Boyd H. Jarvis (October 26, 1958 – February 17, 2018) was an American record producer, remixer and musician, best known for his song, co-written with Jason Smith, "The Music Got Me"; released in 1983 by Prelude Records. He has collaborated with artists such as Herbie Hancock, La Toya Jackson and Johnny Kemp."Dancin' With Myself" by Johnny Kemp. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
Career Boyd Jarvis started his career as an intern for renowned professor of Anthropology Pearl Primus, training under Sandra Ross in theater lighting and set design. He went on to design lighting for shows in Lincoln center, Perry Street theater, and Riverside church theater.
In 1981, Jervis started out playing music with his first synthesizer the Yamaha CS-15. He asked some local DJ's if he could take the synth to their club and jam over their music. They allowed him to do that and they loved it. One day DJ Timmy Regisford heard him, and asked to join him at some live DJ session to overdub and after that they started making music together at Regisford's house, with use of drum machines and reel to reel, which led to some remix jobs. Couple of his early instrumental tracks were called "One Love" and "Stomp" which ended up getting him a record deal for $5000.
His first official track, "Music Got Me" was released in 1983.
He also hosted a radio show, Saturday Night Dance Party, on New York's WBLS with Regisford. Together they also produced and remixed records for many well known artists of the time such as Madonna, Sade and Chaka Khan, among others.
Jarvis worked as a session musician for John "Jellybean" Benitez, Wally Jump, Jr. & the Criminal Element, Colonel Abrams, Herbie Hancock, and dance-pop acts like Club Nouveau and Pretty Poison.Jellybean at Discogs. Retrieved 2011. and as a producer and remixer he collaborated with Little Louie Vega and François Kevorkian.Boyd Jarvis – Credits. Retrieved 2011-12-17
Jarvis has a label called CFX Records.
Personal life Jarvis was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Prior to his passing on February 17, 2018, he resided in New Jersey with his wife.
Jarvis v. A & M Records lawsuit In 1993, Jarvis sued Robert Clivillés and David Cole of C+C Music Factory for copyright infringement over their song "Get Dumb", which illegally (by sampling a sound recording without authorization) incorporates parts of "The Music Got Me". Jarvis v. A & M Records was one of the first cases involving digital sampling.Jarvis v. A & M Records 827 F. Supp. 282 (D.N.J. 1993) UCLA "Get Dumb! (Free Your Body)" was recorded and released under names The Crew (featuring Freedom Williams) and Seduction. Multiple versions were released by Vendetta Records (a sub-label of A&M Records).
"Get Dumb", written by Cole and Clivilles, incorporated elements of "The Music Got Me", most noticeably a distinctive keyboard riff and the bridge section composed of free your body sounds. Jarvis claimed that he was damaged for US$15 million. However, he failed to demonstrate the amount of actual damages, which are measured by "[the] extent to which the market value of the copyrighted work at the time of infringement has been injured or destroyed by such infringement."Nimmer, supra, Sec. 14.02, at 14–8 to −9 Total damage was estimated at $95,872, using the data from "Get Dumb" profits.
Discography Productions Year Single Label Recorded by Notes 1983 "The Music Got Me" Prelude Records Visual 1983"Somehow, Someway" Prelude Records Visual 1984 "Release The Tension" 4th & B'way Records Circuit 1984" A Little Help (From My Friends)" 4th & B'way Records 1985" Battles of the Beats"Next Plateau Records Inc. Boyd Jarvisco-produced by Timmy Regisford 1985 "One Love" Supertronics Janice Christie co-produced by Timmy Regisford 1986 "Central Line" Fleetwood Records Level 3 Reissued and remixed in 2001 as Boyd Jarvis feat. Level 3 1986 "Hey Boy" Supertronics Tammy Lucas Co-writer with Tammy Lucas. Co-produced with Timmy Regisford. 1986 "Nobody's Business" Fleetwood Records Billie Co-produced with Timmy Regisford. 1987 "Love Reaction" Minimal Records React Co-produced with Timmy Regisford. 1987"I've Got the Music" Movin' Records 1991"Blink Blink" Movin' Records Boyd Jarvis At Last 1997"Stomp" Novus/Cisco Instrumental version of Visual's The Musics Got Me 1997"Tribal Juice" Jazz Club Records Nyles-Jarvis Project 1997"We Can work It Out" Jazz Club Records Nyles-Jarvis Project 1997"Love and Respect" Maxi Records Carlos Sanchez Movement 1997"2000 Miles - A Tribute to Miles Davis" Jazz Club Records Jazz Explosion 1998"It's You" Lifeline Records Level 3 1999"Alibokolijah" Shelter Boyd Jarvis 1999"Dis Poem" Guidance Recordings MutabarukaCo-produced with Joe Claussell. 1999"Right Size" U.N.I.T.Y Records Boyd Jarvis 2000"Elements" (EP) Dance Tracks Boyd Jarvis 2000 "Atmos-Fear" Wave Music Boyd Jarvis 2000 "Jazz Funeral" Guidance Recordings Joe Claussell & Chuck Perkins 2001"Sunny Days" Wave Music Boyd Jarvis 2002"Don't Deny Love" King Street Sounds Boyd Jarvis 2004"Keep It Moving" Trax Records Boyd Jarvis
Other selected credits Year Single Label Recorded by Notes 1983 "I Got a Song For You" Half Moon Records Free Russell Mixed by Boyd Jarvis and Timmy Regisford 1984 "Sidewalk Talk" EMI America Jellybean Synthesizer1984 "On the Floor" Half Moon RecordsTony Cook & The Party People Remix 1985 "Can't Wait Until Tomorrow" Cotillion/Atlantic Johnny Gill Remix 1988 "A.C." MCA RecordsThe Crusaders 1988 "Don't Be Cruel" Bobby Brown 1988 "You Laid Your Love on Me" Motown Gerald Alston Additional overdubs 1988 "Secret Rendezvous" Warner Bros. Records Karyn White Programming 1988 "Lovin' on Next to Nothin' MCA Records Gladys Knight & The Pips 1988 "Beat Wise" Columbia Herbie Hancock Keyboards 1988 "Wonderful' Reprise Records Rick James Keyboard Programming 1988 "Stop It" (LP) EMI-Manhattan Evelyn King Bass 1988 "Watching You" Virgin Records Loose Ends Keyboards 1988 "Dancin' with Myself" Columbia Records Johnny Kemp Additional production 1988 "Addicted to You" ATCO Records LeVert Co-producer (overdubs)1989 "That's the Way Love Is" Atlantic Ten City Mixed by 1989 "Life Is a Dance: The Remix Project" (LP) Virgin Records Chaka Khan Keyboard Programming 1994 "I Get Lifted" Strictly Rhythm Barabara Tucker Keyboards 1997 "Lost and Found" Columbia D*Note Programming, arranging 1998 "Innerside" Columbia Shazz Remix 2001 "Speak To Me Lord" Estereo Roland Clark Remix 2001 "London Lowdown" Spiritual Life Music Ronny Jordan Keyboards 2001 "Dan Gna" Les Go Keyboards 2001 "Touch" Wave Records Milk & Honey Engineer & Remix
References
External links Discogs entry