Although many had heard his music for decades, Patrick Adams was known by name primarily among disco insiders. A Harlem-born musician whose resume stretches from the '70s R&B hits of Black Ivory to hip-hop icons like Eric B. & Rakim, Adams straddles the divide between mainstream soul and underground dance. Having produced and written for such big names as Eddie Kendricks, Herbie Mann, and Rick James, Adams can be polished on demand, but his signature sound is an idiosyncratic mix of tough hooks and effusive arrangements. A favorite of Paradise Garage DJ Larry Levan, Adams masterminded so many disco and club tracks by fleeting acts that it would take a dance music genealogist to fully document his catalog.

Able to access the most esoteric records imaginable via blogs and eBay, a new breed of Internet-enabled disco fan spread knowledge of Adams's discography, filled in the gaps of his disco family tree, and expanded his cult exponentially. By the late '90s, listeners who weren't even born when most of his records were recorded could know more about them than the generation of dancers that was their initial audience. Combining obscurities with classics, The Master of the… read more »