Jacques Fred Petrus (; February 22, 1948 – June 8, 1987)
was a West Indian-born businessman and a pioneer of
post-disco music. He spent much of his career in Italy and the United States.
Early life
Born in
Guadeloupe in the
French West Indies, Petrus worked as a diesel-engine mechanic on a cargo ship aged 15.
He subsequently travelled to Paris following his interest for
R&B and soul music, where he worked as a DJ at different clubs from 1968,
including the jet-set nightclub Club Saint-Hilaire.
In the early 1970s, he moved to
Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
, and continued DJing at various clubs including Good Mood.
In Bologna he met music student
Mauro Malavasi
Mauro Malavasi (born 21 March 1957) is an Italian pianist, songwriter and producer. He was an important figure in Italian disco with his business partner Jacques Fred Petrus and went on to write and produce hits with various Italian musicians. ...
, who became his working partner and main songwriter and producer, and together they formed a disco production company called Goody Music Productions (GMP), established a recording studio in
Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...
, and created the
Goody Music Records label.
Career
In 1978 Petrus and Malavasi launched their first studio project called
Macho
Machismo (; ; ; ) is the sense of being " manly" and self-reliant, a concept associated with "a strong sense of masculine pride: an exaggerated masculinity". Machismo is a term originating in the early 1930s and 1940s best defined as hav ...
. There followed a series of releases under different names, including Elvin Shaad (1978),
Peter Jacques band (1979), Revanche (1979), Rudy (an album featuring the Italian Goody Music collaborator Rudy Trevisi), Midnight Gang (1979), A.N.T.I. Rock (1980) (an Italian version of
Ottawan
Ottawan is a French pop music duo, who had the hit singles " D.I.S.C.O." and "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)" in the early 1980s. Fronted by Patrick Jean-Baptiste and Annette Eltice, they were masterminded through a cooperation between French pro ...
's disco hit "
D.I.S.C.O.
"D.I.S.C.O." is a song by the French band Ottawan, written by Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger and produced by Daniel Vangarde. Ottawan originally recorded it in French.
It was first released in 1979 and reached number two in the UK Singles Ch ...
"), The Jumpers (1980), (1980) and
Caprice
Caprice, from the Italian ''capriccio'', may refer to:
Art and entertainment
* ''Caprice'' (1913 film), a film starring Mary Pickford
* ''Caprices'' (film), a 1942 French comedy film
* ''Caprice'' (1967 film), a film starring Richard Harris ...
(1980). In 1979 Petrus gathered his international music activities under the company name Little Macho Music,
opening an office in New York.
In 1980, Petrus and Malavasi established their signature sound under the name
Change
Change or Changing may refer to:
Alteration
* Impermanence, a difference in a state of affairs at different points in time
* Menopause, also referred to as "the change", the permanent cessation of the menstrual period
* Metamorphosis, or change, ...
, a blend of
eurodisco
Eurodisco (also spelled as Euro disco) is the variety of European forms of electronic dance music that evolved from disco in the late 1970s, incorporating elements of pop and rock into a disco-like continuous dance atmosphere. Many Eurodisco ...
and American R&B-flavoured disco inspired by
Chic
Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick.
Etymology
'' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...
, releasing their debut album ''
The Glow of Love''. Petrus used two other Italian musicians on this album, bassist and guitarist . Romani wrote the number-one hits "
A Lover's Holiday" and "The Glow of Love" (with vocals by
Luther Vandross and
Jocelyn Brown), and also arranged and conducted the entire set with Gianolio. "A Lover's Holiday" reached number one on Billboard's
Hot Dance Club Play
Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as th ...
for nine weeks, and the album also received seven
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
nominations.
After the success with Change, Petrus and Malavasi launched several new projects including The Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens band (
B. B. & Q. band) in 1981, High Fashion (1982) (including the Romani/Malavasi composition "Feelin' lucky lately" which reached no.32 on Billboard's R&B chart), ''Silence'' (a pop album released in 1982) and (1982). Petrus and his group of Italian studio musicians and writers also co-wrote and produced parts of
The Ritchie Family
The Ritchie Family are an American vocal group based in Philadelphia that achieved several hits during the disco era. They have reunited and continue to perform. Their latest single "Whatcha Got" was released in 2021.
Background
The three orig ...
's 1982 album '. The title track, written by Malavasi, became a club hit. The
B. B. & Q. band was the most successful Petrus project after Change.
Their self-titled 1981 debut album included "On the Beat" (written by Malavasi and Slade), a dance track that reached no.8 on the Billboard black singles charts.
In the second half of the 1980s Petrus releases further albums by the B.B.& Q. Band (1985), Peter Jacques Band (1985) and Change (1985).
Less successful projects in 1984 and 1985 (often single releases) included Silence 2 feat. Gordon Grody (1984), Macho III (1984), Kevin Johnson (1984), Zinc feat. Sherwin (1984), M Like Moon (1984), Midnight Gang (1984), Tato (1985), Nobel (1985) and Persuader (1985). Due to tax problems in the United States, Petrus was forced to shut down Little Macho Music. In 1985 he started a new production company and record label called Renaissance International. Vedette International was the name of his new publishing company.
Death
In 1986 the United States
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) accused Petrus of
tax evasion
Tax evasion is an illegal attempt to defeat the imposition of taxes by individuals, corporations, trusts, and others. Tax evasion often entails the deliberate misrepresentation of the taxpayer's affairs to the tax authorities to reduce the tax ...
. Petrus put his music industry activities on hold and fled first to Italy,
then to Guadeloupe.
Petrus was murdered in the spring of 1987 in Guadeloupe at the age of 39.
French police reported that Petrus had been shot at home in the heights of Saint-Félix by a Swiss gunman, who had clashed with him earlier that night at L'Elysée Matignon club in
Le Gosier, which Petrus owned.
Producer discography
* A.N.T.I. Rock: single "D.I.S.C.O.", Goody Music, 1980.
* B.B.& Q. Band, The: LP/CD ''The Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band'', EMI-Capitol, 1981
**Singles: "On the Beat", "Starlette", "Time for Love", "Mistakes".
* B.B.& Q. Band, The: LP/CD ''All Night Long'', EMI-Capitol, 1982
**Singles: "Imagination", "All Night Long (She’s Got the Moves I Like)".
* B.B.& Q. Band, The: LP/CD ''Six Million Times'', EMI-Capitol, 1983
**Singles: "Keep It Hot", "She's a Woman".
* B.B.& Q. Band, The: LP/CD ''Genie'', Cooltempo/Break/Zyx/Mega, 1985
**Singles: "Genie", "Dreamer", "On the Shelf", "Riccochet", "Minutes Away", "Main Attraction".
* B.B.& Q. Band, The: LP/CD ''The Best of B.B.& Q. Band'', Italo Heat, 1988.
* B.B.& Q. Band, The: CD ''Final Collection'', Fonte, 2008.
* B.B.& Q. Band, The: CD ''Greatest Hits & Essential Tracks'', Fonte, 2009.
* Caprice: LP ''Russia'', Goody Music, 1980.
**Singles: "Russia", "Stay Tonight".
* Change: LP/CD ''The Glow of Love'', Goody Music/RFC-Warner Bros., 1980
**Singles: "A Lover's Holiday", "The Glow of Love", "Searching", "Angel in My Pocket".
* Change: LP/CD ''Miracles'', Goody Music/RFC-Atlantic, 1981
**Singles: "Paradise", "Hold Tight", "Miracles", "Stop for Love", "Heaven of My Life".
* Change: LP/CD ''Sharing Your Love'', Memory/RFC-Atlantic, 1982
**Singles: "The Very Best in You", "Hard Times (It's Gonna Be Alright)", "Oh What a Night", "Keep on It", "Sharing Your Love".
* Change: LP/CD ''This Is Your Time'', Memory/RFC-Atlantic, 1983
**Singles: "Got to Get Up", "This Is Your Time", "Don’t Wait Another Night", "Magical Night".
* Change: LP/CD ''Change of Heart'', Five/RFC-Atlantic, 1984
**Singles: "Change of Heart", "You Are My Melody", "Say You Love Me Again", "It Burns Me Up".
* Change: LP ''Greatest Hits'', Renaissance International, 1985.
* Change: LP/CD ''Turn on Your Radio'', Renaissance International/RFC-Atlantic, 1985
**Singles: "Let’s Go Together", "Oh What a Feeling", "Mutual Attraction", "Examination", "Turn on Your Radio".
* Change: CD ''The Very Best of Change'', Rhino-Atlantic, 1998.
* Change: 2CD ''The Best of Change,'' Warner Music, 2003.
* Change: 2CD ''The Final Collection'', Fonte, 2007.
* Change: 2CD ''Greatest Hits & Essential Tracks'', Fonte, 2009.
* Elvin Shaad: LP ''Live for Love'', Goody Music, 1978
**Single: "Live for Love".
* Goody Music Orchestra, The: LP ''Hits of the World Vol. 1 - Best of Goody'', Goody Music, 1980.
* High Fashion: LP/CD ''Feelin' Lucky'', EMI-Capitol, 1982
**Singles: "Feelin' Lucky Lately", "You're the Winner", "Hold On".
* High Fashion: LP/CD ''Make Up Your Mind'', EMI-Capitol, 1983
**Single: "Break Up", "Make Up Your Mind".
* Gianni Riso: single "Disco Shy", Goody Music, 1980.
* Jumpers, The: single "Coke and Roll", Goody Music, 1980.
* Kevin Johnson: single "Video Night / Child of Tomorrow" Speed/Sneak Preview, 1984.
* M Like Moon: single "Sunlight", Flarenasch/Ariola, 1984 / Renaissance International, 1985.
* Macho: LP/CD ''I'm a Man'', Goody Music/Prelude, 1978
**Singles: "I’m a Man", "Hear Me Calling".
* Macho (II): LP/CD ''Roll'', Goody Music, 1980
**Singles: "Roll", "Mothers Love", "Not Tonight".
* Macho III: single “Kalimba De Luna”, Flarenasch/Five, 1984.
* Midnight Gang: LP ''Love Is Magic'', Goody Music, 1979
**Singles: "Love Is Magic", "Midnight Game".
* Midnight Gang: single "Holliwood City", Speed, 1984.
* Nobel: single "Turn on Your Radio", Renaissance International, 1985.
* Peter Jacques Band: LP/CD ''Fire Night Dance'', Goody Music/Prelude, 1979
**Singles: "Walking on Music", "Fire Night Dance", "Devil's Run", "Fly with the Wind".
* Peter Jacques Band: LP/CD ''Welcome Back'', Goody Music, 1980
**Singles: "Is It It", "Counting on Love (One-Two-Three)", "The Louder", "Mighty Fine".
* Peter Jacques Band: LP/CD ''Dancing in the Street'', Renaissance International/Polydor, 1985
**Singles: "Going Dancin' Down the Street", "Mexico", "Drive Me Crazy", "This Night".
* Peter Jacques Band: CD ''The Very Best of Peter Jacques Band'', Fonte, 2006.
* Peter Jacques Band: CD ''Greatest Hits & Essential Tracks'', Fonte, 2009.
* Persuader: single "So Decide", Renaissance International, 1985.
* Revanche: LP/CD ''Music Man'', Goody Music/Atlantic, 1979
**Singles: "Music Man", "Revenge", "You Get High in N.Y.C.", "1979 It's Dancing Time".
* Ritchie Family, The: LP/CD ''I'll Do My Best'', RCA, 1982
**Singles: "I'll Do My Best (For You Baby)", "Walk with Me", "Alright on the Night".
* Rudy: LP/CD ''Just Take My Body'', Goody Music/Polydor, 1979
**Singles: "White Room", "Just Take My Body", "Thank You Baby".
* Sherwin: single "State of the Nation", Speed, 1984.
* Silence: LP ''Goodtime Baby'', Memory, 1982
**Singles: "Midnight Visitors", "No Way".
* Silence 2: LP ''The Beast in Me'', Flarenasch/Five, 1984
**Single: "The Beast in Me".
* Tato: single "Crazy Boy", Renaissance International, 1985.
* Zinc: LP/CD ''Street Level'', Memory/Jive, 1982
**Singles: "Street Level", "Punkulation", "Amazon", "I'll Never Stop".
* Zinc: single "I’m Livin' a Life of Love", Jive, 1983.
* Zinc feat. Sherwin: single "Hollywood City", Sneak Preview, 1984.
* Zinc feat. Sherwin: single "State of the Nation", Sneak Preview, 1984.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrus, Jacques Fred
Italian people of Guadeloupean descent
Italian record producers
French record producers
Italian dance musicians
French dance musicians
Guadeloupean musicians
Post-disco musicians
1948 births
1987 deaths
Deaths by firearm in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupean murder victims
People murdered in Guadeloupe
Italian murder victims
French emigrants to Italy
Guadeloupean expatriates in Italy