Dave Lee (Joey Negro): DJ, Producer and Z Records Founder
The story of Dave Lee, the British DJ and producer formerly known as Joey Negro: the aliases, the hits, Z Records, the compilations that taught a generation about disco, and how to book him.
In this guide
The short version
- Dave Lee is a British DJ and producer who recorded for three decades as Joey Negro, and under more than 20 other aliases including Jakatta and Raven Maize.
- His UK top 10 hits include Jakatta’s American Dream (No. 3) and Joey Negro featuring Taka Boom’s Must Be the Music (No. 8).
- He runs Z Records, home to more than 200 releases, and has compiled some of the most respected disco and soul compilations around.
- He retired the Joey Negro name in July 2020 and now records and DJs as Dave Lee.
Who is Dave Lee?
Dave Lee JN Traxsource #2 Top Artist 2024
David Russell Lee was born on the Isle of Wight in 1964. He came to dance music as a record collector first: crate-digging for disco, soul and funk, then using that knowledge to make house records that sound like they were built from the best bits of a 1970s club night.
That collector’s ear is the thread through everything he does. His productions, edits, remixes and compilations all come back to the same idea: take great soul and disco, and make it work on a modern dancefloor.
From Joey Negro to Dave Lee
For most of his career Lee released music as Joey Negro, a name he put together from credits on an old disco record. In July 2020 he retired it, saying he hadn’t felt comfortable with the name for a while, especially as he’d got older.
Searching his catalogue: older releases are still listed as Joey Negro on most stores and streaming platforms, while new music comes out as Dave Lee. Search both names.
The aliases and the hits
Lee has used more than 20 pseudonyms, so a lot of people know his records without knowing they’re his. The biggest UK chart hits:
| Track | Release |
|---|---|
| Must Be the Music | Joey Negro featuring Taka Boom, 1999. UK No. 8 |
| American Dream | Jakatta, 2000. UK No. 3 |
| So Lonely | Jakatta, 2000. UK No. 8 |
| My Vision | Jakatta featuring Seal, 2000. UK No. 6 |
| The Real Life | Raven Maize, 2001. UK No. 12 |
| Make a Move on Me | Joey Negro, 2005. UK No. 11 |
Other names to look out for
Akabu, Doug Willis, Sessomatto, Z Factor and Mistura are all his projects. Along the way he has worked with vocalists including Taka Boom, Linda Clifford, Norma Jean Wright, Leroy Burgess and Diane Charlemagne.
Z Records and the compilations
Z Records is Lee’s self-financed label, set up in the early 1990s and now past 200 releases. It’s the main outlet for his own music and a home for other producers working in disco, soul and house.
The compilations
Lee’s compilations are as influential as his productions, digging out rare records and putting them back into circulation:
- Disco Spectrum (three volumes)
- Disco Not Disco (with Sean P)
- Back Street Brit Funk
- Italo House
- Go Go Get Down
Dave Lee as a DJ
Expect disco, soulful house, boogie and edits, often of records most of the room has never heard but will dance to anyway. He’s a long-standing name on lineups such as Defected Croatia, Glitterbox Ibiza and the Southport Weekender.
For promoters building a soulful or disco house music event, he suits a peak-time or closing slot. Promoters booking him also look at DJ Spen.
Where to start with his discography
- Start with the hits: Must Be the Music, American Dream and Make a Move on Me.
- Then the compilations: Disco Spectrum and Back Street Brit Funk show where the sound comes from.
- Then the recent albums: Produced with Love II (2022) and Metamorphosis (2023).
- Where to listen and buy: Traxsource, Bandcamp and Spotify, plus Discogs for original vinyl.
Dave Lee FAQ
Is Dave Lee the same person as Joey Negro?
Yes. He recorded as Joey Negro for most of his career and retired the name in July 2020.
Is he also Jakatta?
Yes. Jakatta, the project behind American Dream and My Vision with Seal, is one of his aliases, as is Raven Maize.
What record label does he run?
Z Records, which he founded in the early 1990s.
How do I book Dave Lee?
Through Onit Bookings.
Bring Dave Lee to your night
Planning a disco, soulful house or boogie night? Send Onit Bookings your date, venue and slot, and they’ll come back with availability.
