Stevie B is a South Florida singer, songwriter, and producer who shaped the freestyle and dance-pop genres in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He earned a Grammy nomination for his 1990 chart-topping ballad Because I Love You (The Postman Song), alongside hits like Spring Love and Party Your Body.
Johnny O, born Juan Antonio Ortiz in Brooklyn, New York, is a freestyle and dance-pop singer of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. Known as "The King of Freestyle," he achieved fame with hits like "Fantasy Girl," "Memories," and the duet "Dream Boy / Dream Girl" with Cynthia. His notable singles include "In the Shadow of the Almighty" and "So in Love." He is celebrated for his romantic ballads and dance anthems.
Born in New York City, Lisa Velez led the 1980s supergroup Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, pioneering freestyle music into the mainstream. She became the first Puerto Rican/Latino artist to top pop and R&B charts with multi-platinum albums featuring hits like Head to Toe.
Dance and freestyle artist Cynthia debuted in 1987 with MicMac Records. Known for hits like Change on Me and the Johnny O duet Dream Boy/Dream Girl, she later signed with Tommy Boy, shifting toward club music with singles like How I Love Him.
Freestyle is a Swedish synthpop group formed in 1979, known for their early 1980s hits "Vill Ha Dig" and "Fantasi." The band, recognized for its electronic pop sound, originally disbanded in 1983, with some members later forming Style. They reunited in 1998, re-recording popular tracks. The group continues to perform, with recent re-releases and appearances, maintaining their legacy in music.
Shannon (Brenda Shannon Greene) is an American singer from Washington, D.C., renowned as the "Queen of Freestyle" and a pioneer of dance-pop and hi-NRG music. Her iconic 1983 hit "Let the Music Play" defined the "Shannon Sound." Other notable songs include "Give Me Tonight" and "Do You Wanna Get Away." She continues to perform and record, with her influential sound enduring in dance and electronic music.
Freestyle Explosion is a celebrated concert series known for its high-energy showcases of iconic 80s and 90s freestyle and old-school music. It brings together legendary artists like Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, and Exposé, who defined the Latin freestyle and rhythmic dance genres. The event offers a nostalgic journey, celebrating influential acts and their enduring hits.
The Jets, a band of 8 siblings from a Tongan family in Minneapolis, hit fame in 1986-89 with songs like "Crush on You." Known for dance-pop, they achieved gold albums before shifting to gospel in the '90s.
Born in Miami, freestyle singer Debbie Deb, discovered by Tony Butler, is famous for hits "When I Hear On Music" & "Lookout Weekend." Influential to artists like Black Eyed Peas & Janet Jackson, she now performs on nostalgic tours.
Florida rap/hip-hop duo led by Van “Thrill Da Playa” Bryant (Jacksonville) and Barry “Fast” Wright (Orlando). Debut album 199Quad went double-platinum, driven by #1 rap hit “Tootsee Roll” (Hot 100 peak #8) and gold single “Kitty Kitty.”
