Green Velvet

Curtis Alan Jones is an American singer, record producer and DJ. He began his journey into the world of house music while studying chemical engineering at the University of Illinois. Immersing himself in the vibrant culture and lifestyle of house music, he left graduate school midway in 1991 to return to Chicago and pursue his dream of becoming a house music producer.

By 1992, after surviving on a tight budget and maxing out credit limits, Green Velvet made his first notable impact on the dance community with the infectious experiment, "Coffee Pot" (It's Time for the Percolator) on Clubhouse Records. Rolling Stone listed it as one of the "20 Best Chicago House Records" in 2014, and Mixmag included it on their "20 Best US Rave Anthems of the '90s" list in 2019.

His collaboration with Dajae led to the #2 Billboard Dance Chart and international dance hit "Brighter Days". This success motivated him to start his own label, Cajual Records, which allowed him the freedom to develop a sound representative of Chicago and re-establish the city's prominence in the house music scene.

In 1993, Cajmere created another label, Relief Records, as an outlet for more track-oriented work from himself and other producers.

One of Curtis most distinctive creations is his alter ego, Green Velvet, known for his experimental sound and eccentric appearance, complete with an afro wig. The first release under Green Velvet was "Preacher Man" on Relief Records, followed by "Flash" and "The Stalker". These tracks earned him unexpected praise and international recognition.

In 1997, Green Velvet's attempt to blend 80s electronic funk with Chicago's perfectionist track culture resulted in the creation of "Answering Machine", a humorous yet catchy track with the memorable line, "I don't need this shit!" In 1999, Green Velvet crafted "Constant Chaos", described as an electronic journey over a lyrical landscape or, as Green Velvet himself described it in a Muzik interview, "folk music for the rave scene."