Editing François Kevorkian

{{BLP sources|date=November 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = François Kevorkian
| image = File:Francois K at MCW 2017.jpg
| caption = Kevorkian in 2017
| image_size          = 
| background          = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name          = 
| alias               = François K. 
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1954|01|10|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Rodez]], [[Midi-Pyrénées]], France<ref name=AllmusicL>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=françois-k-mn0000185111|tab=biography|title=François K Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio &amp; More|last=Bush|first=John|access-date=10 August 2018}}</ref>
| origin              = 
| instrument          = 
| genre               =  {{hlist|[[Post-disco]]<ref name=AllmusicL/>|[[House music|house]]<ref name=" François Kevorkian Biography">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imorecords.co.uk/house-2/house-artists/franois-kevorkian-biography/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802074724/http://www.imorecords.co.uk/house-2/house-artists/franois-kevorkian-biography/|url-status=dead|title=Francois Kevorkian Biography|website=IMO Records|date=13 February 2012|archive-date=2 August 2012|access-date=14 February 2012}}</ref>}}
| occupation          = [[disc jockey|DJ]], [[record producer]],<ref name=AllmusicL/> [[remixer]], [[record label|record label owner]]
| years_active        = 
| label               = 
| associated_acts     = 
| website             = 
| current_members     = 
| past_members        = 
}}

'''François Kevorkian''' ({{IPA|fr|fʁɑ̃swa kevɔʁkjɑ̃}}; born 10 January 1954),<ref name="Larkin80">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music]]|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|location=London|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2003|edition=3|isbn=1-85227-969-9|page=290}}</ref> also known by the stage name '''François K''', is a French [[disc jockey|DJ]], [[record producer|producer]], [[remixer]] and [[record label|label]] owner of Armenian descent and based in the [[United States|United States of America]], who started his career DJing in clubs such as the [[Paradise Garage]] and [[Studio 54]]. Kevorkian has produced and remixed work by a diverse range of musicians including [[the Smiths]], [[Adam Ant]], [[Kraftwerk]], [[Pet Shop Boys]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[Diana Ross]], [[Gloria Estefan]] and [[U2]],<ref name="Larkin80"/> and is considered one of the forefathers of [[house music]].<ref name=" François Kevorkian Biography"/>

==Biography==
François Kevorkian ({{langx|hy|Ֆրանսուա Գեւորգեան}}) was born and raised in France, with [[Armenians in France|Armenian]] heritage. He played the drums in his adolescent years. 

He moved to the United States in 1975.<ref name="Larkin80"/> At that time the competition to be a drummer was very high, so around 1976 he became a DJ in [[Underground music|underground]] clubs in New York City.<ref name="Larkin80"/> [[DJ]]ing soon became his full-time occupation, including some work at more commercial venues such as the club New York, New York in 1977. He taught himself [[tape editing]] and started making disco medleys, such as [[Rare Earth (band)|Rare Earth]]'s "Happy Song".<ref name="Larkin80"/> He was offered a role in [[A&R]] for a nascent dance [[independent record label]], [[Prelude Records]], which allowed him to go into the studio and do remixes. His first remix, of "In The Bush" by [[Musique (Patrick Adams)|Musique]], became a club and radio hit, and was followed by further hit remixes including "You're The One For Me' and "Keep On" by [[D Train (music group)|D-Train]], and "Beat The Street" by [[Sharon Redd]]. He left Prelude in 1982, and in the same year had the most #1 singles on [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'s Dance Music Chart, including his remixes of tracks such as "Situation" by [[Yazoo (band)|Yazoo]], and "Go Bang" by [[Dinosaur L]].

Kevorkian also performed as a DJ at [[Club Zanzibar]] in [[Newark, New Jersey]] during the 1980s, home to the "Jersey Sound" brand of [[deep house]] or [[garage house]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://queer.newark.rutgers.edu/resources/history-queer-club-spaces-newark|title=History of Queer Club Spaces in Newark &#124; Queer Newark|website=Queer.newark.rutgers.edu|access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref>

During this time he began building his own recording studio, Axis Studios,<ref name="Larkin80"/> in the same building as Studio 54. The studio soon became a major commercial operation. He stopped DJing around 1983 to focus on recording and mixing full-time, but started again in early 1990. Due to the new international popularity of [[dance music]], he gained exposure overseas and began performing abroad. He toured Japan with [[Larry Levan]] in 1992 on the 'Harmony Tour' before Levan's death in November that year, and also appeared at London's [[Ministry of Sound]] and [[Fabric (club)|Fabric]], Japan's Spacelab Yellow, [[Ibiza]]'s [[Pacha Group|Pacha]] and [[Space (Ibiza nightclub)|Space]], Italy's Angels of Love and many large festivals.

In 1995, he started an eclectic independent record label, Wave Music, on which he released his own work, including the ''FK-EP'', as well as records by [[Abstract Truth]], Floppy Sounds and other electronic music releases. In 1996, with partner John Davis, he launched Body&SOUL, a weekly party held every Sunday afternoon at Club Vinyl, 6 Hubert Street, playing alongside co-resident DJs Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell and Danny Krivit. The 'Body&SOUL' sound, a soulful mix of organic and spiritual dance music, led to the release of a compilation series by the same name.

He continued his career as an artist, returning to a more electronic sound, and the release of his Sonar Music set in 2002 marked an edgier and more [[futurist]]ic style,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sonar.es/portal/eng/music.cfm?id_sonarmusic=15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212150855/http://www.sonar.es/portal/eng/music.cfm?id_sonarmusic=15|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2004|title=Sónar : SonarMusic|date=12 December 2004}}</ref> more closely related to [[Techno]] and [[Dub music|Dub]] than the [[House Music|House]] sound he was identified with as a DJ. In 2002, he also started touring with [[Derrick May (musician)|Derrick May]], playing sets together as the Cosmic Twins at Berlin's [[Tresor (club)|Tresor]], Manchester's [[Sankeys|Sankey's Soap]] and London's Fabric. Kevorkian released a new compilation CD in 2006, entitled ''Frequencies''.

In April 2003, he started a residency at a new weekly Monday night event in New York City called "Deep Space NYC",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepspacenyc.com/index.php |title=Deep Space NYC |website=Deepspacenyc.com|access-date=2014-08-06}}</ref> an eclectic night focused on [[dub music]] and related styles. He mixed ''Deep Space NYC Vol. 1'', a compilation featuring several of his own productions, along with Jamaican [[dub reggae]] and [[roots reggae]] artists [[Mutabaruka]] and [[U-Roy]]. Kevorkian's work with U-Roy was co-produced in a [[discomix]] style with British [[roots reggae]] and [[dubplate]] artist, Russ Disciple of [[The Disciples (band)|The Disciples]]. He also provided remixes for [[Moloko]], [[Yoko Ono]], [[Cesária Évora]], [[Nina Simone]], as well as for his own label. In 2005, he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame as both a [[remixer]] and [[DJ]].

Kevorkian has subsequently performed at events around the world, including [[Midem]] (France), [[Sónar]] (Spain), [[Global Gathering]] (UK), [[Exit Festival]] (Serbia), [[The Big Chill (music festival)|The Big Chill]] (UK), [[Bestival]] (UK), The NYC Downlow at [[Glastonbury Festival|Glastonbury]] (UK) and [[Electric Picnic]] (Ireland).

==Wave Music==
[[Image:Wave logo small.gif|thumb|120px|Wave Music logo]]
In [[1995 in music|1995]], François Kevorkian founded Wave Music, an independent [[dance music]] [[record label]] headquartered in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-19 |title=François K's creative force |url=https://djmag.com/features/francois-k-creative-force-interview |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=DJ Mag |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050203031244/http://www.wavemusic.com/ Official website]</ref> Its catalog features a wide spectrum of musical styles by many different artists, as well as several compilation series, such as [[Body&SOUL-NYC]], Deep&Sexy, Bossa Mundo, and Frequencies. Over the years, Wave Music has launched a variety of imprints (sub-labels) such as Wavetec, clicktracks, Wave Classics, Streetwave, and Deep Space Media. As well, it distributes other independent labels such as Chez Music and Bombay Records.

Some of the artists that has been signed to Wave are: [[Abstract Truth]], [[Boyd Jarvis]], [[Fonda Rae]], [[Kevin Aviance]].

==Selected discography==
===As an artist===
=== FK-EP (Wave Music) 1996 ===
* "Time and Space" (Wave Music) 1998
* "Capricorn" (Wave Music) 2000
* "Awakening" (Wave Music) 2002
* "Enlightenment" (Wave Music) 2002
* "Road of Life" (Deep Space Media) 2007

===Compilations===
* Renaissance: The Masters Series – Part 19 ([[Renaissance Recordings|Renaissance]]) 2013
* ''Masterpiece: Created By François K'' ([[Ministry of Sound]]) 2008
*''Frequencies'' – 2 x CD – (Wavetec) 2006
* ''Deep Space NYC'' (vol. 1) (Deep Space Media/Wave Music) 2005
* ''Live at Sonar''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sonar.es/portal/eng/music.cfm?id_sonarmusic=21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222070409/http://www.sonar.es/portal/eng/music.cfm?id_sonarmusic=21|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 December 2005|title=Sónar .::. Music|date=22 December 2005}}</ref> (SonarMusic) 2003
* ''Body&SOUL NYC'' (vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) (Wave Music) 1998–2007
* ''Deep & Sexy (vol.1)'' (Wave Music) 2001
* ''Choice: A Collection of Classics'' (Azuli) 2002
* ''Essential Mix – François K'' (London/Ffrr) 2000

===Video game DJ Mix===
* 'Electro-Choc', the Dance radio station in ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'' (Rockstar Games) 2008

===As a producer===
* ''[[Snake Charmer (EP)|Snake Charmer]]'' [[Jah Wobble]], [[The Edge]], [[Holger Czukay]], and [[Jaki Liebezeit]] ([[Island Records]]) 1983
* ''May The Cube Be With You'' [[Thomas Dolby|Dolby's Cube]] 1985
* ''[[Species Deceases]]'' [[Midnight Oil]] ([[CBS|Columbia Records]]) 1985
* ''We're on the Move'' Jamaica Girls (Sire) 1985
* "Strong Enough" Loleatta Holloway (Active Records) 1992 ''co-produced with Yvone Turner and Alan Friedman''
* "Got To Be in Love" [[Barbara Mendes]] (Wave Music) 2003 ''co-produced with [[Eric Kupper]]''
* "[[Rootsman]]" [[U-Roy]] (Deep Space Media) 2005 ''co-produced with Russ Disciple of [[The Disciples (band)]]''

===As a mix producer===
* 'So Red the Rose' Arcadia (EMI Records) 1985
* '[[Electric Café]]' [[Kraftwerk]] (EMI Records, non-USA; Warner Bros. Records, USA) 1986
* '[[Violator (album)|Violator]]' [[Depeche Mode]] (Mute, non-USA; [[Sire Records|Sire]]/[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]/[[Warner Bros]]., USA) 1990 (credited as Francois "Kervorkian", a typographical error)
* 'Erasure' [[Erasure (duo)|Erasure]] (Mute) 1995
* 'Blondosaurus' Rebecca (Sony Japan) 1989

===As a remixer===
* "In the Bush" Musique (Prelude) 1978
* "I Hear Music in the Streets" Unlimited Touch (Prelude) 1980
* "You're the One for Me" / "Keep On" / "Music" / "[[Walk On By]]" / "Misunderstanding" D-Train (Prelude) 1981–1983
* "Beat the Street" / "Never Give You Up" / "Send Your Love" / "[[Can You Handle It]]" Sharon Redd 1982–1983
* "Body Music" The Strikers (Prelude) 1981 (co-mixed with [[Larry Levan]])
* "Let's Go Dancin'" Sparque (West End) 1981
* "Go Bang" Dinosaur L (Sleeping Bag) 1981
* "Kiss Me" Tin Tin (U.S. Remix) (Sire WEA Records) 1982
* "[[Situation (song)|Situation]]" [[Yazoo (band)|Yazoo]] (Mute) 1982
* "Enjoy what you do (WHAM! rap)" WHAM! (COLUMBIA) 1982
* [[Two_Hearts_Beat_as_One|"Two Hearts Beat As One" / "New Year's Day"]] U2 (Island) 1983
* "[[This Charming Man]]" The Smiths (Rough Trade) 1983
* "[[Dissident]]s" Thomas Dolby (EMI Records Ltd.) 1984
* "[[Tour de France (song)|Tour de France]]" [[Kraftwerk]] (EMI – Warner Bros.) 1984
* "Lucky in Love" / "Just Another Night" Mick Jagger (Columbia) 1984
* "[[About Face (album)#Versions of "Blue Light"|Blue Light (12" Mix)]]" [[David Gilmour]] 1984
* "Solid (As A Rock)" Ashford & Simpson (Capitol) 1984
* "Sleepless" [[King Crimson]] 1984
* "[[Eaten Alive (song)|Eaten Alive]]" [[Diana Ross]] (Hot Extended Dance Mix) 1985 ''co-mixed with [[Ron St. Germain]]''
* "[[Chain Reaction (Diana Ross song)|Chain Reaction]]" Diana Ross (Special New Mix) 1985 ''co-mixed with [[Ron St. Germain]]''
* "Experience" Diana Ross (Special Dance Mix) 1985 ''co-mixed with [[Ron St. Germain]]''
* "Zoolookologie" [[Jean Michel Jarre]] (Disques Dreyfus France) 1985
* "Perfect Way" Scritti Politti UK 12" single ((Version)) (Virgin) 1985
* "[[Shiny Toys]]" [[Joni Mitchell]] 12" single Version from the album ''[[Dog Eat Dog (Joni Mitchell album)|Dog Eat Dog]]'' 1985
* "Apollo 9 (Francois Kevorkian 'Splashdown' 12" Mix)" Adam Ant 1985
* "Why Can't I Be You" / "Japanese Dream" / "Hot, Hot, Hot" / "Hey You!" / The Cure (Fiction-Elektra) 1985–1990
* "The Telephone Call" Kraftwerk (EMI/Warner Bros.) 1987 ''co-mixed with Kraftwerk and [[Ron St. Germain]]''
* "Dirty Looks" Diana Ross (Remix Version) 1987 ''co-mixed with [[Ron St. Germain]]''
* "[[Don't You Want Me (Jody Watley song)|Don't You Want Me]]" [[Jody Watley]] (MCA) 1987
* "[[Rent (song)|Rent]]" [[Pet Shop Boys]] (Parlophone/EMI) 1987
* "[[My Bag (song)|My Bag]]" (dancing mix) [[Lloyd Cole and the Commotions]] (single b-side, Polydor) 1987
* "Forever Tonight" (Extended CD Mix) [[Jan Hammer]] (from the MCA album ''[[Escape from Television]]'') 1987
* "My Bag" (dancing mix)/"My Bag" (dancing dub) [[Lloyd Cole and the Commotions]] (Capitol Records) 1988
* "[[Personal Jesus]]" / "[[Enjoy the Silence]]" / "[[Policy of Truth]]" / "[[World in My Eyes]]" / "Sea of Sin" [[Depeche Mode]] (Mute / Sire / Reprise) 1990
* "[[Radioactivity (song)|Radioactivity]]" Kraftwerk (EMI/Elektra) 1991
* "Higher Love" Depeche Mode (Mute/Sire/Reprise) 1994 ''co-mixed with Goh Hotoda''
* "Get Another Plan" [[Abstract Truth]] (Wave Music) 1996
* "Tom & Joyce" Vai Minha Tristeza (Delabel) 1997
* "Tout est bleu" Ame Strong (Wave) 1998
* "Sangue De Beirona" Cesária Évora (Lusafrica / Wave) 1999
* "Expo Remix" Kraftwerk (EMI) 2000 ''co-mixed with Rob Rives''
* "[[Hunter (Dido song)|Hunter]]" [[Dido (singer)|Dido]] (Arista) 2001
* "Swollen" [[Bent (band)|Bent]] ([[Ministry of Sound]]) 2001
* "Josephine" [[Chris Rea]] (Warner Bros.) 2001 ''co-mixed with Eric Kupper''
* "La La Land" [[Green Velvet]] (Music Man)	2002 ''co-mixed with Rob Rives''
* "Community" Audio Soul Project (NRK) 2002 ''co-mixed with Rob Rives''
* "[[Forever More (Moloko song)|Forever More]]" [[Moloko]] (Echo) 2003 ''co-mixed with [[Eric Kupper]]''
* "[[Walking on Thin Ice]]" [[Yoko Ono]] (Twisted) 2003 ''co-mixed with [[Eric Kupper]]''
* "Aborigine's Jam" [[Cirque du Soleil]] (Cirque du Soleil) 2003 ''co-mixed with [[Eric Kupper]]''
* "Aero Dynamik" Kraftwerk (EMI – Astralwerks) 2004
* "Welcome Dub" Herbest Moon (Soundscape) 2004
* "Disco Infiltrator" [[LCD Soundsystem]] (EMI UK) 2005
* "[[Ride a White Horse]]" [[Goldfrapp]] (Mute) 2005 ''co-mixed with [[Eric Kupper]]''
* "[[Talk (Coldplay song)|Talk]]" [[Coldplay]] (EMI UK) 2005
* "Here Comes the Sun" [[Nina Simone]] (Columbia) 2006
* "The Picture" [[Hubert Kah]] (Soundcolours) 2011

===As an editor===
* "Happy Song" (bootleg) Rare Earth ''(labelled as: "Happy Song And Dance") ''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.wavemusic.com/ Wave Music]
* [http://www.deepspacenyc.com/ Deep Space NYC]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060210073920/http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj_view.asp?ID=373 RA: Resident Advisor – Francois K DJ Page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070208010202/http://www.djtimes.com/original/djmag/mar02/francois.htm Interview with ''DJ Times'', 2002]
* [http://www.residentadvisor.net/feature.aspx?845 Interview & Playlist for ''Resident Advisor'', 2007]
* [http://www.sixmillionsteps.com/drupal/node/845 Six Million Steps FRANCOIS KEVORKIAN SPECIAL radio show from April 2009]
* [http://www.rbmaradio.com/shows/francois-k-fireside-chat RBMA 'fireside chat' with François K.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108214022/http://www.rbmaradio.com/shows/francois-k-fireside-chat |date=8 January 2013 }}
* {{IMDb name|id=1385053|name=François Kevorkian}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kevorkian, Francois}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Rodez]]
[[Category:French record producers]]
[[Category:French people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:Post-disco musicians]]
[[Category:Deep house musicians]]
[[Category:French electronic dance music DJs]]
[[Category:French expatriates in the United States]]