Releases by Mixer / D.J.
SHEP PETTIBONE
| Year | Release Title | Label | Mix Title | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Mastermixes II | Rams Horn | MASTERMIXES VOLUME 2 | 00:19:38 |
| 1990 | Technotronic - Techno Medley | S.B.K. | TECHNO MEDLEY | 00:08:29 |
Information:
Below is a summarised biography created using Google Gemini in May 2026...
Robert E. "Shep" Pettibone (born July 10, 1959) is one of the most prolific and influential DJs, remixers, and producers of the 1980s and early 1990s. He is widely credited by music historians as the definitive architect who bridged the gap between post-disco, early underground house, and mainstream pop.
The Radio Era: The "Mastermix" Pioneer
Pettibone first gained public prominence in 1982 via New York City’s 98.7 KISS FM (WRKS). His work during this era fundamentally changed how dance music was broadcast and consumed.
The "Mastermix Danceparty": Pettibone constructed seamless, extended audio sequences for the radio using advanced reel-to-reel tape splicing, tape delay, and digital sampling.
Structural Innovation: He treated the segueing of tracks like movements in classical music, turning individual dance songs into cohesive, multi-movement sequences.
The Multiple-Mix Strategy: Pettibone was among the very first remixers to submit multiple alternative versions (e.g., club mixes, dubs, instrumentals, acapellas) on a single commercial release—a strategy designed to market one song to completely different radio formats and club markets.
The Studio Transition: Salsoul and Prelude
His radio success caught the attention of major dance labels, leading to formal, in-house studio remix work where he reshaped underground dance club culture.
Prelude Records: In 1982, his innovative KISS FM work for the label was collected into a landmark commercial double-LP compilation titled Mastermixes. His edits of D-Train’s "You're the One for Me" and "Keep On" became immediate dance floor standards.
Salsoul Records: Moving to Salsoul in 1983, Pettibone stripped down and modernized classic disco tracks into sharper, house-adjacent records. His remix of First Choice’s "Let No Man Put Asunder" is considered a blueprint for the emerging Chicago and New York house music scenes.
The Sonic Signature: The "Machine Gun" Snare
As he moved from underground clubs to chart-topping pop production in the late 1980s, Pettibone established a distinct, highly recognizable aesthetic:
The Trademark Sound: A heavily sequenced, staccato, rapid-fire electronic snare drum effect—often referred to by fans and industry insiders as the "bazooka" or "machine gun" snare. He combined this with dense analog synthesizer hooks (Oberheim OB-8, Korg M1) and heavy Akai hardware sampling.
Legacy Assessment
Pettibone stepped away from the music industry in the late 1990s, leaving behind a catalog of over 100 definitive remix credits. For a history of the DJ, Pettibone represents the critical transition point where the DJ evolved from someone who simply plays records into an elite studio auteur capable of rewriting the genetic code of pop hits to serve the dance floor.