For decades, Freddy Sanon of Elektra records has been a tireless pillar of the underground black dance music community in New York city. As a dj disciple of the Paradise Garage he was an integral part of the Bronx based S.U.R.E record pool and contributed a special mix to the Shannon classic, "Let The Music Play". Freddy has also served as A&R on several remix projects involving the likes of Michael Watford and MC Lyte to name just a couple, while stewarding his own label, Shelter Records. As if this was not enough, (up until September 8th, 2001) he managed New York's red hot weekly joint The Shelter at Vinyl, with Garage icon DJ Timmy Regisford and producer dynamo Kevin Hedge of Blaze. At the time of this interview, The Shelter was a mainstay in NYC underground dance culture. Unfortunately, since then The Shelter was forced to leave its premises and is presently without a home. Michael Terzian and Vinyl took the time to chat one on one with the hardest working man in the big apple club music scene.

D/V: Who were your musical influences?

Freddy Sanon: That's a hard question because I'm from Haiti, and I grew up listening to everything from classical music to compa to Elvis Presley to jazz. This was a blessing because when I came up (to the US), I was able to relate and be open to the Beatles, Michael Jackson, the Supremes, etc. I can't really tell you one particular artist because it was at the beginning of an era where music was so broad, there was so much great music. I just love music!

D/V: How and when did your record label start?

FS: We started back in 1991 with Polar Records which was more like an artist development project. I noticed how house music was going more towards a 12" market and with the club (Shelter) booming at the time, I noticed that there were records played in the club that nobody (outside) was paying attention to. I said I might as well start a new label. Urban Soul's "Alright" was our first record.

D/V: What was your worst/best experience as an executive producer?

FS: BEST: Our first record on Polar was a #1 record in the UK in 1991, the club (Shelter) was happening; I was in heaven!!! And from those types of good experiences, I'm able to deal with the bad ones.
WORST: Pitching for a record or breaking a record in a club. Also, people who don't have any respect for the record, people who get the record, and then don't do anything with the record! Also, when (our own) producers decide to go with somebody (another record label) we don't care about and although I might be upset with that person, the fact that I'm a businessman, I still gotta keep my door open because they might be great producers that I would like to deal with again.
My worst experience in the business, as a music lover, was when the Shelter closed down for the first time in 1993. It took me a while to recuperate from that. Actually, I'm still not over that. I wish, right now, the way the club is going, the situation would be reversed. But we're doing what we're doing and we love what we do. This club is a special place and we really need people that care and understand what it was, what it should be, and what it could be. But, life goes on and I'm enjoying what I do everyday. I hope things could change tomorrow as far as this music (house) that a lot of us believe in. I don't know how mainstream I would like this music to get, but I would be a happy person to be able to turn on my radio and expect to hear some great songs, like the music up in this club. That would be a great experience. Hopefully, I will live to see that one day.

D/V: When did the Shelter originally open?

FS: March 4, 1991. (Interviewer's note: at the time I conducted this interview, both Freddy and I had no clue that it was actually Sunday March 4, 2001, 7am; exactly 10 years since the club opened!!!)

D/V: Why did it close down in 1993?

FS: I'd rather not get into it because it was more than one thing: fighting with the community board, trying to get a liquor license.., an experience I really don't want to go to. I don't even want to think about it. I'm just so happy that we're here today, 2001, in the same place and keeping the real music alive. So whatever happened in the past, I'd rather leave it in the past!

D/V: What is your affiliation to the club today?

FS: We rent the night out from the new owners of the club. We come here Saturday nights, do our party and wait for the next week. We wish it were ours like it used to be. As far as the label (Shelter Records), it's my label. However, Kevin Hedge (from Blaze), Timmy Regisford (our resident DJ at the club) and I are so close that if we decide to put our heads together, this label could be a much more organized label, even though it is now. But it can be even more, if we decide to make it happen. It's not easy to run a label. People think it is. It's not easy to run Shelter Records because a Shelter record is not your everyday commercial record. I need to concentrate on what I do, and I have Kevin and Timmy who both believe in great music and they are also the best critics. So it's hard, but I'm glad to be in that position, to have two great music lovers like Kevin and Timmy as my partners for both the (Saturday) night and the label.

D/V: What is the philosophy of your Saturday nights here at Vinyl?

FS: That's a good one! Come as you are, let's forget about life for 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 hours. Having a great atmosphere where people feel safe and comfortable. You could almost be sure that this is the only place on Earth where you experience a night like this. This night came from our youth, when we were younger, going out to clubs and experiencing garage music. We are so lucky today to be in such a great establishment, such a great..I would call it "church". It's like a church. We used to go to the (Paradise) Garage. Lived it. Loved it!!! And to be able to duplicate what they were doing, even though the music has changed, the crowd has changed, but the vibe, to me, is still the same. It's all about great music, great vocals, songs, tracks, African music, tribal. Whatever we play, it's just a dream come true. We're lucky to be part of it. And we thank everybody for supporting that love.

D/V: What is a day in the life for Freddy Sanon?

FS: I thank God for every day that I see, for every minute that I see, every second that I breathe. I'm very busy, being an executive at a major record company (Elektra records). And to look after a big roster like the one they have and to be able to talk to a lot of people, some of whom I need to apologize for not returning their call on time, I gotta thank God and my family for supporting me and my busy schedule. I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I'm so lucky to be living the life.

D/V: Pet peeves? Things you don't like?

FS: I try to take it one day at a time. If I were to put together everything I don't like, maybe I shouldn't be in this world. That's the only way I can describe it to you.

D/V: Who are some of the biggest stars who have come to the Shelter?

FS: To be honest with you, the people I really care for are those who come here every Saturday night. These people are the superstars! Don't get me wrong, it was an honor to have Madonna, Janet Jackson, Prince, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Towa Tei, Talking Heads, Femi Kuti, Jazzie B (a regular). To be honest, there's so many of them that we treat them like everybody else. That, I think, is something special. Whether you are a superstar or a nobody, this is our home and your home. And we try to make everybody feel special in here.

D/V: How does the Shelter stand out from other clubs?

FS: We believe in supporting and playing the best music possible in the World. That's how we stand alone in the struggle against all the other clubs that are chasing the dollar. So we're so lucky to have Timmy as a DJ, and a lot of our friends that visit us and support us by giving us good records. That's how we stay here, and we're gonna be here. It's not for the dollar, it's for the love of music. That's the reason why I think this is something special that we have and we want to keep it special. We're not a commercial club, and we want to keep it that way.

D/V: Any upcoming releases on Shelter Records?

FS: Oh man!!! There's so many. We have Jazmina's "Life is Special", DJ Camacho's "Running Away", two albums by Blaze: "Natural Remixes", which is the follow-up to "Natural Blaze", as well as another album with new material entitled "Original Blaze". Also, we will be releasing the remixes to "How Deep is Your Love" (by Blaze), in addition to "Music of the World, pt.2", a new Darryl D'Bonneau, a couple of records by Roland Clark, and "vol.2: atmosphere EP" (which may or may not be produced by Kerri Chandler). There are so many records! We make music everyday. Timmy makes good music everyday. I wish I could put all of them out; but we got some special projects coming up on Shelter, some African music, just great music. Expect nothing but the best from Shelter Records!!!

D/V: How about re-pressing some of the earlier Shelter records?

FS: It depends. I keep all my records, the whole catalogue pretty much alive. The only problem that most people have is that you cannot buy these records because the distributors in that country or that city do not order them because the demand is low: 1 record here, 2 records there. But I might be able to solve that problem through our website, where people can choose the record, pay for it, and we ship it. That's something that's coming down the line in the near future...(pause)...this may sound stupid, but I'm trying to keep this label, the merchandise,...everything...special for the people that love it. So I'm afraid...wait...not afraid... but I mean everyone should be open to success, but I don't want to be too commercial with this special gift that God gave me. For example, somebody's gotta be down to wear a Shelter t-shirt. If you walk down the street and see somebody with a Shelter shirt, you question, "Oh..they've been to the club, are they down?" You know they're down!!!! I would like to keep it that way. I don't want it to be another Tommy Hilfiger, where everybody wears it.

D/V: Other than music, what are your other hobbies/responsibilities?

FS: My family and my kids. I try to spend as much time with them. With my busy schedule, it's really hard, I got different labels; I got a Latin label that I'm starting. What I have in my head is endless. It's all about the music. I thank God for giving me the strength to keep going. I've been remixing records for the longest time. I don't know if anybody could remember this, but "Let the Music Play" by Shannon, was one of my first remixes many years ago; and ever since then, I wanted to produce. I got a few records that I gotta finish and put out and hopefully they'll turn out to be as good as what I've been putting out on the label by other producers. But if they're not as good, they will never come out. That's one thing I would like to really concentrate on. But we'll see because I strongly believe in new producers and new ideas to keep the label fresh and flowing.

D/V: So you have children?

FS: I have two kids: Christine is 14 and Emile II is 10. Basically, everything I do is for these two kids, essentially for my family. I hope that they can grow one day, appreciate what I do and hopefully take the torch out of my hand and continue with it. Hopefully. You never know.

D/V: You were born in Haiti. How did you make your way up to NYC?

FS: Like all of us, we were trying to go where the grass was greener. I was fortunate to be able to leave Haiti at a young age, you know, seeking a better life. We all deserve the best. That's how I wound up here. NYC is the only place where I stay. I visit many places in the US, but NYC is my home, the jungle, the capital jungle of the world!

D/V: You have 3 wishes, what are they?

FS: Oh! I haven't been asked that before. That's a good one!!! 1. To secure a better life for my family and a lot of my friends that are less fortunate than I am. 2. To have a label where I had enough money to really put out the amount of music I want, because I believe that what I do is not about the money, it's about the music. There are so many great records that should be out, I wish they all could be on Shelter Records, even though I wouldn't be making money, but I would have a catalogue that would be so awesome. Although I'm happy with what I have today, there would be a lot more (releases). We would just put out great records and not worry about the rent, money, paying somebody. Just to have it. To do what I want. I don't care if I sell only 5 copies. It would be music that 20 years from now, you'd be going crazy looking for it. 3. There's so many (wishes),.three's not enough; this is kind of impossible, but, to have a better World than what we have, where people respect each other, respect what people do and just live in harmony. We don't have to worry about the color of your skin, your beliefs, your sexual preferences; just to be in a World where... I don't know. I think I'm hoping for an impossible World. But, that's what I'd like to see, where money isn't an object. I would love to live in a perfect World before I die. This would fulfill my three wishes. Oh man, this is a crazy question.

D/V: Any last words?

FS: I think what's important is that if you don't believe in this music that I, and other people like you (me!!!) are trying to keep alive, ..well, just take a listen to it, try to support it because you never know what one of these records might do for you. Support people that do great music; don't support the garbage music. I hope nobody feels offended. You could do techno, but please, make it good! Make something that has value tomorrow. Don't make something with no effort, or just for the money. Of course money rules everything, but do it for the love of what got you to where you are today: music! If you're a big producer, don't do a garbage record, do a great record. If you do only one song, one record in your life, make sure it's dope because it's all about the community, the dance community. Support it as much as you can. If you hear a record you like, buy the record, play the record, talk about it, because through you maybe my kids could one day bring that back again. But we need your support, as a techno, 2-step, or hip-hop producer, whatever you do, if it involves dance or music for the soul. Don't deny it because this music you're doing today is more lucrative for you. It's great that you're making money, but don't forget the roots. I believe that I'm blessed and Lord thank you (3 times) for giving me this opportunity to be alive and enjoy what I do, what I love to do. Hopefully one day, my kids and other people will benefit from that.


Michael Terzian sinister@deepvibes.org Copyright 2001. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without express written consent is strictly prohibited.

We welcome all comments and inquiries! Please write to us at the address above.