#elektroAwards Lifetime Achievement Award: Erick Morillo

As a DJ, producer and record label owner, Erick Morillo helped lay the groundwork for electronic dance music as we know it, and his lasting influence has served as inspiration for legions of emerging DJs and producers today.

If the name Erick Morillo doesn’t ring a bell, maybe one of his many pseudonyms will. From 1992 until about 2006, Morillo produced and released music under names such as Lil Mo’ Yin Yang, R.A.W, Smooth Touch, Deep Soul and Club Ultimate. His 1993 hit “I Like to Move It,” which he released under the alias Reel 2 Real, became an international anthem, taking his career to new heights. Morillo also created the label Subliminal Records, which produced a number of hits and brought attention to many artists.

But Morillo’s influence didn’t end there. His New York City “Club Nights” brought in the likes of dance music legends David Guetta, Danny Tenaglia and Bob Sinclar, and helped breathe life back into the city’s once struggling electronic music scene.
A legend, an inspiration, a trail blazer and an all-around brilliant mind, Erick Morillo undoubtedly deserves recognition for the lifetime of positive contributions he has made to the dance music industry.

Written by: Jacob Marmor

Photo credit: Dove Shore Photography