True House Stories interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana

Lenny Fontana

True House Stories® is a interview podcast series hosted by dance music icon, Lenny Fontana. It features candid and often untold stories from influential figures within the realm of house music. The show delves into personal anecdotes, pivotal moments, and behind-the-scenes tales from various DJs, producers, and other individuals who have made an impact in the house music scene. The podcast offers listeners an insider’s perspective on the history, evolution, and culture of house music through firsthand experiences shared by its key players like Carl Cox, Simon Dunmore, Kathy Sledge...

  1. 13h ago

    Colleen Cosmo Murphy interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 163 True House Stories®

    TRUE HOUSE STORIES® W/ COLLEEN COSMO MURPHY # 163 INTERVIEWED BY LENNY FONTANA Colleen "Cosmo" Murphy is an American DJ originally from Massachusetts, who became a radio host and curator as well as an audiophile,[and founder of the album listening event and content hub Classic Album Sundays.  She is often called on to speak about vinyl tracks and special songs for her professional and personal opinion. Colleen Murphy was mentored by New York City DJ and owner of The Loft, David Mancuso, at his seminal Loft parties in New York City in the 1990s; she became one of his most trusted friends and artistic collaborators.   Together they co-produced the compilation series David Mancuso Presents The Loft Volumes One and Two, and worked together on David's record label "The Loft" Audiophile Library of Music. In 2000, David told Time Out Magazine in New York City "She is very devoted and very pure about the music. She’s one of the only people I would trust, both with the music and with the equipment, to fill in for me.” This must be the highest honor to receive: to be trusted with his prize possession, "The Loft". She was then asked by David to help manage his legacy and continue to be one of the musical hosts at The Loft in NYC. In 2019, Colleen Murphy wasnominated in the DJ Mag North America Hall of Fame and launched "Love Dancin Sound System" with Trojan Sound System's Daddy Ad at Gilles Peterson's We Out Here Festival, sharing some of her musical and sonic passions with dancers outside of her existing communities. Colleen Murphy was featured in Disco: "Soundtrack Of A Revolution", a 2024 BBC and PBS co-production and three-part documentary about the rise of disco music in the 1970s. Come listen to Colleen share her life and journey from the beginning with her transistor radio to running some of the most successful eventsworldwide. ♫ SUBSCRIBE TRUE HOUSE STORIES® PODCAST:✚ SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/77yqcaawwWhnzQrGKeZtp6✚ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiZ9aMPdKkfgHjkYTrebboslHErUcCrdL

    Colleen Cosmo Murphy interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 163 True House Stories®
  2. Aug 26

    James Haskell interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 162 True House Stories®

    TRUE HOUSE STORIES® W/ JAMES HASKELL # 162 INTERVIEWED BY LENNY FONTANA True House Stories interviews James HASKELL who is a UK-based DJ and producer whose recent output has seen him release across labels including Toolroom, Nervous Records, Myth Of NYX, IN/Rotation and Strangelove. With a growing catalogue of club-focused records and regular appearances across the UK and Europe, he has established himself as a dependable presence within contemporary house music, recognized for consistency, focus and a clear sense of direction. Alongside studio work, HASKELL has continued to build momentum as a DJ. His schedule has taken him across venues throughout the UK, alongside increasing European dates, where his sets focus on pacing and flow. The music sits comfortably between house and more stripped-back club records, maintaining pressure without overstatement.2025 marked one of his most productive periods to date. Releases landed steadily throughout the year, including Deeper on Nervous Records, followed by Perfect Sound, Shake That and Suave Suave. Each record added depth to his catalogue while reinforcing a consistent sonic identity. A defining point within that run was Go Deep, his collaboration with Mark Knight and Gene Farris on Toolroom.The release strengthened his relationship with the label and placed him more firmly within its wider creative circle. Before committing fully to music, HASKELL spent years competing at international level in rugby, a background that still shapes his working mindset. The discipline, routine and attention to physical rhythm translate naturally into his approach to DJing and production, where repetition, timing and control sit at the centre of his sound. Come check out the celebrity himself explain the struggle of changing careers, the benefits and the losses. He has earned his stripes in electronic music.

    James Haskell interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 162 True House Stories®
  3. Aug 12

    Mark Picchiotti interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 161 True House Stories®

    TRUE HOUSE STORIES® W/ MARK PICCHIOTTI # 161 INTERVIEWED BY LENNY FONTANA True House Stories Interviews Mark Picchiotti who happens to be an American DJ, producer, remixer, label owner and songwriter based out of Chicago, Illinois. As a remixer and producer, Picchiotti has amassed 24 number one singles on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, and he has remixed such artists as Beyonce, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Daft Punk, The Killers, AC/DC, Florence And The Machine, Amy Grant, Foster The People, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Sia, Sybil, Enrique Igleasas, and Mary J. Blige. In 2002, he produced and co-wrote the Kylie Minogue single “Give It To Me” for her 8×-Platinum album Fever. Picchiotti was also voted one of the 40 most influential remixers of all time by UK publication Blues & Soul Magazine. His DJ residencies at nightclubs in his hometown of Chicago have included Shelter, Smartbar, Berlin, Crobar, and Medusa's; as well as UK nightclubs Ministry Of Sound (London) and Hard Times (Leeds). He continues to travel the globe performing at notable clubs such as Pacha (Portugal) and El Divino (Ibiza). He has also headlined the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival and DJed its infamous daytime after-party Laneway. Mark Picchiotti owns and operates the imprint Blueplate Records, home to his own acts Basstoy, Sandstorm, Fondue, and Streetlife. Picchiotti is also a member of several dance music duos: The Absolute, Nightman, and Doctorz, MD.Mark Picchiotti's music has been described as house, gospel house, soulful house, and progressive house. Additionally, Billboard Magazine says of Mark's music, “His ear for soulful rhythm is matched by a knack for sweet pop melody construction.” In the 1990s, his work with Suzanne Palmer, “There Will Come A Day” and the follow-up single “I Believe”, earned Picchiotti the mantle “Godfather of Gospel House” by music journalists. There is so much to unpack here, come listen to Mark explain his life in ever changing business.

    Mark Picchiotti interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 161 True House Stories®
  4. Mar 18

    Alan Russell interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 157 True House Stories®

    TRUE HOUSE STORIES® W/ ALANRUSSELL # 157 INTERVIEWED BY LENNY FONTANA Black Vinyl Records Celebrates 30th Anniversary: Founder Alan Russell Shares Three Decades of House Music History on True House Stories Black Vinyl Records, the seminal UK underground house music label founded in London in 1996, proudly announces its 30th anniversary milestone with founder Alan Russell appearing as a distinguished guest on the acclaimed True House Stories podcast, hosted by legendary New York DJ and producer Lenny Fontana. The landmark interview, now available on all major podcast platforms, offers an unprecedented deep dive into the remarkable journey of one of house music's most enduring independent labels. Russell, known throughout the industry as "Mr. Black Vinyl," sat down with Mr. Fontana to discuss the label's humble beginnings, its evolution through the changing landscape of dance music, and the stories behind some of the most influential house music releases of the past three decades. "It's incredible to think that thirty years have passed since we pressed that first record," said Alan Russell, founder and owner of Black Vinyl Records. "Being invited to share our story on True House Stories was a perfect way to mark this anniversary. Lenny created such an authentic space for artists to tell their truth, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the journey, the music, and the community that hassupported us from day one.” Check out the whole story right here on the original show True House Stories.

    Alan Russell interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 157 True House Stories®
  5. Feb 18

    Charles Dixon interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 156 True House Stories®

    TRUE HOUSE STORIES® W/ CHARLES DIXON # 156 INTERVIEWED BY LENNY FONTANA The acclaimed True House Stories® podcast, hosted by legendary DJ Lenny Fontana, presents a landmark new episode featuring Sir Charles Mixin Dixon, one of the music industry's most celebrated pioneers and innovators. In this comprehensive conversation, Dixon shares his remarkablethree-decade journey through the music business, from his early days as a college DJ to revolutionizing radio programming and discovering international recording artists. The episode offers listeners unprecedented insight into Dixon's transformative career, which began in 1983 at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was inspired by Grand Master Flash's hip-hop sound and the house music of O'Dell's, a local Baltimore club that rivaled New York City's infamous Paradise Garage. Under the moniker "Sir Charles"– initially describing his preppy British style but soon denoting his royal turntable skills – Dixon began DJing at campus parties, developing his signature ability to mix current hits with fresh new songs while never missing a beat. "Charles's story is truly remarkable because he represents someone who didn't just participate in the evolution of radio and DJ culture – he fundamentally changed it," says Fontana. "From creating the first mixshow mailing list in the music industry to developing programming formats that were copied by over 40 stations nationwide, Charles has been atthe forefront of innovation for over three decades. His journey from college DJ to discovering Che'Nelle and winning a Japanese Gold Disc Award is incredibly inspiring." Throughout the conversation, Dixon details his groundbreaking work at OMAP Record Pool in 1985, where he served as Assistant Urban Pool Director, reviewing and compiling charts of 75 of the hottest DJs across multiple formats in the Washington DC area. This experience laid thefoundation for his revolutionary approach to record promotion and artist development. Listeners will hear how he implemented a multi-musical format at The Dome nightclub that encompassed hip-hop, R&B, Pop, Dance, go-go, and house music, creating an unparalleled style that appealed to the masses and earned the venue Night Club of the Year honors from Washingtonian Magazine. The episode delves into Dixon's historic radio career, including his move to WPGC-FM where his distinctive style helped take the station from number 22 to number 1 on the Arbitron chart within three years. His innovative primetime mixshow format was ultimately adopted by over 40 stations nationwide, including major markets like KBXX in Houston, KPWR in LosAngeles, and WQHT in New York. Dixon shares stories of introducing American audiences to British imports like Soul II Soul's "Keep On Moving," Lisa Stansfield's "All Around the World," and Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" before their US releases. Dixon's move to New York in 1990 as National Club Promotions director for Tommy Boy Records marked the beginning of his impact on the national stage. The conversation explores his work at WBLS, where he hosted "The Thunderstorm" and brought Grandmaster Flash to the station. His contributions to major record labels including Tommy Boy, Pendulum/Elektra Records, TVT Records, and Columbia Records revolutionized mixshow promotions and created industry standards that continue today. Listeners will gain valuable insights into Dixon's entrepreneurial journey, including founding Sir Charles Independent Productions (SCIP) in 2003 and discovering Australian talent Che'Nelle in 2005. The episode details how he secured a deal with Virgin Records CEO Jason Flom in just one week, leading to Che'Nelle's debut album "Things Happen For A Reason," which went Gold in Japan and won the prestigious Japanese Gold Disc Award for Best New Artist of 2008.

    Charles Dixon interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 156 True House Stories®
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About

True House Stories® is a interview podcast series hosted by dance music icon, Lenny Fontana. It features candid and often untold stories from influential figures within the realm of house music. The show delves into personal anecdotes, pivotal moments, and behind-the-scenes tales from various DJs, producers, and other individuals who have made an impact in the house music scene. The podcast offers listeners an insider’s perspective on the history, evolution, and culture of house music through firsthand experiences shared by its key players like Carl Cox, Simon Dunmore, Kathy Sledge...

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