Alfredo Fiorito
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Alfredo Fiorito is a DJ who was born in the town of Rosario in Argentina. He is celebrated as being the Father of the Balearic Beat. Emigrating to Spain and arriving on the Spanish island of Ibiza in September 1976, Alfredo eventually was approached to become a DJ at Amnesia which at this time was renowned as the most underground venue in Ibiza.
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Early life
Alfredo Fiorito was born in the city of Rosario in the center-south of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, South America. His early working life was focused on training to become a Journalist, and eventually he worked as a music critic on a Newspaper. In 1976 at the age of 23 he left Argentina and immigrated to mainland Spain. After a short period he re-located to Ibiza.
Ibiza
Alfredo took various jobs following his arrival on Ibiza including candlemaker, delivery driver and fashion designer. He also worked as a barman in a popular bar near the harbour in Ibiza Town called Be bop. The bar was equipped with a couple of turntables and a mixer and it was here in 1982 that Alfredo tried his hand at becoming a DJ.
Amnesia
It was while Alfredo was building a reputation at Be bop’s that he was asked If he would work as a DJ for a party on the outside terrace club called Amnesia in the near-by village of San Rafael. During this time Amnesia was celebrated as the most underground venue on the island. Alfredo’s first appearance at the club was in 1983 at a private party, and at first his sets were not well received. None the less Alfredo persisted and in the next year he soon began to turn the situation round eventually having a 6 year residency at the club. His ecletic mix of house, disco and pop, being the spark that eventually drew the crowds. As the weeks went by the in-crowd of Ibiza began to relocate from the neighboring Ku-club, (now known as Privilege) to Amnesia.
Influential
Alfredo is regarded as having a significant influence on the dance music's explosion on the island of Ibiza and the wider world.
The UK scene
In 1987 three Holidaying English DJ’s attended the outdoor club Amnesia The group was made up of Danny Rampling, Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway and joined by Johnny Walker. At the club the group were introduced to the unique eclectic style of Alfredo set which included such sounds as, among other the new house music that had been exported from the USA. The friends also discovered the music's powerful combination with the drug Ecstasy,(MDMA) that reduced inhibitions and created a sense of oneness on the dance floor. The friends returned to England and set about re-creating there experiences and the sounds that Alfredo had introduced to them. Danny Rampling recreate the Ibizan experience by promoting what is regarded as the UK's first Balearic rave club, Shoom in a disused Fitness Centre in Southwark. Oakenfold host an "Ibiza Reunion" party after-hours which evolved into one of the UK's major acid house nights, known as Spectrum at Heaven in Charing Cross.
