Bio
In hindsight, it seems to be of no coinci-dence, maybe even divine selection that Merlin was surrounded by and grew up with two figures that would have a pro-found effect on the dance music scene,
his cousin DJ Tony Humphries and close friend and next-door neighbor DJ Timmy Regisford. It was at this point that Merlin honed his DJing skills and music business savvy. This youthful yet to be powerful triad used to DJ in each other’s apartments, while a very attentive younger kid sat quietly and learned ... his name was Ruben Toro.
Timmy believed in Merlin’s skills and would often times ask him to “fill in” for him on his WBLS mix show. It was these “fill-in slots” on WBLS that Merlin quickly began to garner a near mythical status with the dance music public. His distinctive DJing style ushered in a fresh, vibrant flavor full of experimentation and exploration in technique and music programming that
set the NY Metropolitan area on its ear.
Merlin rose to prominence as among the industry’s most influential major label executives. Nonetheless, he continued to be firmly cemented in the world of this new dance form via Chicago called House Music as a DJ in the clubs and on radio. During this period, it was Merlin who was instrumental in exposing the burgeoning House Music scene to the worldwide populace on his Saturday Nite radio show and during his tenure as Vice President of A&R of Atlantic Records. The group, Ten City was the first pure “House Music” collective to receive the “nod” from Merlin and he subsequently signed them to Atlantic. Incidentally, Ten City is among the few and first “true” groups and/or artists in the genre to receive a Gold Album.
During this time, Merlin co-founded the 1990’s answer to the spirit of the Paradise Garage, The Loft and Club Zanzibar—Club Shelter. Within one year, Club Shelter was the toast of NYC’s House/Dance music underground scene. Spinning on that “successful first night” was Merlin’s most memorable DJing experience. However, as his responsibilities as a major label executive increased, Merlin took an active role as a silent partner but continued to DJ at the club. Today, The Shelter brand, the music and culture it sustained continue to reverberate around the world.
