Roger Sanchez

During the ill-fated electronic-music boom, superstar DJs had a reasonable chance of crossing over to the mainstream. Today such journeys are rarer than the typical menu at a sushi bar -- but that hasn't stopped spinners like Roger Sanchez from trying to take the trip. Sanchez has been a hero...

By Michael Roberts

January 18, 2007

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During the ill-fated electronic-music boom, superstar DJs had a reasonable chance of crossing over to the mainstream. Today such journeys are rarer than the typical menu at a sushi bar -- but that hasn't stopped spinners like Roger Sanchez from trying to take the trip. Sanchez has been a hero on the New York scene since the early '90s, when he helped establish the primacy of the Strictly Rhythm label, and he's proven himself to be an ace remixer for Janet Jackson, Soul II Soul and others. Nevertheless, last year's Come With Me pissed off plenty of the faithful with its focus on throwback rhythms and big melodies of the sort that turn up on "Lost," a dramatic heartbreaker from the old school. Truth be told, the disc's material is quite listenable, if not particularly fresh or innovative -- yet it still couldn't find its way onto the pop charts. And if Sanchez isn't able to ford the mainstream, his followers would be well advised to stay out of the water, too.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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