D.J. International Records

Pioneering Chicago house music label, launched in 1985 by [a=Rocky Jones] and Benji Espinoza. D.J. International released deep, hard, and soulful house but also acid house, as well as hip house recordings. International hits included [a=Farley "Jackmaster" Funk]'s "Love Can't Turn Around" (reaching no. 1 in the UK charts in 1987), [a=J.M. Silk]'s "Jack Your Body", and [a=Joe Smooth]'s "Promised Land". European releases were licensed to [l=Westside Records (2)] (also London Records/FFRR and CBS) in Britain, [l=BCM Records] in Germany and [l=Disques Dreyfus] in France. Single releases were licensed to different labels worldwide. Chief engineer in charge of production from 1988 to 1994: [a=Craig S. Loftis]. For bootleg and counterfeit releases with the DJ International logo, please use [l177065]. Label code: LC 8121. DJ International and all sub-labels shut their doors in 1995. The worldwide licensing and exploitation rights were granted to High Fashion Music B.V. in the Netherlands. In 2019, the label’s holdings were acquired by Universal Music. Espinoza died on October 24, 2020. As of 2021, all releases that the label controls have been licensed to Last Man Music, headed by Rocky Jones.