Perry Twins DJ'ing White Party 20th Anniversary on Saturday

Come catch us DJ'ing and Niki Haris debuting "Bad, Bad Boy" live!

www.jeffreysanker.com
www.theperrytwins.com

Perry Twins DJ'ing My House 3/8/09

Get on the list @ www.jeffreysanker.com

www.myhousehollywood.com

Jeffrey Sanker Article In Noize Magazine

Written by Steve Kleine

Ask any party boy to name the top promoters on the scene, and the name Jeffrey Sanker will be at the top of the list. His career spans three decades starting with the New York club scene during the halcyon days of Studio 54. His parties happen in the country’s hottest hot spots—Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Miami and Las Vegas. He’s also brought some of the Circuit’s best-known DJs to parties during Gay Days in Orlando. The super-producer known simply as “The Man” has consistently come up with the baddest parties for the fiercest crowd.

How does he do it? According to Sanker, “You have to make everything like a show. That is why I feel I am more of an impresario than a promoter.” It also means keeping up with the changes in nightlife.

Sanker is perhaps best known for White Party Palm Springs, which has long held the crown of largest gay dance event west of the Mississippi. More recently, he has been extending his brand into some of the hottest clubs in L.A. Every month a new party seems to crop up with “Jeffrey Sanker presents” emblazoned on top of it. But these are not your uncle’s Circuit-style parties. He might add some décor, and he always has the top DJs at the turntables, but he has realized that the younger party boys are self-lubricating with that old standby, alcohol.

The music is hip-hop and pop, the dance floors are smaller, and there are “chill” spaces where the city’s A-list can see and be seen. The focus has shifted from a night of sweaty dancing to an evening being with your friends and making new ones. In fact, at one recent event, the dance floor was filled—but no one was dancing. Instead, the boys were just holding the latest trendy martini and chatting each other up. Shirts firmly remained on torsos.
A lot of the Sanker “magic touch” can be attributed to the perception that if his name is on the event, you’re guaranteed a fun, sexy crowd (shirts on or off). One relatively new event, Fresh Fridays at WeHo’s Eleven Lounge, has a line down the block each week. “I create Donald Trump-style events,” Sanker said in a recent interview. “I want to give only the best of everything: the best DJs, venues, performers and themes. That is why they keep coming back.”

Sanker’s signature event, White Party, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. Sanker points out that drink sales have gone up 25% in the past few years, but he likes to keep this one Old School. Each event is in a “big room” where the focus is on serious dancing, performances, and connecting with the crowd. For the twentieth anniversary, he is planning an over-the-top event. However, despite having big-name headliners like J-Lo and Toni Braxton in the past, do not expect the usual rumor mill of who might be the special performer this year. He is done with that.

“If you want to see Cher, go to Vegas,” Sanker quipped. (He’s been there with a roadshow White Party in the 24-hour town.) This year, he is focusing on bringing big, innovative shows to Palm Springs that will blow the crowd away, without any of the anticipation (or drama) of an unannounced diva showing up—or not. He was the first to add Cirque du Soleil-type performances to dance events. Previous years have included the L.A. Philharmonic backing up Flava; live horses; acrobats; and insane pyrotechnics. No matter what he comes up with, you know it will be exciting—even without one of those big-name (and big-maned) divas.

DJ-wise he is also mixing it up. This year, he’s going international by importing Oscar Velasquez from Mexico City for Friday night and Ana Paula from Rio closing the main event. He’s also nurturing the hottest young DJs on the scene such as the Perry Twins, Casey Alva and Morningstar. The theme for this year’s White Party is “Legion of Superheroes.” To keep with that theme, each event is set up “dynamic duo” style. Every party will have a known DJ along with a fresh face as the sidekick to give the boys a feel for tomorrow’s headliners.

Looking Back & Ahead

Surprisingly, Sanker got the idea to do a dance event in Palm Springs from the lesbian community. In 1987, he felt the New York club scene was moribund. So he moved to Los Angeles, where he initiated a string of successful parties and clubs. His first event at the Palace (now Avalon) brought in 1,800 guys. Based on that success, he was invited to check out The Dinah Shore Weekend, a party for the gals in the Desert during the Dinah Shore Golf Tournament.

When he saw the main event consisted of four speakers and a few balloons, he knew he could do better. His first event was called Wet and Wild and attracted 500 guys. One DJ, Manny Lehman, played all the parties. A year later he changed the name to White Party and its popularity exploded. Today, nearly 20,000 people descend on the town during White Party Week. It takes over 300 workers and $1 million to produce this marathon of dance and camaraderie.

When asked about the future of the gay dance scene, Sanker would like to remind the new generation that the gay community has always danced. Dance has been an important element of socializing and feeling a sense of community. He hopes that with themes younger boys can relate to and their favorite DJs, he can continue to attract them to a big event like White Party. Once there, he feels they will embrace and understand our communal need to dance and will propel the scene into the future.

So what if some of the older Circuit boys are doing cruises rather than parties these days? Or that the younger generation is restlessly looking for something different? Sanker has continued to be successful in creating the best club and party experience possible—and that’s what he intends to do, wherever the prevailing winds blow. By doing so he keeps reminding us of our need to connect in the place that has always been an integral part of the gay experience: the dance floor.

www.noizemag.com

Perry Twins DJ'ing at My House

www.jeffreysanker.com
www.myhousehollywood.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope to see you Wednesday night, Thanksgiving Eve, at Eleven Nightclub in West Hollywood! We are thankful for all of you who come out and party with us when we DJ : ) www.jeffreysanker.com

DJ'ing Destination: Here Lounge in West Hollywood Tonight

We are surfing in on our magic compact disc to delight the party people at Paul Nicholls and Jeffrey Sanker's fun Saturday night event! The awesome photographer, Gerry Garcia is the mastermind behind this ad...he rocks : ) Well, I'm off to go polish off our magic flying compact disc so it is extra shiny for tonight's fab festivities :p

www.jeffreysanker.com

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

We will be DJ'ing at Eleven Nightclub in West Hollywood on Sunday, August 31st...hope to see you there!

DJ'ing Here Lounge in West Hollywood Tonight 8/16

www.herelounge.com

Celebrate the joy that is Paul Nicholls!

If you have shaken your groove thang at a club in West Hollywood this past year, chances are it was at an event put on by birthday boy, Paul Nicholls! Paul has teamed up with Jeffrey Sanker and their parties are certainly the place to be...escpecially this weekend when Paul turns another year older. Celebrate with him tonight (8/15/08) at Eleven Nightclub on Santa Monica Blvd and tomorrow night (8/16/08) at Here Lounge on Robertson. Happy Birthday, Paul!

Perry Twins: How did you first get involved with club promotion?

Paul Nicholls: I was bored with the clubs in LA. For a city in the middle of pop culture I just didn't feel it when I went out! I own a Management and Production Company and wanted to have a cool lounge to bring my clients to so I started one! I made sure it was fun and never felt formal and contrived like a Hotel Bar!!!

PT: What do you think contributes to the success of your highly attended events?

PN: My philosophy of creating a relationship between my patrons and the staff and keeping things fresh. We try to constantly reinvent the nights but at the same time maintain the personal relationship between the patrons and the staff you would find at smaller a local bar...

PT: What are some upcoming events you have planned for club goers?

PN: We have some amazing new nights starting! We will have 2 to 3 very different and exciting new nights by October!

PT: What are your goals for the future?

PN: To create a brand name that is known all over the world and continue to blend my worlds both in Management and Production and Event Production and Promotion.

PT: Who are some of your favorite musical artists?

PN: I like everything! I really appreciate varying singers and styles... I love Deborah Cox! Naturally!

PT: What do you have planned for your birthday weekend?

PN: You know what I have planned Perry Twins!!!! Post the image! ;-) lol

PT: Did you practice your dance steps so the three of us can perform together Saturday night?

PN: Who told you?????? ;-)

www.myspace.com/paulnichollsentertainment

www.jeffreysanker.com

Paul Nicholls and Jeffrey Sanker Present Destination

Destination at Here Lounge LA Pride 6/7

We will be spinning at Here Lounge Saturday, June 7 for Destination 10pm-2am and at the LA Pride Festival Sunday, June 8 from 6:30-8:30pm...hope to see you in West Hollywood this weekend!

We are DJing tonight in West Hollywood!

We are back in LA and will be spinning tonight at Eleven/Fresh Fridays in West Hollywood...hope to see you there!

www.jeffreysanker.com

Jeanie Tracy Keeps The Party Jumpin'

The White Party's Main Event happened Saturday night and featured Abel and Ralphi Rosario spinning and flashy performances by RuPaul, Flava and the incredible, Jeanie Tracy! Jeanie's latest hit with Altar, Everybody Up is tearin' up the Billboard Club Play Chart and it's getting all the Party People out on the dance floor...Let's see what's up with this Houston native...

Perry Twins: Congrats on the success of
"Everybody Up"! Your performance at the White Party main event was amazing! Did you have a good time?

Jeanie Tracy: I had an amazing time there. I was so excited I thought I was going to jump out of my skin.

PT: Your opening song during your White Party set was Cha Cha Heels and Ralphi Rosario and Abel (Rosabel) were the DJs for the night...you have been working with them for almost 10 years since Can't Keep My Eyes Off You and Keep The Party Jumpin'. What do you think is the key to your successful relationship with Rosabel and how did you begin working with them?

JT: We are very good friends and we have deep love and respect for each other. I adore them, and so grateful for their love and support through the years. They have taught me a lot about dance music, about how not to sing too much and not too many notes and too many words. They really sit on me about that....they really guide me to what is current and what we should work on to try and keep up. My good friend Frank Abraham was the one that brought me to them when he had his own label AM Records. He hired them to remix my first single in the US after a successful recording time in the UK ( CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU) They already knew of my past history of recordings in the US and used to play them. So they were eager to work with us on the remixes. Then after AM disbanded they asked me to come and work with them ....and so here we are...

PT: With Altar based in Brazil and you living in California, tell us about how you went about working on your collaborations with them.

JT: They send me a track and I write the melodies and the lyrics and go into the studio and record it on my own. I have worked as a session artist for so long that I am pretty good at producing my own vocals. I am a stickler for getting it right. We finally got a chance to meet and work live last year in Rio. They are exceptionally talented and wonderful young men that captured my heart. They usually have no idea what I am going to do with their song, until I sing it over the phone and then go and lay it in the studio.....it's so funny how it all comes about...but we have a lot of fun over the phone. I will see them in Rio in June for a big show there.

PT: How was working on the video for "Everybody Up"? It looks like you had a lot of fun and the video looks great!

JT: Thank you so much...OMG...it was soooo much fun and Evan Cowden and Paul Brewer were the best in making me comfortable and just letting me flow.....I was again soo excited because this was my first US video for myself. I had done one in the UK for Pulse 8 records with the legendary Bobby Womack (It's a man's world).

PT: When and where are some of your upcoming live shows?

JT: I have shows coming up in Boston, Albany, San Jose, Rio (Brazil), New Orleans, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Hallandale, and shows lined up with the fabulous King himself Narada Michael Walden who has asked me to join his live band Temple of Soul...with Clarence Clemons(E street band)Vernon "Ice"Black (Mariah Carey) TM Stevens, Narada"M"Walden...so I'm excited about that. Narada is going to produce a song on me on his new label..... In the studio working on a Jazz project and Gospel. Thank you both for dancing with me on my shows and you are such wonderful talented young men.....I am so proud of your success on the production side of things and wish you all the blessings in the world, and we'll most def work together again.

PT: Be sure to check out Jeanie's new video at www.jeanietracy.com and visit www.perfectbeat.com to buy the new track!


FYI: Altar featuring Jeanie Tracy "Everybody Up" is currently #7 on the Billboard Hot Club Play Chart. Visit our blog tomorrow to see where this and the other top dance songs landed on the chart!

White Party photos by Brian Putnam. LA Pride photo of the two of us and Jeanie Tracy by Rob Reale.

Surrender to the sounds of Debby Holiday

This past weekend was Jeffrey Sanker's White Party Palm Springs and the huge annual event featured hot DJs and amazing entertainers including the super talented, Debby Holiday! Debby performed during the weekend's closing party with Tony Moran and Brett Henrichsen. We had an opportunity to talk to Debby about her appearance this weekend and her upcoming projects...be on the lookout for more White Party recaps and interviews right here at www.perrytwinsblog.com!

PERRY TWINS: How was your experience performing at White Party? Everyone was excited about your official debut performance of "Surrender Me"!

DEBBY HOLIDAY: OMG - what a thrill. Such great energy - and I LOVED singing Surrender Me!!

PT: How did your recording of "Surrender Me" come about? Was that the first time you worked with Tony Moran and Warren Rigg?

DH: Yes, the first time. I got a call from my manager, Andrew Briskin who said he'd been contacted by Tony to see if I'd like to sing it - the answer - "Uh, hell yes" !!

PT: Is there also an "unplugged" version of "Surrender Me" that you perform at some of your live shows?

DH: Not yet - but, hmmmmmm... I like that idea.

PT: How did you start writing your own songs?

DH: Well, my father, Jimmy Holiday set a pretty good example of musical freedom around the house. If you have something to say -- write it down - sing it - share it - that's what he did and I guess I just couldn't help flowing in the same direction.

PT: You recently recorded a song with Levi Krise letting everyone know they should rock the vote. How did that come about?

DH: Levi Kreis & I discovered that we both felt strongly about this year's elections. During one of the primaries we just started texting each other feverishly. LOL We had a performance scheduled together soon at Here Lounge -- and he decided to write a song for our duet. Then MyRecordLabel.net came down to film it live, next thing we knew we were in the studio recording it for sale, as well. All proceeds go to the Obama 08 campaign. But, we also wanted to make sure that it's a song about unity, believing in something and just getting involved.

PT: You always put on such awesome performances! Where can everyone catch you next? And are you working on any new projects that you'd like to mention?

DH: I'm performing with the amazing John Waite June 6th and the Temecula Festival. Usually my dates are posted at: www.myspace.com/debbyholiday - so please --everyone stop by and say hi !! Also working on a track right now with Chris Cox and Scotty K. !! I'm keepin busy & loving it !!

PT: We are definitely looking forward to your new track with Chris Cox and Scotty K! The club world always loves what you have to offer, so "Bring It On"! Thanks for taking the time to keep us updated on what is new with you! It was a fun way to "Dive" right into our new Perry Twins Blog : )

Special thanks to Brian Putnam for the fantastic photos above taken during The White Party Closing Event on Sunday and big thanks to Andrew Briskin for the Surrender Me cover art. The photo with Levi Krise and the photo of the three of us on New Year's Eve were both taken by Rob Reale. We had a great time performing and ringing in 2008 with Debby at Club Montage in San Diego!

For Debby's latest release with Tony Moran and Warren Rigg, be sure to hit up Perfect Beat on Thursday, April 24! Surrender Me goes on sale exclusively at http://www.perfectbeat.com/ featuring remixes by Tony Moran & Warren Rigg and Wayne G & Andy Allder!