRegister now!\, Don’t hear about it later – be there! \nLimited spots available \nFull 2-Days Bundle also available here \nDo you want to learn more about the Complete 2-Days Agenda\, see the agenda below Do you want to be our sponsor. (Please contact us at info@latamleadership.com) \n—————————————————————————————————— \nDisclaimers \n* * The ticket value includes Breakfast (Exceptions may apply) \n* * The Event will start at 11:00 am \n* * By registering for this event\, I am granting permission to Desayune Con Nosotros and its organizers to take pictures\, videos and record images and audio of any kind of me regardless of any editing or alterations\, for any purpose whatsoever including\, and without limitation\, public advertising\, social media and non public exhibition\, in any manner or media whatsoever\, including print\, broadcast or the internet\, without further notice or compensation. I wave the opportunity or right to inspect or approve the finished product or the use to which it may be put or the copy and / or illustrations used in connection therewith \nOrganized by Latam Leadership Network in Partnership with THCC \nA Proud Member of The Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
URL:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/event/desayune-con-nosotros-from-resilience-to-influence/
LOCATION:111 St Clair Ave W\, 111 Saint Clair Avenue West\, Toronto\, ON\, M4V 1N5\, Canada
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260425T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260425T230000
DTSTAMP:20260403T134543
CREATED:20260327T042306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T042306Z
UID:3678-1777143600-1777158000@www.torontolatinradio.com
SUMMARY:B X S BRYNDIS X SIEMPRE EL GRUPO QUE HA MARCADO TODA UNA EPOCA !!!!
DESCRIPTION:Prepárate para una noche épica con BXS Bryndis y Siempre\, los íconos que marcaron época\, ¡no te lo pierdas!\n\n\nB X S BRYNDIS X SIEMPRE\n¡Prepárate para una noche increíble con el grupo que ha marcado toda una época! Ven a disfrutar en persona de sus éxitos y revive esos momentos inolvidables que nos hicieron vibrar. ¡No te lo puedes perder! \n¡La música y la emoción están garantizadas!
URL:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/event/b-x-s-bryndis-x-siempre-el-grupo-que-ha-marcado-toda-una-epoca/
LOCATION:181 Rexdale Blvd\, 181 Rexdale Boulevard\, Toronto\, ON\, M9W 1P7\, Canada
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/d635975902e656354f147c904cd99fa3.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260425T220000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260426T020000
DTSTAMP:20260403T134543
CREATED:20260327T043111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T043111Z
UID:3770-1777154400-1777168800@www.torontolatinradio.com
SUMMARY:Isabelle's Saturday Nights (Free Entry Guest List & Bottle Service Booking)
DESCRIPTION:Join the hottest Saturday party on King Street!  Please carefully read event description. (Free entry guest list & bottle service bookings)
URL:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/event/isabelles-saturday-nights-free-entry-guest-list-bottle-service-booking-7/
LOCATION:Isabelle’s\, 548 King Street West\, #200\, Toronto\, ON\, M5V 1M3\, Canada
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260425T220000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260426T040000
DTSTAMP:20260403T134543
CREATED:20251230T093437Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T061633Z
UID:2344-1777154400-1777176000@www.torontolatinradio.com
SUMMARY:PABLO FIERRO
DESCRIPTION:Get ready to dance to the electrifying beats of PABLO FIERRO\, it’s going to be a night to remember!\n\n\n🔥 A NIGHT WITH PABLO FIERRO 🔥 \nGlobal rhythms. Deep grooves. Pure energy. \nSpanish DJ\, producer\, and Canary Islands native Pablo Fierro is known for his signature blend of Afro\, Latin\, jazz\, and soulful house—delivering vibrant\, groove-driven sets that connect cultures and ignite the dancefloor. \n📅 Saturday\, April 25th \n📍 Story Toronto \n📍 214 Adelaide St W \n⏰ 4AM Last Call \n🎟️ Tickets & tables moving fast. \n#PabloFierro #StoryToronto #TorontoNightlife #AfroHouse #HouseMusic #SaturdayNight
URL:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/event/pablo-fierro/
LOCATION:214 Adelaide St W\, 214 Adelaide Street West\, Toronto\, ON\, M5H 1W7\, Canada
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/6566c1ad52a0cfde125bbf7aee3a70d1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260425T220000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260426T050000
DTSTAMP:20260403T134543
CREATED:20260327T044420Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T044420Z
UID:3960-1777154400-1777179600@www.torontolatinradio.com
SUMMARY:Feel The Spirit with Jellybean Benitez\, DJ YOGI & Sharon R.
DESCRIPTION:Just Announced: Feel The Spirit with Jellybean Benitez\, DJ YOGI & Sharon R. (Sat April 25th at Wiggle Room)\nPedro & Yogi’s BDay Bash!\n\n\nSaturday April 25th\, 2026 at Wiggle Room – 772 Dundas St. W. Toronto \nFEEL THE SPIRIT (Taurus Edition) \nJoin us for an unforgettable night as we welcome legendary NYC DJ John ‘Jellybean’ Benitez to the decks\, bringing timeless energy and iconic vibes to the dancefloor. We’re also turning up the love as we celebrate the birthdays of host Pedro Hotstepper\, DJ YOGI and all our fellow Taureans. Expect pure vibes\, great music\, and birthday magic all night long. Come ready to dance\, celebrate\, and truly FEEL THE SPIRIT..\nfeaturing the legendary: \nJELLYBEAN BENITEZ (NYC) \nalongside: \nDJ YOGI (Solid Garage TO.)SHARON R.\nHosted by Pedro Hotstepper\n \nTickets:$20 Early Birds\, $25 / $30https://feelthespiritatwiggleroomto.eventbrite.ca \nMore info / Group Bookings / Taurus BDay: unitedsoul@gmail.comwww.unitedsoul.ca\n—————————————————- \nJELLYBEAN BENITEZ – BIO \nA giant of New York City club culture during the 1980s\, John “Jellybean” Benitez was born to a Puerto Rican mother in the South Bronx. Gravitating toward music at a young age\, he started frequenting disco clubs in the mid ‘70s and quickly became an established DJ in the scene.\nAlthough he would go on to play at a variety of storied nightspots\, including Studio 54\, Paradise Garage and Electric Circus\, Benitez truly made his mark with a residency at the Fun House in Manhattan\, which he held from 1981 to 1984. During those years\, his production and remix career also took off\, as he reworked seminal tracks from Rockers Revenge\, Jimmy Spicer and Afrika Bambaataa; two of his remixes from 1983’s Flashdance soundtrack also became sizeable hits. Around the same time\, he was enlisted by Madonna to contribute to her debut album\, producing “Holiday” (her first hit) and remixing several other tracks. \nHe would later produce and remix countless other acts throughout the decade\, including Whitney Houston\, Hall & Oates\, Sheena Easton\, Talking Heads\, Billy Joel\, Fleetwood Mac\, The Pointer Sisters\, Debbie Harry\, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney\, to name just a few. Benitez also created music of his own\, scoring hits with tracks like “Sidewalk Talk” (a song co-written by Madonna) and his cover of Babe Ruth’s “The Mexican” before releasing his debut album\, Just Visiting This Planet\, in 1987. \nBenitez largely kept a low profile during the ‘90s\, starting up the Latin-leaning H.O.L.A. label in 1995 (which is now defunct) and continuing to periodically DJ and work in the studio. He remains active on the club scene today\, and is largely regarded as one of the key figures who shepherded New York City nightlife out of the disco era\, not to mention a pioneer of the freestyle genre. In this excerpt from a recent interview with RBMA Radio’s Jeff “Chairman” Mao\, Benitez walks us through some of the most important clubs in his career. \nStudio 54 \nI played probably like every major club during that ‘76 to ‘80 era. Clubs were open seven nights a week\, there weren’t a lot of DJs. I got to play at New York\, New York and Hurrah and Les Mouches and 54 and Le Jardin and the Grand Ballroom. I remember in the summer of 1977 I was 19 and I had worked 49 days in a row in eight different clubs. Every night\, I DJed. I was having the time of my life. I worked till four or five in the morning\, would sleep until around one o’clock\, go buy records\, go to record companies\, get new releases and then go home\, listen\, have dinner\, and go do it again. At 19\, I wasn’t thinking about anything else. \nRichie Kaczor was very soulful and a very humble guy. I heard him many times at a venue called Hollywood. I heard Tony Gio and a couple others\, but Richie was a great programmer. Richie broke a lot of records. He played “Spank” by Jimmy “Bo” Horne\, he broke “I Will Survive\,” which was a B-side by Gloria Gaynor. And the interesting thing I thought about what Richie was doing was that he played new music and he played current records\, but he really liked introducing new music to his audience\, even if no one else heard it. For him\, he worked six\, seven nights a week\, so he never got to hear other DJs. He just played what he liked and the interesting thing is that he got away with a lot of things at Studio 54 that other DJs couldn’t get away with at other clubs. \nIt wasn’t easy to get into 54 unless you were gorgeous or a celebrity\, right? The people that went there for the first time when Richie was playing these things they’d never heard\, they danced to these songs like they’d heard them a million times because they didn’t want to be perceived as never being in Studio 54 before. When they saw everyone just dancing and jumping up all around and loving the song they themselves did it. It sort of was infectious\, but I was just like\, “I just got this record last week\, there’s no way these people all know this song.” \nThe Funhouse \nI had come from being a dancer and the whole disco thing took off and I started playing at these glamour clubs like 54 and Xenon and New York\, New York and had a yearning to sort of return to my roots and really go underground. Disco became really commercial and what was being played on the radio. I had the opportunity to work at The Funhouse and at the time I was working at Xenon and the Electric Circus. I ended up leaving both venues to go back to the kind of underground scene. \nThe venue\, when I first went there\, they were doing about 500\, 600 people and it closed at 4 AM and within three to four months they were doing close to 3\,000 people and staying open on Saturday morning until 8 AM and then Sunday until noon. My Saturday night was a 14-hour set straight through. It used to go by so fast. I’d have a break sometime around 2:30\, 3 I when we had a current artist sing their current club hit. Then after that is when the party sort of started and went straight through for another eight or nine hours. \nBy the time I started playing at The Funhouse I was a really good programmer and playing a very long set\, or longer set than I was used to\, came quite naturally because the audience that went there really came in jeans and sneakers and a t-shirt. They really came to dance and sweat\, similar to what was going on at the Garage and at the Loft. A lot of the other straight clubs at the time\, people got all dressed up and went out. This was a place where people just came to sweat and dance. There were a lot of drugs. It was a 26\,000 square feet space and it was like half Italian\, half Hispanic. People came and just danced. \nI remember thinking\, “I’ve got 3\,000 people here on a Saturday night!” It was a time where there were so many different types of artists making music. It even allowed for an artist like Madonna\, who kind of had this soulful R&B post disco sound that kind of worked\, The Talking Heads\, and other things like that\, so it made sense. I met Madonna while I was DJing at the Funhouse. It was quite common for record companies to bring by new artists to meet me and take a picture and hope that I’d play the record. A lot of artists came. Madonna and I became friends and it developed into romance. We did 14\, 15 records together. \nThe Palladium \nIn 1984 I basically retired and was only making records and working on film projects. Once Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened the Palladium in New York they called me and said\, “We want you to come back to New York\, and we want you to play at the grand opening and be a resident at the Palladium. Richard Long is doing the sound system and this is an amazing space\, you have to come see it.” They flew me back and I saw it. I was like\, “Okay\, I’ll do it.” At that point they offered me the gig and on the same day\, a few hours earlier I had found out that a song I had produced for Madonna called “Crazy for You” went to #1 on the pop chart. \nTo me that was sort of like the greatest thing had happened\, that I had the #1 record\, but I was so excited that I was going to be DJing for Steve and Ian at the Palladium. Everyone was saying congratulations and I thought they were talking about Palladium and they were talking about “Crazy for You.” That’s sort of the DJ side of me. It’s like yeah\, yeah\, that record went to No. 1\, but I’m going to be playing at the Palladium. This is going to be an amazing club. I started playing records again and I played there for about a year\, me and Larry  together. \nI remember the first night I played there Larry came into the DJ both dripping in sweat\, because I had called him up and said I haven’t been playing in like a year and I don’t know what records are happening right now. He said don’t worry\, just go to downstairs. I’m going to have them pull a bunch of stuff for you. I went and grabbed all these records\, went home\, and listened to them. He came in and was like\, “This is amazing\, you haven’t heard any of these records a week ago and you just pieced this whole thing together. I’m so excited.” That’s when we started doing the Unity party\, he asked me to do that with him. \nAfter Palladium I stopped DJing from like 1990 until around 2000\, for about ten years. I was married\, I had two young daughters. I wanted to be a dad. I was producing films and wrote a theme song to a TV show and just trying to do other things besides being a DJ. Then I ran into David Mancuso who basically said to me\, “You need to come back to being a DJ again. It’s important because there’s this gap between me and what’s happening now and you could bridge that gap.” \nThe Loft \nI remember going to see Louie Vega and I hadn’t been really in a club in a while. I started listening to what he was playing and then I went to David Mancuso’s Loft party. Then I went to Louie and I said\, “David just told me that I need to start DJing again.” Louie was like\, “Yes\, absolutely\, you have to\, you have to\, because you’ll bridge it between me and him.” Between Louie Vega and David Mancuso\, they basically gave me records and said you have to do this. \nI hadn’t played anywhere in a good 10\, 12 years and then David said to me\, “I want you to play the Loft. I’ve never had a guest DJ\, but I’m going to have a party\, a Loft party and you’re going to play the records.” Oh my gosh\, I was so nervous. It was such a tough audience. I didn’t sleep for three days. I was just listening to music. This is worse than playing for a room full of DJs\, right? I went and I did it. I got a lot of love. \nThen Louie said let’s do a party. The Loft opened on Valentine’s Day and so Louie said let’s do it for Valentine’s Day 2001. Let’s just do a party together. Then I did that. Then the phones started ringing right after that\, obviously. I knew every major DJ globally at the time. I just started doing guest spots and slowly\, sort of\, started doing parties again and traveling internationally and playing. It just sort of snowballed. I did one hundred and eight dates in 2015 and probably going to do a bit more than that right now\, this year. \nTaken from:https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2016/05/jellybean-benitez-remembers-nyc-clubs-of-yesteryear \nMeanwhile\, Benitez is currently launching his latest venture: a record store in Fort Lauderdale called Jellybean’s Funhouse\, whose space is acoustically designed\, he says. \n“I’m having isolated small rooms where you can go in and listen to vinyl\,” he says. “You could choose the speakers based on what you like to hear. We’ve been buying collections\, and we’re going to sell recently reissued stuff and the original vinyl. We’re going to have a speakeasy in the space\, which will open to a cappuccino\, espresso\, coffee\, and gelato space. And we have 1\,800 square feet outside so people could sit out there. And we’ll have live performances by DJs and artists.” \n“When I first started deejaying\, I always wanted to have a record store\,” Benitez adds. “I’m learning now how challenging it is to have a record store — vinyl\, even — when most people are digitally downloading. But I’m finding there are a lot of teenagers and 20-somethings who are mesmerized by holding the album and turning it over\, reading the credits and pulling out the inner sleeve. It’s like a whole new thing.”
URL:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/event/feel-the-spirit-with-jellybean-benitez-dj-yogi-sharon-r/
LOCATION:Wiggle Room\, 772 Dundas St West\, Toronto\, ON\, M6J 1V1\, Canada
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.torontolatinradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bffc902fb28d3e2ae3bd84ae2a627ebc.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR