Apr 02 2024 61 mins
For the fifth episode of There Is No Planet Earth Stories, I’m joined by guest Abbie Adams representing stories from New Jersey. We discuss a range of topics including her formative experiences in the New York clubs of the 70’s & 80s, the origins and evolution of Movin records, Tony Humphries, Zanzibar, and the House sound of New Jersey.
“As one of the prominent, iconic women in the Dance Music business, Abigail Adams’ critical role in the development of New Jersey’s Essex County-centered dance music industry continues to impress upon the new crop of DJ’s, remixers, producers, record labels and recording artists. Abigail began her career in the Dance music arena via her DJ boyfriend, KB. In the early 1980’s, they owned a custom roller skating store Movin’ Skates in East Orange, NJ.
By the mid 1980’s, through her friendships with now legendary DJ’s such as Timmy Regisford, Larry Levan (RIP) and Tony Humphries, her knowledge of recording artists and their discographies grew rapidly. Movin’ Records became THE most influential record shop in the Dance music scene in NJ.
It was Abigail’s relationship with DJ Tony Humphries of Club Zanzibar who was also one of the leading DJ’s on NYC’s 98.7 KISS-FM mastermix show and the club’s former manager, Shelton Hayes, had unknowingly created a unique marketing strategy that catapulted many undiscovered artists into dance world stardom. The birth of Movin’ Records, the label was a natural progression for Abigail due in part to the exploding dance music culture. The Movin’ Records catalogue is full of some of genre’s forthright artists, producers & remixers such as Vicky Martin, Kenny Bobien, Cassio Ware, Boyd Jarvis, Intense, Kerri Chandler, Marshall Jefferson, DJ Pierre, Ce Ce Rogers, Blaze, Larry Patterson and Tony Humphries.
Abbie’s career has crossed decades and her musical ear has impacted many as her influence continues today. She has been featured recently in publications such as Faith Fanzine, and Lady of House - Stories of Women in Dance Music complied by Laila McKenzie and Ian Snowball. "