Danny Tenaglia

Biography

Early life

Tenaglia left New York in 1985 and started DJing in Miami as a resident at Cheers nightclub, playing classic New York and Chicago house. He returned to New York five years later. At this time, he started to create some remixes, including Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" (1991), Jamiroquai's "Emergency on Planet Earth" (1993), and Madonna's "Human Nature" (1994).

DJ career

Tenaglia's first mainstream success was with a remix of the Daou's "Surrender Yourself" (1993).

Subsequent to this Tenaglia released three label compilations - Mix This Pussy (1994) and Can Your Pussy Do the Dog? (1995) for TRIBAL, and Gag Me with a Tune (1996) for Maxi.

As a producer

In 1996, after working for a short time at the New York nightclub Roxy, Tenaglia started a Saturday night residency at Twilo. In 1998, he moved his residency over to NY club Tunnel.

In 1998, Tenaglia released another album titled Tourism. The album featured the track "Elements", which was number one on the Billboard Dance Chart for two weeks in 1998. "Music Is The Answer" featuring Celeda (also on the LP Tourism) was on the top 40 charts in the UK.

In 1999, Tenaglia released his first installment in the UK-based Global Underground series of DJ mixes titled Athens.

In the two years that followed, Tenaglia released another Global Underground installment titled London, remixed Billy Nichols' "Give Your Body Up To The Music", was nominated for a Grammy (for his remix of Depeche Mode's "I Feel Loved," also nominated for Best Dance Song), and won a Dancestar Lifetime Achievement award.

In 2003, Tenaglia released Choice: A Collection Of Classics, a two-CD mixed compilation. It featured artists such as Blaze, Adeva and Imagination, along with his own liner notes explaining the significance of each track. He also won another Dancestar award, this time 'Best Party' for "Be Yourself."

Film appearances

In 2025, Danny Tenaglia, along with top Portuguese DJs Yen Sung and Luís Leite, appeared in the Daniel Mota documentary film "Paraíso" about the history of Portuguese dance music (of which he has been involved in for decades). He recounts his remixing of the iconic Tribal house song So Get Up by Underground Sound of Lisbon (written and vocalized by Ithaka Darin Pappas) and of the moment he debuted the track during a rave held at the Santa Maria de Feira castle in northern Portugal.

Later years

Tenaglia continues to play clubs and has played in NYC locations including Avalon, Crobar, Pacha NYC, Roxy and Webster Hall. In 2007, Tenaglia participated in the Dance parade. In 2008 he released a single on Tommy Boy Records, "The Space Dance". The track reached number 1 on the Billboard Club Charts during November 2008.

Immediately following, Tenaglia released his first compilation album in five years, entitled Futurism, also on Tommy Boy Records. The compilation featured tracks from artists including Davide Squillace, The Wighnomy Brothers and Afefe Iku.

Tenaglia still continues to tour across the world.

Personal life

In July 2023, Tenaglia announced on Instagram that he has been diagnosed with cancer, and had been under treatment.

Awards and nominations

Tenaglia was nominated for Best Remixed Recording at the 44th Grammy Awards. He is also a three time International Dance Music Award winner, 3 time DJ Awards winner and 2 time Muzik Awards recipient.

Grammy Awards

DJ Awards

International Dance Music Awards

Muzik Awards

References

References

1. [http://www.imorecords.co.uk/house-2/house-artists/danny-tenaglia-biography/ "Danny Tengalia Biography"] {{webarchive. link. (2012-08-03 , ''[[IMO Records]]'', Retrieved on 11 February 2012.)
2. (1998). "[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music". [[Virgin Books]].
3. (2025-05-07). "PARAÍSO: A New Documentary Tracing the Roots of Portugal's Rave and Dance Music".
4. (2025-05-07). "New Documentary Explores 90s Rave Culture in Portugal".
5. (2023-07-24). "Danny Tenaglia is undergoing treatment for cancer".
6. (30 November 2011). "Danny Tenaglia Pays Homage to Carl Cox, Nicole Moudaber & NYC Scene on 'See You Next Tuesday' Remix: Exclusive".
7. (30 April 2017). "Awards Winners and Nominees".
8. (4 January 2002). "Complete List Of Grammy Nominees".
9. "DJ Awards 2000 Winners". DJ Awards SL.
10. "DJ Awards 2000 Past Editions". DJ Awards SL.
11. Cynthia Salinas. "Winter Music Conference warms Miami Beach - April 2, 2002".
12. (19 October 2000). "ERICSSON MUZIK AWARDS - ALL THE RESULTS - NME".