Legacy2Chicago
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Legacy 2 Chicago - Jesse Settle Lead Singer of Legacy
The Official Chicago’s Own Legacy Freestyle Biography
Author: Jessee Settle; Lead Singer of Legacy
My name is Jesse Settle and I am the lead singer of the Chicago freestyle singing group. I have one sister and was raised by my mother and step father.
I am 37 years old and am of Puerto-Rican/Irish decent.
My entire life I have loved music. It has always been my passion.
In the late 80’s, I started my music career as a local disc jockey, spinning the turntables all through the South East side of Chicago.
Eventually making my way through the state of Indiana meeting great DJ’s such as the Indiana Terror Team and Jam Trax Productions.
As time went by, I would make stops on the North Side of Chicago where I have the opportunities to meet others such as the Chicago Super Mix Six and Cutting Crew.
Through my experiences as a DJ I fell in love with Freestyle music. I met so many inspiring DJ’s as well as music artists.
I’ve always loved writing songs and deep down inside, I knew that someday I would be able to write songs for myself.
In 1989, I decided to retire from the DJ-world and pursue a singing career in the music industry.
My singing career began when I met an up and coming Freestyle artist named Joel from East Chicago Indiana.
Joel is now famous for the Freestyle song “Prisoner of Love”.
Joel and I decided to unite and form a singing group “Duo”.
We shuffled through group names and decided on using the name Legacy.
The name Legacy was actually part of a project he had planned to do in the past but it didn’t work out.
The name originated as “Latin Legacy”, we removed “Latin” and it remained as “Legacy”.
We felt it had a better catch to it.
In 1989 & 1990, Joel and I recorded our first demo which most people don’t remember an original version of the song “Girls Do it Just For Fun”.
It was released on a label we created called “International Latin House Records”.
Along the flipside of that record was some added bonus music by Antonio Suarez Jr and Code 3 Records.
This was the beginning of what was meant to be the greatest Freestyle singing group to come out of the Chicago IL area as the Midwest Area.
Only 500 copies of that original Latin House Label were pressed and released.
It is now a collectors Item. Despite the fact that there were limited copies of the record being sold, Joel and I toured the city creating a huge buzz and following for Legacy.
We stopped at Radio Stations such as Chicago’s WCYC 90.5 FM “Freestyle Sunday Show” with Harv Roman.
To this day, he is a great friend of mine and whom I dearly respect.
We also made stops at Chicago WCRX 88.1 FM with Carrie Cortinez.
Carrie eventually became our manager and helped us become whom we are.
Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end.
In 1991 the progress of the group was moving very slow. Joel and I decided to part ways.
Joel went on and pursued a solo artist career under Chicago’s DJ International Records.
He released his first hit single “Prisoner of Love” which to this day I still believe was a great freestyle song. I will always have respect for Joel.
For the things he taught me and the concerts we did during our time together as Legacy.
As Joel went on to become a solo artist, I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel.
I decided to continue on my mission to keep the “Legacy” of the group alive and make it into a three man show.
In 1991, I went in search of 2 more members to join me on stage and decided to hire one of my good friends who was also a Disc Jockey.
He was known to everyone as “Hot Mix Javie”, but to family and friends, Javier Romero.
Javier brought a kind and charismatic feel to the group. I guess you could say the George Lamond of our group.
After Javier agreed to be a part of the new “Legacy” we needed to find one more piece to our puzzle. I remember hearing about this kid who was spectacular on the dance floor and had this super talent to be a rap artist.
Of course I also knew and loved break dancing, so I decided to add a hip hop edge to this show.
Juanie Rodriguez was tapped to join our group and he agreed to do so.
Thus the new and improved Legacy group was born.
That very same week we set out and interviewed with radio stations to put the word out that Legacy was now a 3-man group with two new members.
We advise all fans that we were in negotiations with several recording companies and were close to striking a deal a short term deal.
After several choices and negotiations, we decided to move forward and sign up with DJ International Records.
We chose this label because it was willing to release our music right away, where as other record labels even though they wanted us, they were not planning to release our music right away.
We wanted to make an impact on the music industry as soon as possible Freestyle music was beginning to fade away in Chicago.
With signed contracts, we immediately went into the studio and began recording.
Starting the with Re-mix of “Girls Do it Just For Fun”.
In 1991&1992 we released our first single of that song that song under the direction of one the greatest producers to ever grace his touch in a studio.
His name is JJ Flores. JJ brought a new flavor to Freestyle music such as spinning beats and bouncing sounds, processing them through gates (his signature break rolls).
All that was left to do was to bring the new Legacy style vocals to the table.
I did the leads and along with Javier’s crucial background vocals and Juanie’s hip-hop edged rap verses a new era of freestyle was created.
Some people might say we were way ahead of our time.
This new song was sent to all the radio stations in Chicago.
The word was out that this group was ready. Radio stations had it played on regular rotation such as B96, WCYC 90.5, and WCRX 88.1 FM.
It was a proud moment.
Legacy had put Freestyle back on the map in Chicago. We had to prove that this was no fluke.
In 1993-1994, we went back in the studio with JJ once again and wrote/released our follow up recording hit.
We called it “Stay With Me Tonight”.
This time with the help of B96’s top Freestyle DJ extraordinaire my dear friend “Tim Spinnin Schommer”,
Stay With Me Tonight came along with super fresh chants, harmonies and Rap as well. This one of the dopest productions from JJ Flores and Tim Spinnin Schommer. Local radio stations immediately grabbed the song.
Now Legacy had 2 hit singles on the top ten and Bill Board reviews.
We decided to put out two music videos for the first two singles.
The videos aired on ‘The Box 147” as well as “Street Mix Show” Channel 26 in Chicago.They later went on to air in other states.
By this time, we began touring other states and meeting new Freestyle fans.
We couldn’t believe how many fans there were across the U.S.
I’m talking Texas, NewYork, Detroit, Florida, etc etc. Freestyle definitely has a huge fan base.
I was also proud to know that Legacy has a ton of great fans across the U.S.
In 1994-1995, Legacy released what would be our last single called “The Time is Right” along with a music video which never had it’s chance to air.
It also included a cameo by Baseball Legend Chicago Cub’s Sammy Sosa. Juanie Rodriguez left the group and was replaced by Eric Perez.
Eventually Juanie came back to join Legacy once more.
I write this letter today to all of the Legacy Fans across the US that have wondered what ever happened to the group Legacy.
In 1995 I Jesse Settle lead singer of the group Legacy along with group member Javier Romero were placed in the Department of Corrections for something we did not do.
An unfortunate circumstance that was beyond our control.
Both Javier and I have been incarcerated for the past 14yrs and still counting.
We are still fighting for our freedom.
Today I am calling on all the Freestyle Fans across the U.S. to come together and please help us come home.
If you continue on this site you will see a petition of Clemency for a Sentence Reduction addressed to our Illinois Governor posted soon. Please stay tuned for more on the petition. You will need to write to us separately.
We are not allowed to receive mail for 2 or more people.
We can only receive individual mail written to each one of us.
You can’t write a letter to me and include Javier’s mail in the same envelope. Must be separate mail.
I look forward to receiving letters from every one of our fans and promise to write to all of you back.
In closing I would like to advise all of the Legacy fans still out there not to be fooled by anyone out there who are promoting Freestyle concerts
with the group name “Legacy” because your not getting the original and true members of our group.
I would hate for our loyal fans to spend their hard earned money for something they are not going to get.
Anyone out there promoting any concert events with Legacy on the bill is only trying to make a quick dollar off the name and has no intentions of helping us.
With that said I end this bio and hope our fans will consider helping us with our current situation.
I look forward to your letters and comments.
A special hello to all the Freestyle Artists out there and all the thanks to every Hot Mix tape DJ local and radio.
God Bless You All.
Jessee Settle
Myspace.com/Legacy2Chicago
Legacy2Chicago@yahoo.com
Write to me personally at:
Jessee Settle - K53087
2600 N. Brinton Ave.
Dixon, IL 61021
Note:
You can purchase one of our rare songs "I Couldn't Live Another Night Without You" at our Myspace website.
You can download here:
http://www.songcastmusic.com/profiles/Legacy2Chicago
The Official Chicago’s Own Legacy Freestyle Biography
Author: Jessee Settle; Lead Singer of Legacy
My name is Jesse Settle and I am the lead singer of the Chicago freestyle singing group. I have one sister and was raised by my mother and step father.
I am 37 years old and am of Puerto-Rican/Irish decent.
My entire life I have loved music. It has always been my passion.
In the late 80’s, I started my music career as a local disc jockey, spinning the turntables all through the South East side of Chicago.
Eventually making my way through the state of Indiana meeting great DJ’s such as the Indiana Terror Team and Jam Trax Productions.
As time went by, I would make stops on the North Side of Chicago where I have the opportunities to meet others such as the Chicago Super Mix Six and Cutting Crew.
Through my experiences as a DJ I fell in love with Freestyle music. I met so many inspiring DJ’s as well as music artists.
I’ve always loved writing songs and deep down inside, I knew that someday I would be able to write songs for myself.
In 1989, I decided to retire from the DJ-world and pursue a singing career in the music industry.
My singing career began when I met an up and coming Freestyle artist named Joel from East Chicago Indiana.
Joel is now famous for the Freestyle song “Prisoner of Love”.
Joel and I decided to unite and form a singing group “Duo”.
We shuffled through group names and decided on using the name Legacy.
The name Legacy was actually part of a project he had planned to do in the past but it didn’t work out.
The name originated as “Latin Legacy”, we removed “Latin” and it remained as “Legacy”.
We felt it had a better catch to it.
In 1989 & 1990, Joel and I recorded our first demo which most people don’t remember an original version of the song “Girls Do it Just For Fun”.
It was released on a label we created called “International Latin House Records”.
Along the flipside of that record was some added bonus music by Antonio Suarez Jr and Code 3 Records.
This was the beginning of what was meant to be the greatest Freestyle singing group to come out of the Chicago IL area as the Midwest Area.
Only 500 copies of that original Latin House Label were pressed and released.
It is now a collectors Item. Despite the fact that there were limited copies of the record being sold, Joel and I toured the city creating a huge buzz and following for Legacy.
We stopped at Radio Stations such as Chicago’s WCYC 90.5 FM “Freestyle Sunday Show” with Harv Roman.
To this day, he is a great friend of mine and whom I dearly respect.
We also made stops at Chicago WCRX 88.1 FM with Carrie Cortinez.
Carrie eventually became our manager and helped us become whom we are.
Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end.
In 1991 the progress of the group was moving very slow. Joel and I decided to part ways.
Joel went on and pursued a solo artist career under Chicago’s DJ International Records.
He released his first hit single “Prisoner of Love” which to this day I still believe was a great freestyle song. I will always have respect for Joel.
For the things he taught me and the concerts we did during our time together as Legacy.
As Joel went on to become a solo artist, I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel.
I decided to continue on my mission to keep the “Legacy” of the group alive and make it into a three man show.
In 1991, I went in search of 2 more members to join me on stage and decided to hire one of my good friends who was also a Disc Jockey.
He was known to everyone as “Hot Mix Javie”, but to family and friends, Javier Romero.
Javier brought a kind and charismatic feel to the group. I guess you could say the George Lamond of our group.
After Javier agreed to be a part of the new “Legacy” we needed to find one more piece to our puzzle. I remember hearing about this kid who was spectacular on the dance floor and had this super talent to be a rap artist.
Of course I also knew and loved break dancing, so I decided to add a hip hop edge to this show.
Juanie Rodriguez was tapped to join our group and he agreed to do so.
Thus the new and improved Legacy group was born.
That very same week we set out and interviewed with radio stations to put the word out that Legacy was now a 3-man group with two new members.
We advise all fans that we were in negotiations with several recording companies and were close to striking a deal a short term deal.
After several choices and negotiations, we decided to move forward and sign up with DJ International Records.
We chose this label because it was willing to release our music right away, where as other record labels even though they wanted us, they were not planning to release our music right away.
We wanted to make an impact on the music industry as soon as possible Freestyle music was beginning to fade away in Chicago.
With signed contracts, we immediately went into the studio and began recording.
Starting the with Re-mix of “Girls Do it Just For Fun”.
In 1991&1992 we released our first single of that song that song under the direction of one the greatest producers to ever grace his touch in a studio.
His name is JJ Flores. JJ brought a new flavor to Freestyle music such as spinning beats and bouncing sounds, processing them through gates (his signature break rolls).
All that was left to do was to bring the new Legacy style vocals to the table.
I did the leads and along with Javier’s crucial background vocals and Juanie’s hip-hop edged rap verses a new era of freestyle was created.
Some people might say we were way ahead of our time.
This new song was sent to all the radio stations in Chicago.
The word was out that this group was ready. Radio stations had it played on regular rotation such as B96, WCYC 90.5, and WCRX 88.1 FM.
It was a proud moment.
Legacy had put Freestyle back on the map in Chicago. We had to prove that this was no fluke.
In 1993-1994, we went back in the studio with JJ once again and wrote/released our follow up recording hit.
We called it “Stay With Me Tonight”.
This time with the help of B96’s top Freestyle DJ extraordinaire my dear friend “Tim Spinnin Schommer”,
Stay With Me Tonight came along with super fresh chants, harmonies and Rap as well. This one of the dopest productions from JJ Flores and Tim Spinnin Schommer. Local radio stations immediately grabbed the song.
Now Legacy had 2 hit singles on the top ten and Bill Board reviews.
We decided to put out two music videos for the first two singles.
The videos aired on ‘The Box 147” as well as “Street Mix Show” Channel 26 in Chicago.They later went on to air in other states.
By this time, we began touring other states and meeting new Freestyle fans.
We couldn’t believe how many fans there were across the U.S.
I’m talking Texas, NewYork, Detroit, Florida, etc etc. Freestyle definitely has a huge fan base.
I was also proud to know that Legacy has a ton of great fans across the U.S.
In 1994-1995, Legacy released what would be our last single called “The Time is Right” along with a music video which never had it’s chance to air.
It also included a cameo by Baseball Legend Chicago Cub’s Sammy Sosa. Juanie Rodriguez left the group and was replaced by Eric Perez.
Eventually Juanie came back to join Legacy once more.
I write this letter today to all of the Legacy Fans across the US that have wondered what ever happened to the group Legacy.
In 1995 I Jesse Settle lead singer of the group Legacy along with group member Javier Romero were placed in the Department of Corrections for something we did not do.
An unfortunate circumstance that was beyond our control.
Both Javier and I have been incarcerated for the past 14yrs and still counting.
We are still fighting for our freedom.
Today I am calling on all the Freestyle Fans across the U.S. to come together and please help us come home.
If you continue on this site you will see a petition of Clemency for a Sentence Reduction addressed to our Illinois Governor posted soon. Please stay tuned for more on the petition. You will need to write to us separately.
We are not allowed to receive mail for 2 or more people.
We can only receive individual mail written to each one of us.
You can’t write a letter to me and include Javier’s mail in the same envelope. Must be separate mail.
I look forward to receiving letters from every one of our fans and promise to write to all of you back.
In closing I would like to advise all of the Legacy fans still out there not to be fooled by anyone out there who are promoting Freestyle concerts
with the group name “Legacy” because your not getting the original and true members of our group.
I would hate for our loyal fans to spend their hard earned money for something they are not going to get.
Anyone out there promoting any concert events with Legacy on the bill is only trying to make a quick dollar off the name and has no intentions of helping us.
With that said I end this bio and hope our fans will consider helping us with our current situation.
I look forward to your letters and comments.
A special hello to all the Freestyle Artists out there and all the thanks to every Hot Mix tape DJ local and radio.
God Bless You All.
Jessee Settle
Myspace.com/Legacy2Chicago
Legacy2Chicago@yahoo.com
Write to me personally at:
Jessee Settle - K53087
2600 N. Brinton Ave.
Dixon, IL 61021
Note:
You can purchase one of our rare songs "I Couldn't Live Another Night Without You" at our Myspace website.
You can download here:
http://www.songcastmusic.com/profiles/Legacy2Chicago
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