DiscoMusic.com » Disco Personalities Index » DJs / Remixers » David Todd
David Todd
Philadelphia and New York Disco DJ, remixer and RCA Records promotions (b 19-- - present)
David Todd is a Philadelphia Disco DJ who played at a discotheque called the Catacombs. He made the transition from selling records in a NYC record store to DJ'ing then to remixing records in the studio, most notably Stubborn Kind of Fella by Buffalo Smoke and ultimately becoming the Disco promotions man at RCA Records during Disco's early days of the mid-1970s.
Although David Todd helped to promote the twelve inch Disco single for RCA, he is noted for actually not defending it early on by saying that consumers would not pay extra for it, which of course they ultimately did.
It has been said that Todd was the person who introduced the late Van McCoy to the Hustle phenomena before it became big. Todd worked extensively into the 1980s with another Philadelphia DJ, Nick Martinelli on remixing and production especially for West End Records and Philly World Records. He even co-wrote the liner notes for Buddha Records' Disco CD compilation series called Big 12 Inches.
David Todd worked at the following Discotheques
- Adam's Apple (New York, NY)
- Catacombs (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Cheetah (New York, NY)
- Ice Palace (Cherry Grove-Fire Island, New York)
David Todd worked for the following record labels:
- RCA Records (Disco promotions)
David Todd remixed the following records:
- Regina Belle: You Got The Love [1987]
- George Benson: Let's Do It Again [19--??]
- Buffalo Smoke: Stubborn Kind of Fella [1978 white vinyl 12"]
- Keni Burke: Let Somebody Love You [1981]
- Cashmere: Try Your Lovin' [1983]
- Cashmere: Do It Anyway You Wanna [198-?]
- Chill Fac-Torr: Round "N" Round (The Twist) [1983]
- Choice Four: Two Different Worlds [1977]
- Choice Four: Come Down To Earth [1977]
- D Train: Keep Giving Me Love [1984]
- Faith, Hope and Charity: Life Goes On [1976]
- Faith, Hope and Charity: You're My Peace Of Mind [1976]
- Faith, Hope and Charity: Gradually [1976]
- Faith, Hope and Charity: Positive Thinking [1976]
- Glass: Let Me Feel Your Heartbeat [198-]
- Ralph Graham: What Am I To Do [1977]
- LaToya Jackson: Hot Potato [1984]
- Chaka Khan: I'm Every Woman [1989]
- Evelyn "Champagne" King: Shame [1977]
- Evelyn "Champagne" King: I Don't Know If It's Right [1977]
- Evelyn "Champagne" King: Action [1983]
- Evelyn "Champagne" King: High Horse [1985]
- Shirley Lites: Heat You Up (Melt You Down) [1983]
- Mahogany: Ride On The Rhythm [198-]
- Alphonse Mouzon: Our Love Is Hot [1984]
- Booker Newberry III: Love Town [1983]
- New York Community Choir: Express Yourself [1977]
- Cecil Parker: Get Up And Shake It [1983]
- Dee Dee Sharp Gamble: Breaking And Entering [1980]
- Raw Silk: Just In Time [1983]
- Rocket: Here Comes My Love [1983]
- Tracie Spencer: Symptoms of True Love [1988]
- Stone: Girl I Like The Way That You Move [1982]
- B.T. (Brenda Taylor): You Can't Have Your Cake & Eat It Too [1982]
- Sybil Thomas: Rescue Me [1983]
- Debbie Trusty: Searchin' For Some Lovin' [1982]
- Unique: What I Got Is What You Need [198-]
- War: Bad Mutha Trucka [198-?]
- Brandi Wells: Fantasy [1982]
- Brandi Wells: What Goes Around Comes Around [1982]
- Kim Wilde: Say You Really Want Me [1986]
David Todd co-produced the following songs/albums:
- Fat Larry's Band: Straight From The Heart [1983]
Listen to Do It Anyway You Wanna by Cashmere:
Submitted by DiscoMusic.com (3705)
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Sep 24, 11 | 4:30 pmBrian Edmiston Carter I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for all your time, effort and hard work that you put into this project! Your accurate descriptions of a place we all know and loved will ensure that it's memory will live on in our hearts forever!! Also your acknowledgement of David Todd and the many other people so important to the history of Catacombs is very much appreciated. Thank You again for your dedication and tireless efforts.
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Apr 22, 11 | 8:11 am
Nicest guy in the world, everyone loved him. I remember one day a bunch of us were on the steps of the Prince street loft picking up our records from the pool, we all seen David coming up to us and everyone at the same time put their hands over their mouths and did the David laugh, he was so embarrassed and surprised how well we knew his trade mark laugh, he also laughed when we did it, we all cracked up because it just happened without planning. I thought he was the best at ridding two records together for the longest time, I seen him do it many times at the Adams Apple. He would play tapes at the office at RCA records of his mixes. His choices of the songs he mixed tighter were like they were made for each other. I always enjoyed his company at the Paradise Garage when I was the lighting operator there. He commented on how he loved the effect I did with the mirror ball just before a black out. David was a wonderful loving human being and I will always remember him.
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Aug 02, 10 | 8:08 am
Sorry to hear that he was murdered. Are you still playing music?
check out the music on one of my labels
Rene Hewitt
www.traxsource.com/imusic_underground
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Jul 30, 10 | 7:13 pm
richie conte:
what did you do with your radio 1 license.
did it help you make money ,
all my studying and license for radio was for naught!
adams apple manager felix got murdered six months ago.
i am the unknown d j of times gone by .
i did spin and knew every once upon a time 35 years ago..
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Jul 16, 10 | 10:41 am
David was a joy and a blessing I loved when he would visit me at my home. I hoped he enjoyed all the times we had. He was an equally entertaining host but to call him friend was my greatest joy Peace, love, and Laughter Always
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Jan 16, 10 | 10:21 pm
David was my friend also. I would love to hang out with him at RCA, his office was a such a trip. What laughs we used to have, he was truly something. I would also go hang with him while he was spinning at the Adam's Apple. I can still hear his big deep laugh. I can also still see him shaking his head side to side in this intense groove when playing Lonnie Liston Smith's "Expansions".
I'm sure David's energy is still pulsing through the universe!
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Oct 05, 09 | 5:57 am
I didn't know that David passed. Yes, and may he Rest in Peace.
Love is the Message
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Oct 03, 09 | 11:48 pm
I use to watch him spin and I was simply blown away by some of the things he use to do with turntables. I watched him so much I wound up becoming a DJ, he was a great mentor. However, he didn't share any secrets. But I did learn qiute q bit from him.
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Jul 06, 09 | 6:46 am
However, but where is David?
Rene Hewitt
iMusicUnergroundrecords.com
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Jul 03, 09 | 9:25 pm
DAVID, THEY FINALLY FOUND YOUR PICTURE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PROMOS. I LOVED THE SYSTEM YOU HAD IN YOUR OFFICE AT RCA. YOU WERE THE MAN. REST IN PEACE,AND TILL WE MEET AGAIN. YOUR FRIEND NOW, AND ALWAYS DJ STEVE THE SAGA PEREZ
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May 04, 09 | 3:07 pm
Does anyone know how to get in touch with David Todd?
Rene Hewitt
David was a shining star!!