Ruff Diamond
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Biografía
- Ruff Diamond is a widely acclaimed British producer, DJ and musician accredited to millions of record sales and streams. He has worked with an impressive list of major and indie Artists, transcending genres from R&B to Electronic, Disco and FunkDescribed by some of the key figures in the music industry as being a musical genius who combines versatility with vision, innovation, soul and passion, Chris 'Ruff Diamond' Robinson gives much credit to his musical upbringing. Playing guitar from the age of eight, he grew up on an eclectic mix of Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Earth Wind and Fire and Michael Jackson records on repeat in his household. The diversity of his tastes and musical intake over the years is fantastically evident in the vast catalogue of records he has made and collaborated on, in a career that has spanned over two decades since starting out as a young session musician on the vibrant music scene in Manchester, at a time when, as he puts it, he was “very lucky to rise up alongside some of the best musicians to have ever come out of the UK”. Making his name as a ‘go to’ Funk guitarist, he has gone on to play on records and perform with a plethora of successful Artists including Maxi Priest, Grandmaster Flash, The Shapeshifters and Groove Armada, building a solid reputation as a musician who is able to add that something special to a record and make it come to life. Breaking through as a producer and songwriter, at a time when Urban music in the UK was dominated by American artists and producers, with productions and co-writes firmly under his belt for major UK artists such as Darkman, Mark Morrison, Zena (Misteeq) and Noel McKoy, Ruff Diamond gained huge respect from the DJs and radio stations for his official remixes of Teedra Moses (TVT Records), Estelle (V2 Records), Marcos Hernandes (TVT Records) and many others, regularly riding high on Music Week club charts and Radio A-lists. His sound alerted the attention of USA label executives, and opportunities started landing from the other side of the Atlantic. Working with manager and legendary (Sony, Tommy Boy Records) promotion executive DJ Sir Charles Dixon, Ruff Diamond set to work on the project of newly discovered artist and songwriter hailing from Perth, Australia, Che’Nelle. He produced the original mix of ‘I Fell In Love With The DJ’ which was championed by Tim Westwood and Radio One, and led to (at that time) head of Virgin Records US and famous record executive, Jason Flom personally signing her to a six album worldwide deal, with RD co-writing and producing standout tracks like ‘My Pledge’ and When We Will Meet Again’ on her debut album ‘Things Happen For A Reason’, claiming a number one album spot and winning Che’Nelle the coveted Gold Artist of the Year award in Japan. Further co-written and RD produced singles and remixes for Che’Nelle followed, incl the hits ‘First Love’ and ‘I Fell In Love With The DJ’, setting Che’Nelle on her way to becoming a platinum certified Artist, and earning RD a string of plaques for his wall. The call came from Beyonce’s A&R team inviting Ruff Diamond to remix her (now most successful) single ‘Irreplaceable’, the result of which embodied his unmistakeable feel good 80s influences, a classic R&B backbeat, prompting thousands of DJs and Radio stations to constantly drop it in clubs and airwaves around the World, and also feature on the album ‘B’Day Remixed’. RD had touched a whole new audience with his skills, and decided to re-locate from London to Los Angeles for the next phase of his career and work with some of the best in the game, a move which has subsequently led to many successful collaborations and productions to this day, including the highly anticipated upcoming single with Oakland R&B legend, Jonn Hart, co-written by RD alongside regular collaborator Jeff (Cali4Nia) Jones and Hart himself. His career has also seen him featured as composer and producer on numerous TV networks, films, commercials and many other synch placements over the years, with commissions landing from prestigious brands including Adidas, Twitter, BBC, and Peach John. As Ruff Diamond’s sound has evolved, his lifetime love of Boogie, Funk and Disco has very much come to the forefront of everything he is doing, and he is now making a significant impact in the genres as a Artist, Producer, DJ, and also Label Boss having founded Manchester based SupaEarth Records in 2018. With recent releases on coveted labels such as Big Love, Midnight Riot, Strictly Rhythm, Masterworks, Hot Digits, Applique, Rare Wiri and his own imprint, he is now a man in demand, working on remixes for some of the biggest artists, and on projects for some of the most prestigious labels. His music has been overwhelmingly supported by many heavyweight DJs incl Black Madonna, Horse Meat Disco, Lenny Fontana, Graeme Park, Groove Armada, Defected’s Seamus Haji and Glitterbox Hi Ibiza favourites, Melon Bomb. RD’s DJ sets around UK and Europe have been going off to rapturous applause in recent years, his ability to energise and connect with the dancefloor being amongst his greatest assets. He has been fortunate enough to share the decks with some of Disco and House music’s legendary names incl Judge Jules, Marshall Jefferson, amongst many others. Ruff Diamond has also been busy this year developing a brand new party brand, which is set to launch in 2021.̸Ruff Diamond - Disco Trippin' (Big Love/Re-Loved) Ruff Diamond - Disco Freakin' (Big Love/Re-Loved) Ruff Diamond feat TAZ, Wanja Janeva - Extra High (SupaEarth Records) Lempo & Roland Clark - Dance Without A Reason (Strictly Rhythm) Rayko feat Tania Haroshka - Rush (Ruff Diamond Remix) (Rare Wiri) Ruff Diamond - Drop N Shake (Big Love/Reloved) Francis Overcast - Tired (Ruff Diamond Remix) (Masterworks Music) Yam Who & Jagerossa feat Jacqui George - Delerium (80s Child & Ruff Diamond Remix) (Midnight Riot) Che'Nelle - I Fell In Love With The DJ (Ruff Diamond Mix) (Virgin/Capitol) Che'Nelle - First Love (Virgin/Capitol) Che'Nelle - When We Will Meet Again (Virgin/Capitol) Beyonce - Irreplaceable (Ruff Diamond Remix) (Music World/Sony) Marcos Hernandez - If You Were Mine (Ruff Diamond Remix) Estelle - Go Gone (Ruff Diamond Remix) (V2 Records) Keith Sweat feat Akon - Some More (Ruff Diamond Remix) (Atco/Coolkid) Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl (Ruff Diamond Remix) (TVT)
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