Draft:Erique Dial

• Comment: discogs can't be used as a source – see WP:DISCOGS – so all those references should be removed, as should any content that is only supported by those references.
  Interviews can't be used to show notability. There are a couple of independent sources, but too much of the content has no source at the moment. bonadea contributions talk 15:07, 25 October 2024 (UTC)

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Erique Dial
Birth name	Erique Sheffield Dial
Born	(1958-05-15) May 15, 1958 Washington, U.S.
Genres	House Chicago House electronic
Occupations	Songwriter record producer DJ
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Grove St, Champion, ZYX Records
Website	www.erique.co.uk

Erique Dial is an American musician, record producer, DJ and song writer, best known for his work with the electronic dance music group Raze in the mid-1980s.

Music career

Erique (pronounced Eric) came from a musical family, his father having played with Benny Goodman, the American clarinetist and bandleader. He was mentored by the late Jerome Bell of Van McCoy fame and John C. Freeman, co-writer of The Main Ingredient’s soul classic “I Just Don’t Wanna Be Lonely.”

Dials earliest credit is as co-writer and musician on the Top 40 Salsoul Records release "You Can Do It" featuring Butch Dayo, a "synthed-out boogie stomper" by New York multi-instrumentalist Vaughan Mason of Vaughan Mason & Crew.

Erique went on to join Raze, a studio/concept group headed by Mason in 1988. Mason hooked up with soul singer Keith Thompson in the studio and with Erique providing the distinct samples Break 4 Love was born, considered by many to be one of the best house songs ever recorded.

Erique produced & co wrote Raze’s "All 4 Love (Break 4 Love 1990)" the final Raze single in 1990 feat. Lady J & The SEC which went straight in at 28 on the National Chart.

Erique produced & co wrote "Let It Move U" under the name E.S.T.B featuring MC Principal on the Famous Rap Hits Compilation, ZYX Records, Germany which featured LL Cool J, MC Hammer & SNAP moving 500,000 units.

In 1991 Erique played keyboards on The Adventures Of Stevie V’s “Jealousy” (credited as Eric Dial)

In 1992 Eric Robinson enlisted Erique’s help on the 1st solo album for Martha Wash formerly of the “Weather Girls” and C & C Music Factory.

Erique co-wrote and arranged “Hold On Part 2”. Produced and co-wrote Oooh-Aaah with Leee John for the Imagination LP “The Fascination Of The Physical” in 1993 (credited Eriques Dial).

In 1996 Erique became the musical director for Byron Stingily the ex lead vocalist for Ten City, performing Get Up (Everybody) & Feel Mighty Real on Top Of The Pops, MTV & CDUK, touring until 1998-99.

In 1998, Erique was featured on Loop Da Loop “Hazel” on Manifesto / Mercury Records. The song hit No. 20 in Europe and the UK the video was on rotation on MTV, The Box & CDUK.

In addition to his artistic output, Dial has moved in some very "funky and freaky circles" as he became extended family to P-Funk based on his sister being a superfan and her husband working as one of Parliament-Funkadelic’s sound engineers, and in the process of being wooed by Rick James’ camp was afforded an all-access pass to their world.

Raze - Break 4 Love

In 1988 Erique Dial aka E-RAZE played keyboards & made the samples on what may be considered his most successful work, Raze - Break 4 Love a single which sold 3 million units world wide, was re-released 5 times by Champion Records (UK) between 1988-1994 breaking the Chart Top 30 each time.

Vaughan Mason recalled in an ITV show presented by Dave Pierce titled "The Dance Years - 1988" broadcast on British TV in 2001 how he was first inspired by Erique to create the record:

"Erique was living in the UK, I was living in Washington DC. He came from the UK, I've known him for years and he brought me a floppy disc, I put it on and it had these breath sounds... It sounded like... sexual, and I started to get sexually aroused."

The single originally peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart and topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1988. It is still considered a classic of the early house music genre.

Renowned British DJ, promoter and founder of the UK Rave scene, Danny Rampling recalled first playing the track back in 1988:

"Vocals from Keith Thompson, produced by Vaughn Mason and Erique Dial. I first played this track during the 1988 summer of love. Every DJ who was playing on the scene embraced this production with its deep vocals and sexy female moaning. There is no acid 303 version surprisingly. I clearly remember playing this on a hot summer night at Shoom in the Fitness centre basement, on my birthday in July 1988, with the UV lighting on and the smoke machine. As the smoke cleared, everyone was looking very happy and dancing away to this song."