Dave Matthias began his career in media in 1985, working in television production. After five years, he transitioned to radio, drawn by his deep passion for music and audio production. “Audio production and music just seemed so much more interesting to me,” says Matthias. “I produced commercials, radio idents, promos, edited music—I did it all. Music was always a big part of my life, and I knew I was destined to do something big with it.”

His road to success was not a quick one.

In 1992, after developing a solid understanding of dance radio formats, Matthias made the bold decision to leave a highly coveted position at KITS / LIVE 105 FM in San Francisco, where he had worked for nearly four years. Wanting to be closer to the underground scene, he began playing music in clubs throughout Northern California, where he quickly built a strong name for himself in the dance community.

In 1994, Matthias became a Billboard Reporter, one of only 115 top DJs in the United States who influence Billboard magazine’s Dance charts. In 1995–1996, he held numerous club and radio residencies, including “The Matthias Mix” on KBBF 89.1 FM (PBS, Santa Rosa) and the highly acclaimed “St. John’s Playhouse” on KYLD / WILD 107 FM, San Francisco’s premier dance station.

Dave Matthias is also responsible for the official radio-edited versions of Armand Van Helden’s legendary hit “The Funk Phenomena” released by Atlantic / Henry Street Records.

Between 1997 and 1998, Matthias produced an impressive amount of remixes for the Hot Tracks Remix Service, completing 45 major label remix projects available on CD and vinyl. In 1998, he joined KZQZ / Z95.7 FM in San Francisco, where he became the station’s first Mixshow DJ, paving the way for regular mixshow programming.

In April 1999, Matthias launched “Club Sexy” (later renamed “The Groove”), a six-hour non-stop dance mix show, airing on KSXY / HOT 95.9 FM. The show, which focused on house, disco-house, club and trance, became a national landmark, achieving #1 Arbitron ratings, unprecedented results for the radio station.

In January 2000, he released his first national mix CD, “In My House, There’s a Disco” (StreetBeat Records / UBL Recordings), followed by collaborations as a remixer for the X-Mix Remix Service. That same year, Matthias mixed the legendary Loleatta Holloway’s “Queen of the Night: The Ultimate Club Collection”, released nationally by The Right Stuff / Capitol Records in January 2001.

Also in 2000, Matthias launched the national radio show “The Digital Groove”, a four-hour weekly show broadcast on numerous stations across the US, featuring resident DJs and top international guests.

In December 2000, HOT 95.9 FM named him Mixshow Director, and in June 2001, Wine Country Radio Group named him Production Director for three stations, while also hosting the afternoon drive slot on HOT 95.9 FM.

In 2002, Matthias released “Future Sounds of Trance Vol. 1”, solidifying his position on the national scene. With the success of his compilations and syndicated radio shows, demand for his “distinguished sound” increased significantly, leading to regular appearances in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Between 2003 and 2004, he released a series of successful compilations, including:

Work This! 2003 Part 4

Dance Essentials Vol. 3

Pure Dance Party (Top 20 on the Billboard Electronic Albums Chart, over 100,000 copies sold)

Pure Dance Party 2

Maximum Workout

houseMixed

In November 2004, Dave Matthias was inducted into The Recording Academy, becoming a voting member of the Grammy Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the music industry.

This was followed by the releases of Best of Pure Dance Party (2007) and True Dance 1, his 13th national CD. Since 2008, Matthias has focused heavily on production and remixing, working with artists such as Rihanna, The Presets, America Olivo, and others.

In 2009, “Angel on the Dancefloor” (feat. Natalia Flores) reached #22 on the Billboard Dance Chart, followed by the progressive house release “Bora Bora” on JetSet Music Group.

Today, Dave Matthias continues to release chart-topping remixes, produce new music, and headline DJ sets across the U.S., remaining a respected and influential figure in dance music, radio, and remix culture.

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