Since 1991, Dave Lee has made music under the alias Joey Negro. If you take a quick look above, it is plain to see why his use of that name is an issue, and Lee has now announced plans to drop it.
"In truth I've not felt comfortable with the name Joey Negro for a while, especially as I've got older," the artist wrote in a lengthy Facebook post. "I've stopped using it a few times but establishing a new name as an artist isn't easy and I've ended up going back to it. I understand now though that it's not appropriate for me to carry on using the name."
He continued: "I've recently received emails, tweets etc saying that it is unacceptable and people find it out of place in 2020 — and I agree. From now on I'm dropping Joey Negro as a pseudonym, and all those future releases that weren't already in production will carry the name Dave Lee."
Lee acknowledged that he has "understandably been asked the question of how did you come up with the alias Joey Negro many times," and explained how he arrived upon it for uninitiated.
"Back in 1990 I'd produced my first solo release and I wasn't sure if it was any good or what to do with it," he recalled, writing that it was soon picked up by a label for release. "Normally I'm ok at thinking of names but I just couldn't come up with anything and the label said they really needed all the credits by the end of the week. I had a pile of records next to my desk at work, amongst them was Pal Joey "Reach Up To Mars" and J Walter Negro "Shoot The Pump." I wrote down a few of the names off the vinyl and put them next to each other."
Lee apologized for any offence, writing, "My whole life has been about music but particularly black music, I love soul, funk, disco, jazz in a way that's impossible for me to articulate in words and I have tried to champion it with the best intentions."
You can find Lee's complete post below.
News of his name change comes days after US DJ the Black Madonna changed her stage name to the Blessed Madonna.
"In truth I've not felt comfortable with the name Joey Negro for a while, especially as I've got older," the artist wrote in a lengthy Facebook post. "I've stopped using it a few times but establishing a new name as an artist isn't easy and I've ended up going back to it. I understand now though that it's not appropriate for me to carry on using the name."
He continued: "I've recently received emails, tweets etc saying that it is unacceptable and people find it out of place in 2020 — and I agree. From now on I'm dropping Joey Negro as a pseudonym, and all those future releases that weren't already in production will carry the name Dave Lee."
Lee acknowledged that he has "understandably been asked the question of how did you come up with the alias Joey Negro many times," and explained how he arrived upon it for uninitiated.
"Back in 1990 I'd produced my first solo release and I wasn't sure if it was any good or what to do with it," he recalled, writing that it was soon picked up by a label for release. "Normally I'm ok at thinking of names but I just couldn't come up with anything and the label said they really needed all the credits by the end of the week. I had a pile of records next to my desk at work, amongst them was Pal Joey "Reach Up To Mars" and J Walter Negro "Shoot The Pump." I wrote down a few of the names off the vinyl and put them next to each other."
Lee apologized for any offence, writing, "My whole life has been about music but particularly black music, I love soul, funk, disco, jazz in a way that's impossible for me to articulate in words and I have tried to champion it with the best intentions."
You can find Lee's complete post below.
News of his name change comes days after US DJ the Black Madonna changed her stage name to the Blessed Madonna.
