Little Louie Vega

New York–based DJ and producer of Puerto Rican descent, Little Louie Vega — often credited simply as Louie Vega — emerged in the late 1980s on the Bronx and Manhattan club scenes, holding residencies at Devil’s Nest, Heartthrob and Sound Factory Bar, where he refined a blend of house, garage, soul and Afro‑Latino influences. In 1990 he formed the duo Masters At Work with Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez, which became the main vehicle for his work as a producer and remixer for numerous soul, R&B and international pop artists. Under the name Nuyorican Soul, Little Louie Vega and Kenny Dope released a self-titled album in 1997 that brought together jazz, salsa, disco and house in an expanded ensemble format. At the same time Vega developed the live project Elements of Life, oriented toward compositions closer to Afro‑Caribbean music and jazz fusion, notably realized on the album "Elements of Life" (2004). As a solo artist he has released records such as "Louie Vega Starring...XXVIII" (2016), built around a wide range of vocalists and musicians, as well as "NYC Disco" (2018) and "Expansions in the NYC" (2022), which revisit different facets of New York’s dance legacy. Across his career, Vega’s work is characterised by careful vocal arrangements, detailed percussion, and a continual cross-pollination of club culture, Latin roots and soul and jazz traditions.