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"Curtis Jones (singer)" redirects here. For other people, see Curtis Jones.
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Green Velvet
Spring Awakening Fest, Chicago 6 17 12 (747064872).jpg
Green Velvet performing at the 2012 Spring Awakening Music Festival
Background information
Birth name Curtis Alan Jones
Also known as
  • Cajmere
  • Geo Vogt
  • Half Pint
  • Curan Stone
  • Gino Vittori
Born (1968-04-26) April 26, 1968 (age 57)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • record producer
  • DJ
Years active 1991–present
Labels
Associated acts

Curtis Alan Jones (born April 26, 1968) is an American DJ, singer, and music producer. He is best known by his stage name Green Velvet. He also uses other names like Cajmere, Geo Vogt, Half Pint, Curan Stone, and Gino Vittori.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Curtis Alan Jones was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 26, 1968. Growing up, he listened to many types of music. These included blues, jazz, funk, and rock. In the mid-1980s, he discovered house music through the radio. He started making his own music with simple equipment. He used a keyboard, a four-track recorder, and a drum machine.

Jones went to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He earned a degree in chemical engineering. After studying at the University of California, Berkeley, he moved back to Chicago in 1991.

Music Career Highlights

In 1991, Curtis Jones began releasing his music. He used the name Cajmere for his first releases. A year later, in 1992, he started his own record label called Cajual Records. That same year, he released a song called "Brighter Days" with Dajae. This song became very popular. It reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Also in 1992, he released another hit song. It was called "Coffee Pot (It's Time for the Percolator)," or just "Percolator." This song was recorded at Playroom Recording Studio. Rolling Stone magazine later listed it as one of the "20 Best Chicago House Records." Mixmag also included it on its list of "20 Best US Rave Anthems of the '90s." In 1993, he started another record label, Relief Records.

Green Velvet's Rise to Fame

In 1995, Curtis Jones released a new song. This time, he used the name Green Velvet. The song was called "Flash." It quickly became a huge success. "Flash" reached number 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Billboard also named it one of the "10 Essential '90s Rave Jams." Mixmag included it on its "20 Best US Rave Anthems of the '90s" list.

Green Velvet released his first full music album in 1999. It was called Constant Chaos. In 2000, he released a collection of his songs called Green Velvet. He continued to release more albums. These included Whatever in 2001, Walk in Love in 2005, and Unshakable in 2013.

Collaborations and Projects

In 2014, Green Velvet started a new project. He teamed up with fellow DJ Claude VonStroke. They formed a duo called Get Real. Their first song, "Mind Yo Bizness" / "Snuffaluffagus," came out in 2016. They released another song, "Jolean," in 2019.

In 2015, Green Velvet also worked with Carl Craig. They released a collaborative album together. It was titled Unity.

DJ Mag has described Green Velvet as a very important person. They said he is a "stalwart figure" in both house and techno music. This means he is a strong and reliable presence in these music styles.

Personal Life

In the mid-2000s, Green Velvet shared some personal news. He announced that he had become a born-again Christian. This decision came after a difficult experience.

Selected Music Releases

Green Velvet and Cajmere have released many songs and albums. Here are some of them:

Studio Albums

  • Constant Chaos (1999)
  • Whatever (2001)
  • Walk in Love (2005)
  • Unshakable (2013)
  • Unity (2015) (with Carl Craig)

Compilation Albums

  • Green Velvet (2000)
  • Lost & Found (2009)
  • It's Time (2010) (as Cajmere)

Singles

  • "Brighter Days" (1992) (as Cajmere, with Dajae)
  • "Percolator" (1992) (as Cajmere)
  • "Flash" (1995)
  • "The Stalker" (1996)
  • "Answering Machine" (1997)
  • "La La Land" (2001)
  • "Bigger than Prince" (2013)
  • "Suga" (2015) (with Technasia)
  • "Mind Yo Bizness" / "Snuffaluffagus" (2016) (with Claude VonStroke)
  • "Jolean" (2019) (with Claude VonStroke)
  • "Critical" (2021) (with CamelPhat)
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