Erique Dial
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Erique Dial | |
|---|---|
 Erique Dial (right) & A Guy Called Gerald | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Erique Sheffield Dial |
| Also known as | E-Raze, Raze |
| Born | May 15, 1958 Washington, D.C., United States |
| Genres | House, Chicago house, electronic, funk |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer, DJ |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | ZYX Records, Champion, Grove St. |
| Website | www |
Erique Dial (born May 15, 1958), also known as E-Raze or Raze, is an American musician, producer, and DJ, best known for co-producing the house music classic "Break 4 Love" by Raze in 1988. A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Dial has worked across funk, house, and electronic music since the early 1980s.
Early life
[edit]Dial was born in Washington, D.C., in 1958 into a musical family. He was influenced early on by jazz, funk, and soul music, and mentored by John C. Freeman, co-writer of The Main Ingredient's "Just Don't Wanna Be Lonely". In the early 1980s, he co-wrote and played keyboards on "You Can Do It" by Vaughan Mason & Butch Dayo, released by Salsoul Records.
He toured with Gil Scott-Heron during the 1980s, performing with the Amnesia Express band.
Career
[edit]Raze and “Break 4 Love”
[edit]In 1988, Dial collaborated with funk guitarist and producer Vaughan Mason, who had transitioned into house music under the project name Raze. Dial contributed the signature keyboard sounds, programming, and sampled vocal textures on the single "Break 4 Love". The track became a seminal house anthem, reaching number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the U.S. and peaking at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart.[1][2]
"Break 4 Love" was re-released several times and has sold millions of copies worldwide. It is widely regarded as a foundational record in the history of house music.[3]
In 1990, Dial co-wrote and produced the follow-up single, "All 4 Love (Break 4 Love 1990)", which reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]
Other projects and collaborations
[edit]In 1991, Dial contributed keyboard parts to "Jealousy" by The Adventures of Stevie V, and in 1992, he worked on Martha Wash’s debut solo album. He also co-wrote songs for Leee John and the band Imagination, including "Hold On (Part 2)" and "Oooh-Aaah" on their 1993 album The Fascination of the Physical.
Dial worked closely with Byron Stingily from 1996 to 1999, serving as musical director for Stingily's live shows following the breakup of Ten City. Dial led the band on UK and European tours and oversaw musical arrangements for television performances on BBC's Top of the Pops, MTV, and CD:UK.[4]
DJ work and later career
[edit]Performing under the alias DJ E-Raze or Raze, Dial has appeared internationally at venues including La Terrrazza and BLVD in Spain, as well as UK venues like Heaven, Promised Land, and The Garage.
Legacy
[edit]“Break 4 Love” is considered one of the defining tracks of the house music genre. It was included in the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and has been sampled and covered by numerous artists. In a retrospective by *Mixmag*, it was described as “a quintessential house record that defined soulful deep house for a generation.”[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Gold, Adam (3 April 2020). "Vaughan Mason, Oft-Sampled 'Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll' Funk Artist, Dead at 69". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Raze". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b "The history of acid house in 100 tracks". Mixmag. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "TIR 40: Erique Dial Recalls P-Funk, Gil Scott-Heron, Vaughan Mason Escapades". Funknstuff.net. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.