Kaktus (18)

Kaktus was one of the several pseudonyms used by the club-DJ Claudio Casalini in the mid-80s during the golden age of the Italo Disco. Italian disc-jockey, author, record producer, owner of Best Record, S.P.Q.R., Jumbo Records, Tendance), wholesaler, former publisher and music journalist. Pioneer club-DJ, among the first in Italy trying to give a professional and qualified image to the category, often involved in trade unions. Considered by many "The Father of the DJs" for his 50 years career in the clubs and for the many roles in the music industry. Co-founder in 1974 (with Renzo Arbore, Raffaele Cascone, Paolo De Bernardin, Carlo Massarini, Paolo Giaccio, Kruger Agostinelli of GDP, Group Disc-Jockey Professionals, organization set up by Gianni Naso (nickname of dj-comedian Giancarlo D'Ovidio), whom also cooperate actively with the creation of AID, Italian Association DJs, where in short time converge the leading exponents of a category that starts playing a big role in the modern music context. He contributes significantly to the popularization of the Disco Spaghetti ([term freely taken and inspired by “Spaghetti-Western”), the musical phenomenon of the 2nd half of the 70's with La Bionda (aka D.D. Sound), La Belle Epoque, Weyman Corporation (Weyman Av.), Marzio Vincenzi (Marsius), Billy Moore, Amanda Lear, Rainbow Team, Ago (2), etc., that - with the several record productions signed by the great Italian arrangers such as Celso Valli, Claudio Simonetti, Mauro Malavasi and Pino Presti- leading with great merit the style "Made in Italy" to the international limelight. A few years later he is one of the "main architects" of the explosion of a new line of disco music, more electronic and repetitive than the previous, with new sonorities more powerful and aggressive thanks to the use of synthesizers of new conception, in following best identified worldwide as "Italo-Disco". Generous and creative worker, carries for over 25 years a commercial activity based on the import-export of phonographic records, with which he supplies capillary disc-jockeys, clubs and radio stations, promoting the circulation of vinyls at that time hardly to find in the country. Creator of Best Record and of many other labels - with the help of other "indie" created by other young music lovers along with young musicians, arrangers and djs - constitutes the significant cartel of an extraordinary musical movement born in the recording studios (and sometimes even in the basements), spread throughout the Italian peninsula, until then snobbed by the "majors". At the same time he writes for the most important music magazines (Stereoplay, Stereo Shopping, Popster, Rockstar, Tuttifrutti), where, in addition to review the new releases, prepare charts and process lists of musical genres emerging, establish professional profiles and fill-sheets of his colleagues, increasingly aimed at enhancing the professional figure of the DJs. Very sensitive to the social issues, cultivates few other hobbies without neglecting the strong link with the night world, where continues to perform the prevalent work of his existence, where for five decades he manifests his best peculiar qualities. Still on the road with his own 7inch vinyls.