FEVER ENTERPRISES

FEVER ENTERPRISES, formed in 1977 by entrepreneur Sal Abbatiello , encompasses all areas of the music industry including his own record label, artist management company, publishing company, concert promotions, and night clubs.

Sal Abbatiello, a Bronx born and native, initially started the business as a bartender in his father's bar. Two years later at the early age of 19 went on to own his own club, where he promoted his shows by handing out flyers and selling tickets himself.

In 1977, his career took of when he opened the "DISCO FEVER." The club, first catered to 35 and over crowed, but Sal, having heard kids in the streets of the South Bronx rapping over a DJ cutting records, thought it would be a good idea to bring them into the club. With the help of his first two DJ's Grand Master Flash, and Kurtis Blow, Sal had successfully taken rap music off the streets and into "The FEVER". This innovative music trend was surprisingly not discovered in a studio, but between the walls of a small club in the South Bronx. By 1982, "The FEVER" was known internationally in accordance with rap music. Because of the great fame of "The FEVER", Warner Bros, approached Abbatiello with a movie proposal and in 1985 the movie "Krush Groove " was released, exposing the entire world to the "The FEVER" which played a tremendous part in the international and national success of RAP music. Abbatiello, a character in his own personality (those who know him know this) had his acting debut by playing himself in the movie.

Persuaded by Russel Simmons of Def Jam Recordings to begin his own record company, Abbatiello formed FEVER RECORDS in 1983. His first release was "Games People Play", produced by Kurtis Blow and Jellybean Benitez, the artist was "Sweet G ". "Sweet G" was the general manager of "The FEVER" as well as the first artist released on FEVER RECORDS. "Games People Play" which was co-written by Sal Abbatiello was the first rap single to combine singing and rapping. The single is currently a rap classic.

In 1984, Sal opened SKATE FEVER. It combined rollerskating with live DJ's and performances by rap artists. SKATE FEVER was another big success and soon the "FEVER EMPIRE" took form. In a short time SKATE FEVER was open, it brought about the establishment of The Macombs Youth Association and held numerous benefits to restore and rebuild a city park and playground across the street which had been run-down and closed for seven years.

Abbatiello was never biased when it came to hiring his employees. He has been known to employ people with little or no experience and most of his were directly from within the community. At one time, he had over 70 people on his staff and in 1984 employed over 130 people making him one of the biggest employers in the Bronx. Sal Abbatiello, a family man, married for 15 years and a proud father of 3 children, has been actively involved with charity and community work since the early 80's. FEVER ENTERPRISES has raised over $50,000 for the United Negro College Fund and donated all proceeds from the movie "KRUSH GROOVE" to the Special Olympics .

In 1984, Sal along with WBLS FM in New York, Coca-Cola, and his friend Charles Stettler, promoted a citywide rap talent contest at Radio City Music Hall. All 6,000 seats were filled, free of charged and Sal Abbatiello participated as one of the judges. That evening the FAT BOYS were discovered. Incidentally, one of the Fat Boy's biggest hits, "Jail House Rap", off their platinum album, was written by Sal. Also that year Sal helped put together a city wide Break Dancing Against Graffiti Contest along with WKTU in New York and the ABC network. It became a one hour special with many major television personalities as judges including Sal, himself. Him along with Kurtis Blow were awarded certificates of Merit by mayor Koch for their efforts.

In the summer of 1984, Abbatiello started the Entertainer's Basketball League along with Mr. Magic and Sugar Hill Records. All games were at Mt. Morris Park in Harlem. Several of the league's players went on to the NBA, such as Walter Berry, Richie Adams, Kevin Williams, and Pearl Washington. Sal has also won the Most Valuable player Award two years in a row at the league's Celebrity Games. Sal has contributed and extended his positive and genuine energy to his community, and others. Due to his efforts, Sal has received numerous awards, and in 1984, was honored by Bronx Borough President Stanley Simon, as the Bronx's Citizen of the year. In 1985, Sal decided to lead his record label in a different direction. He released a dance single entitled, "PLEASE DON'T GO." It was produced by a young inexperience Andy "Panda" Tripoli (of MTV's 2nd Generation) and sung by Nayobe who at the time was sixteen years old. Lightning strikes again and Latin Hip Hop was discovered!

With the success of the Latin Hip Hop sound. Sal, decided to open a club catering to that music. The "DEVIL'S NEST" opened later that year and was an instant success with the young Latin crowd. Although the club was on it's way to being a landmark, it was in need of it's own special DJ, Abbatiello search the streets and come upon a mobile jock named " Little" Louie Vega . The "DEVIL'S NEST" brought Latin Hip Hop music to life and has been responsible for helping many of today's Latin Hip Hop and Freestyle artists get started in the music industry such as K-7, India, Sa-fire, Information Society, and The Cover Girls.

In 1987, Sal decided to leave the nightclub business and dedicate more of his time to his record company. Soon after, FEVER RECORDS hit big with a female trio group "THE COVER GIRLS". Along with producer Andy ""Panda" Tripoli. The Cover Girls hit "Show Me ", went Top Forty on the billboard Hot 100 chart. It also hit #1 on the Japanese charts for 11 consecutive weeks. The album, "Show Me" went on to receive gold and platinum success in the USA and Japan and FEVER RECORDS became the first independently owned record company to chart five records from the same album on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

In 1989, The Cover Girls released their second album on Capital Records and had a Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit with " We Can't Go Wrong" which led them to a five month U.S. tour with "New Kids on the Block". Sal also signed the group to an endorsement deal with Coca-Cola and Sprite.

After eight straight charted Billboard Hot 100 Hits, Sal knew that if The Cover Girls were to keep up with their past success, he needed to change their sound to fit the nineties.

It took him a year to find his talent, Michelle Valentine, who's rendition of " Wishing On Star" went Top 5 Billboard's Hot 100, the biggest Cover Girls hit so far. After appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, Regis and Kathy Lee, Apollo and numerous others, The Cover Girls charted three more Billboard Hot 100 hits, which made an unbelievable 11 in a row. From 1987 to 1993 Sal Abbatiello had built the FEVER MANAGEMENT COMPANY. This management company worked with 20 of the most successful Dance/ Pop artist in the country. Such as the Cover Girls, Lisette Melendez, Cynthia, April, Voyce, Shana, Coro, Sandee, and Tony Moran just name a few. His artist charted over 30 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and made Sal the most sought after manager at that time. Along with the success of his label, in 1988 Abbatiello began promoting clubs in New York area and with each event he promoted it drew more and more of a clientele. By the end of that year, clubs from all over the tri- state area were calling Sal Abbatiello to promote their venues.

In 1988 and 1989 clubs such as Studio 54, 1018, The Tunnel and The Saint which were all filled to capacity due to his promotions. By 1990, Sal Abbatiello had become one of the most successful club promoters in the tri- state area. He promoted six special holiday events at Roseland Ballroom, five at the legendary Palladium , and one at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, with each event filled to capacity (3000-5000). Because his special events were so successful he was hired as the permanent promotional coordinator for Roseland.


With so much promotional work approaching Sal, he was in need of his own house D.J. When the search commenced, Sal discovered one of the biggest and well known D.J.'s of the 90's John "Gungie" Rivera . Together Abbatiello and Rivera sold out all of their clubs. Sal and "Gungie" became partners and John "Gungie" Rivera was given the title of Vice-President of Sal's promotion company, as well as remaining the main DJ for all is events.

In 1990, Sal signed "Nayobe" to Fever / Epic with records produced by Teddy Riley and the System. Her hit single "I Love The Way You Love Me", went top 20 on the R&B charts. Later that year Sal finalized a deal with Coca Cola Classic, MTV International, and HOT 97 radio in New York for Nayobe, Tony Moran, Fascination, Coro, and Yvonne.

In 1990, Fever Records received a distribution deal from Sal's old buddy Russell Simmons of RAL/SONY. Russell knew Sal would be at the forefront of the Latin Freestyle movement. The single entitled "Together Forever" by Lisette Melendez, which nearly went gold, subsequently in Japan, the single "Goody Goody " was #1 for 11 weeks and went quadruple platinum. 1991, Sal released a single called "Love Desire" by Sandee one of the original members of the hot trio Expose, which also hit Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

In 1992 the Latin Freestyle era was coming to an end. Sal wanted to get back into Rap, so what better way to get back to the street, he re-opened "THE FEVER"!!! And so he did, along with his partner John "Gungie" Rivera in February 1993. Still in the Bronx, this time bigger and better than the first time. With over 4,000 people circulating the doors weekly, it would be no time before he started to find the talent to follow.

In 1993, Sal decided to make a major move into the rap business. With the clubs now in place, he signed and managed his first rap artist, Fat Joe. His Single "Flow Joe" released on Relativity Records, hit #1 on Billboard's Rap chart. Sal and "Gungie" Rivera are presently managing DJ Doo Wop's recording career on Virgin Records . DJ Doo Wop, along with Ted Smooth were two of the top street DJ's then, who spun at the "THE FEVER".

In 1994, Lisette Melendez released her second album on Fever/RAL/SONY which included the Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Goody Goody". With respectable success in the U.S., the album sold over 800,000 units in Japan, reaching quadruple platinum status. "Goody Goody" was #1 in Japan for 10 weeks. The success of Lisette Melendez's album and his club promotions at Warsaw, Mai Tai, Country Club, China Club in New York City and Foxes in New Jersey ended Sal's 1994 on a good note.

Simultaneously, Sal scheduled two compilation albums to be released in 1995, one freestyle album called "Freestyle Lives" with The Cover Girls, Cynthia, Lisette Melendez etc. Along with a rap compilation called "Live at the Fever" featuring "Games People Play"(co-written by Sal), "Games Females Play", Nayobe and others. This was definitely the year for Sal, Fever Records, and for the former talented freestyle artist. Surprisingly, these Artist eventually were signed to major record deals.

For instance, Lisette Melendez (Fever Records), Nayobe (Sony Latin), Luis Damon (WEA Latina), Angel Clivilles (HOLA Recordings), Cindy Larracuente (Sonolux USA), George Anthony AKA. Jorge Luis (HOLA Recordings ), shockingly enough most of them were Latin releases. Due to the hard work of establishing new artist, Sal took a break from promoting, to devote his time fully to his record and management companies.

At the end of 1995, the best came through for Nayobe. Her debut album on Sony Discos was called "Dame Un Poco Mas ". Her smashing single that blew through the air waves "Lets Party Tonight" made it to the top 40 of DMA charts, and the top 10 in the European charts.

The following year, on the other side of the Latin market, was multi-talented Luis Damon, who was also a participant in Sal's compilation album "Freestyle Lives ". After his successful attribution to the freestyle compilation album, he took a sharp turn and entered the "world" of salsa! Luis Damon, the new Latin music inspiration made his break through with a major record deal with WEA Latina. His debut album called Solo, was the icing on the "salsa" cake. In 1996, this album granted Damon four charted singles, making his album almost reach gold status.
1997!!! What a year? That was the year that FEVER RECORDS made its permanent mark on the Latin market. FEVER RECORDS in conjunction with HOLA Recordings signed a deal, scouting Latin talent for major record deals. This is where he introduced to the Latin industry, the freestyle artist formerly known as "George Anthony".

He was given the opportunity to record an album called "Ayer". With his new name "Jorge Luis" (suitable for his salsa career) this sexy, young, talented Latino brought a new taste to the Salsa "spice". With one of his singles translated from, the all time favorite song by Lisa Lisa "All Cried Out", in addition, to four songs specially written by Jorge Luis.

We all thought that 1997 was the year for FEVER RECORDS. In the beginning of 1998, fate brought more great talent to the FEVER arena. While all this was simmering in the "cooking pot" of FEVER RECORDS and HOLA Recordings. There were two more ingredients that were added, to season this deal right. Julian, another Latino from the Bronx, eventually met up with Sal. Which intern Sal presented to John "Jellybean" Benitez of HOLA Recordings and offered him a single deal. Julian a very talented Latin house singer, let out all of his incredible energy into "Ponte A Mover " his smashing single. Julian is presently working on making more music.

Remember Angel Clivilles the Lead singer of The Cover Girls . Well......yes .... yes.... thats all we have to say. Sal gave this innovative songstress the opportunity to work with him again. Sal released Angel's sensational tribal debut single "Toro Mata" in 1997. The single reached #3 on La Mega 97.9, the biggest Latin radio station in New York. Following that successful single, with Sal's help, she was offered an album deal with FEVER RECORDS and HOLA Recordings. In the middle of 1998, on Sal's other hand, Luis Damon was back again with his second album "Para Estar Contigo".

What a hit! It included Damon's self titled released single on the new album "Para Estar Contigo" which was a duet with the legendary Olga Tanon . His second time around Sal prepared Damon to give the world all he's got. Something that Sal tells all his artist.

The last two decades Sal Abbatiello has been responsible for discovering two contrasting types of music, and three of the most highly influential DJ's of all time. He has employed hundreds of people in his clubs and through his promotions and has given numerous artists, writers and producers their start in the recording business. In the past, Sal was featured in Billboard Magazine being honored for his contributions to rap music. Sal and "The FEVER" will also be featured in the Rock-N- Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio . The Museum will be displaying Fever Records and club memorabilia recognizing it's influences on a whole era of music and people.


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