John Rocca

John Rocca (born 23 September 1960) is an English dance music performer, remixer and record producer, most well known for his band Freeez.[1]

John Rocca
Background information
Born (1960-09-23) 23 September 1960
London, England
GenresHouse, post-disco, freestyle, electro
Occupation(s)Singer, Songwriter, record Producer, Remixer, recording Engineer
InstrumentsVocals, Percussion, Synthesizers, Computer Programming
LabelsBeggars Banquet, Cobra, Vinyl Solution
Associated actsFreeez
Pink Rhythm

History

During the early 1980s, Rocca formed, played with, wrote for, produced and managed his first band, Freeez. After his entrepreneurial first self-funded and self-released effort, "Keep in Touch", became a No. 49 hit in the UK Singles Chart, his next effort, Southern Freeez, was a chart success in various countries in Europe and around the world, reaching No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart. Both singles were number one hits in the UK Blues and Soul charts.[2][3]

During 1983, one of the first records to use digital sampling, "IOU", featured Rocca's falsetto voice and became one of the major dance successes of the 1980s electro music style. It scored number one in dance charts in Europe and the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play and had popular music chart success across the world, spending three weeks at number 2 in the UK.[4]

As a solo artist, Rocca scored number one again, this time with "I Want It To Be Real", on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart during 1984.[5] Further hit records followed in 1985 such as "Once Upon a Time" and "Move" both being hits in the Billboard US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. As a producer, engineer and re-mixer John Rocca worked with bands as diverse as Bomb the Bass and General Public, also touring Europe and the Japan respectively with the bands

In the late 1980s after releasing a number of tracks under the Pseudonym Pink Rythm such as "Melodies of Love" John began more experimental output. First as on his own Cobra, Chemical and Who'd She Coo Record labels, and then in the early 1990s Rocca resurfaced with his Midi Rain project. Several Midi Rain singles were popular in the UK dance charts including "Eyes", "Always", and "Shine" - the latter reaching No. 1 on the Billboard US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1993.[5]

Rocca retired from the music business in late 1993 and after completing a 1st class honours degree at Middlesex University in 1995 he moved directly into IT and Telecommunications. In 1997 Rocca became one of the founding members of the technology start up Intec Telecom Systems. Intec Telecom Systems was successfully launched on the London Stock Exchange in 2001 (symbol: ITL.L).

Discography

Albums
  • Unreleased album (Beggars Banquet, 1984)
  • Extra Extra (Avenue Records, 1987)
  • I.O.U. - The Best Of John Rocca (Criminal Records, 1996)

Singles
Year Song title / Label UK Singles Chart
[6][4]		 US Dance Chart
[5][7]		 US R&B Chart
[5][7]
1980 "Keep in Touch" Freeez (Pink Rythm/Pye) 49 — —
1981 "Southern Freeez" Freeez (Pink Rythm/Beggars Banquet) 8 — —
"Flying High" Freeez (Pink Rythm/Beggars Banquet) 35 — —
1983 "I.O.U." Freeez (Beggars Banquet/Streetwise) 2 1 13
"Pop Goes My Love" Freeez (Beggars Banquet/Streetwise) 26 5 47
1984 "I Want It To Be Real" John Rocca (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) 94 1 55
"Once Upon a Time" John Rocca (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) — 72 —
1985 "I Want You" John Rocca (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) — — —
"Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" Pink Rhythm feat. John Rocca (Metropolis) — — —
1986 "I.O.U" (Remix) Freeez feat. John Rocca (Criminal Records) — 18 —
1987 "I Want It To Be Real" (The Ultimate Mixes '87) John Rocca (City Beat) — — —
"Move" John Rocca (Beggars Banquet/City Beat/Streetwise) — 11 —
"Extra Extra" John Rocca (City Beat) — — —
1989 "X. Y. Zee" John Rocca (Cobra Records) — — —
"The River Must Flow" John Rocca (Cobra Records) — — —
1993 "Shine" Midi Rain (Vinyl Solution) — 1 —

See also

References
  1. "Freeez Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. "An Interview With John Rocca / Freeez & Pink Rhythm". Testpressing.org. 7 March 2018.
  3. "Interview / John Rocca". Banbantonton.com. 21 March 2018.
  4. "FREEEZ - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. "John Rocca Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  6. "JOHN ROCCA - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  7. "Freeez Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
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