Cabballero
Biography
Cabballero is a music project founded in late 1994 by Jama Johnson (aka Ja’Ma). Production is handled by Cabballero himself, along with R. Ribeiroa and Ricco Raggazzi, with collaboration from Ronald Bähr. Studio vocals are provided by Christina Safrani and Sara Pola, while the live lineup includes Serena M “Pearl” (rap/backing vocals), Kristy B (backing vocals), and Zlata K “Swat” (backing vocals/dance). The first singles are released via Shift Music for ZYX Music.
The project begins with the euro-trance single Hymn (a cover of Ultra Vox), released on Do It Music in France. It achieves major success in 1995, reaching the top 10 in Israel and Germany, and hitting number one in Spain and Italy for 12 consecutive weeks. This success leads to eurodance covers of other Ultra Vox tracks.
The next single, Dancing With Tears In My Eyes (1995), charts in the top 10 in Israel, Spain, Italy, and Germany (peaking at number two). A remixed edition includes Rave, Trance, and Girls mixes. The third single, Love Is A Shield (a cover of the German band Camouflage), becomes a dance chart number one in Israel and Italy, reaches fifth in Spain, and enters the top 20 in Germany, with the B-side Mental Trance.
The first album, titled The Elements, is released in 1995, featuring the original song “Teardrops” and “Lover With An Attitude”, which launches the side project “Girl Talk” showcasing Pearl, Zlata, and Kristy B. The single Faith Is Rising enters the top 40 in several countries including Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, and Belgium. The final single from the album, Nanaya (sampling the Israeli national anthem), is released in early 1997 and achieves success mainly in Europe.
Cabballero also diversified into production and remixing for other artists such as Ryan Paris or Unlimited Nation (on “Move Your Body”). The project’s success led to the creation of a Shift Music sub-label called K-Town Records, which launched the European hip-hop group Down Low. Cabballero’s musical style falls within eurodance and italo dance, characterized by 1990s trance/dance adaptations of cover songs.