Skyline of Detroit. The Renaissance Center is visible to the right.

The Detroit International Riverfront is an area of Detroit, Michigan that borders the Detroit River. The International Riverfront area extends from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, extending a total of 5½-miles (8.8 kilometers) and encompassing a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers, and high rise residential areas along with Cobo Convention/Exhibition Center and Joe Louis Arena. The Marriott at the Renaissance Center and the Robert's Riverwalk Hotel are also situated along the International Riverfront. Private companies and foundations together with the city, state, and federal government have contributed several hundred million dollars toward the riverfront development. Key public spaces in the International Riverfront, such as the RiverWalk, Dequindre Cut Greenway and Trail, William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, and a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock at Hart Plaza complement the architecture of the area.^[1] The area provides a venue for a variety of annual events and festivals including the North American International Auto Show, River Days, Detroit Free Press International Marathon, Movement Electronic Music Festival and the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Motor City Pride, among others.

Overview[link]

Skyline along the Detroit International Riverfront

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, helped raise funds for the International Riverfront project.^[1] Developers planned the initial east riverfront promenade investment at $559 million, which included contributions of $135 million from GM and $50 million from the Kresge foundation.^[2]

The development marked a step toward the city's potential bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Detroit has made the Summer Olympic Games' final bidding election more often than any other ultimately unsuccessful bid city, participating in IOC elections for the 1944 (3rd place, behind bid winner London), 1952 (5th place), 1956 (4th place), 1960 (3rd place), 1964 (2nd place), 1968 (2nd place) and 1972 (4th place) Games. (Los Angeles has made more total bids with nine, but hosted twice) If accepted as the U.S. candidate by USOC, this would be the city's eighth bid.^[3] Lowered crime figures improve Detroit's prospects for the USOC competition. Soft-drink manufacturer Faygo has stepped up its efforts as major sponsor. Successful events such as Super Bowl XL have showcased Detroit as a city accustomed to hosting supersized crowds.^[4]

The area contains the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge which is the only international wildlife preserve in North America, uniquely located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. The Refuge includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along 48 miles (77 km) of the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie shoreline.

River Walk[link]

River Walk
GM Plaza and Promenade on the riverfront at the Renaissance Center
Type	Municipal
Location	Detroit
Created	2007

The Detroit International Riverfront includes a 5½-mile (8.8 km) promenade called the River Walk which is to extend from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle. The path is located directly on the river, sometimes bridging it. The path is 62 feet (18¾ m) wide in most places, with separate lanes for pedestrian and wheeled (such as bicycles or inline skate) traffic. Pavilions, fishing piers and benches are located at intervals along the path.^[1]

The east riverfront promenade connects an area known as Rivertown. It extends along the east riverfront area from the Cobo Center convention and exhibit facility to the Belle Isle Park bridge and includes the Renaissance Center, GM Plaza and Promenade, William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, Stroh River Place, Chene Park, Mt Elliott Park and Gabriel Richard Park. The river walk is designed to supplement new retail and residential development. Architect Eric J. Hill aided in its design.^[1]

The first 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of continuous riverfront promenade and two of the four planned pavilions opened to the public on June 6, 2007. Rivard Plaza located at the foot of Rivard Street features a covered seating, a carousel, conecessions and bike rentals. Richard Plaza located in Gabriel Richard Park features covered seating, conessions and a butterfly garden. The River Walk is continuous from Joe Louis Arena to Milliken State Park with unfinished sections between the state park and River Place. From River Place the River Walk is then continuous through Mt Elliott Park to the former site of the Uniroyal Tire factory west of Belle Isle. The west riverfront promenade development is not expected to be completed before 2012. The west riverfront includes the high-rise Riverfront Condominiums. The west riverfront promenade will eventually connect to River Rouge in the southwest side.^[1]

GM Plaza and Promenade[link]

Hart Plaza
Detroit Financial District skyline at Hart Plaza

The Renaissance Center, nicknamed the RenCen, is a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers in Detroit, Michigan, and the tallest building in Michigan since 1977. Located on the Detroit International Riverfront, the entire Renaissance Center complex is owned by General Motors. The central tower is occupied by the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the tallest all-hotel skyscaper in the Western Hemisphere with the largest rooftop restaurant, called Coach Insignia. The complex contains many restaurants, a variety of shops, and the vehicle display known as GM World. GM donated its portion of the plaza and promenade to the Riverfront Conservancy upon completion. A cruise-ship passenger terminal stands on Hart Plaza, adjacent to the Renaissance Center. In 2003, General Motors completed a $500 million renovation of the Renaissance Center for its world headquarters which it had purchased in 1996. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Gensler, the Smith Group, and Ghafari Associates were among the architects for the renovation. The majority of the construction operations were led by Turner Construction Company. The renovation included the addition of a five-story Wintergarden which provides access to the Detroit International Riverfront. ^[5]

Work continued in and around the complex until 2005. The Renaissance Center totals 5.5 million square feet (511,000 m²), making it one of the world's largest office complexes.

Hart Plaza and the Dock of Detroit[link]

Philip A. Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit, along the Detroit River. It is located more or less on the site at which Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac landed in 1701 when he founded Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, the settlement that became Detroit. In 2011, the Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority opened its new cruise ship passenger terminal and dock at Hart Plaza, adjacent to the Renaissance Center, which receives major cruise ships such as the MS Columbus and the Yorktown.^[6]

The 14-acre (5.7 ha) plaza, which is named for the late U.S. Senator Philip Hart, opened in 1975 and has a capacity for about 40,000 people.^{[citation needed]} At the center of the plaza is the Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, designed by Isamu Noguchi and Walter Budd in 1978.

William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor[link]

William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor
Type	State (Michigan)
Location	Riverfront, Detroit
Area	31 acres (130,000 m2)
Created	2007
Operated by	Michigan Department of Natural Resources

William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor (formerly Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor) is a state park in Michigan, and the only state park located in an urban area. The park consist of the former city-owned St. Aubin Park and Marina. Located just east of downtown Detroit in the Near-East Riverfront, it covers 31 acres (13 ha) on the Detroit River, and includes a 52-slip harbor of refuge. A 63-foot (19 m) conical brick light tower marks the harbor entrance. The park's first phase opened in 2003, included refurbishing of the marina and construction of lighthouse. Construction on the second phase, adjacent to Rivard Plaza, to expand the park started in summer 2008 and was completed in summer 2009. In fall 2009, the state park was renamed in honor of former Michigan Governor William G. Milliken.

Chene Park[link]

Chene Park
Chene Park amphitheatre
Type	Municipal
Location	2600 Atwater St., Detroit
Coordinates	42°20′1.89″N 83°1′17.14″W / 42.3338583°N 83.0214278°W / 42.3338583; -83.0214278

Chene Park is located on the near east side of Detroit at the foot of Chene Street, along the banks of the Detroit River. Located just east of Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor, it contains a 6,000-seat amphitheater where concerts are regularly scheduled every summer. Jazz, Classic Soul and Rhythm and Blues acts are the staples of the season. The park also includes park trails, the Chene Park Fountain, and the Lake Lounge bar. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has connected the park to the Renaissance Center along a riverside promenade.

River Place[link]

The historic Stroh River Place complex is a mixed-use residential development adjacent to the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel and Residence, the redeveloped site of the Parke-Davis research laboratory, a National Historic Landmark located along the east riverfront promenade. The historic Dry Dock Complex is an additional redeveloped site along the east riverfront which includes residential units and retail.

Riverfront activities[link]

Freedom festival's fireworks

Detroit River Days, a five day festival on the International Riverfront, marked the 2007 opening of the riverfront promenade along the east river leading up to the Detroit-Windsor International Freedom Festival fireworks. Detroit and Windsor jointly celebrate the multi-day festival the last week of June which draws about 3.5 million visitors during the week in order to commemorate each country's respective National holiday - (US Independence Day on July 4 and Canada Day on July 1). The festival began in 1959. It is organized by the Parade Company, a well sponsored not-for-profit organization governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation.

Traditionally, several days of events were planned, ending with one of the world's largest fireworks displays,^[7] sponsored by Target. In prior years, the fireworks display has been billed as the world's largest. On the Windsor side, there is a midway consisting of carnival rides and concessions during the festival. The Midway operates as stand-alone attraction at the end of June, beginning of July.

The Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) is an electronic dance music showcase held in Hart Plaza each Memorial Day weekend since 2000. In subsequent years, the similarly themed festivals Movement (2003–2004), Fuse-In (2005) and currently, Movement: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival (2006–present) continue the DEMF's traditions, with each name change reflecting shifts in festival management. All of these festivals featured performances by musicians and DJs, and emphasized the progressive qualities of the culture surrounding electronic music.

The International Riverfront is host to part of the Detroit International Jazz Festival held in Hart Plaza each Labor Day weekend. Hart Plaza is also the traditional location of rallies to celebrate championships won by Detroit's major sports teams. Both Detroit and Windsor have hosted the Red Bull Air Race World Championship on the International Riverfront.

Belle Isle Park[link]

Belle Isle Park
James Scott Fountain and Belle Isle Casino
Type	Municipal (City of Detroit)
Location	Detroit
Coordinates	42°20′25″N 82°59′12″W / 42.34028°N 82.98667°W / 42.34028; -82.98667
Area	982 acres (397 ha)
Created	1845

Belle Isle is a 982 acres (397 ha; 1.534 sq mi) island park in the Detroit River managed by the Detroit Recreation Department. It connects to the city by the MacArthur Bridge. It is home to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (1904), the oldest conservatory in the United States, the Detroit Yacht Club, the Detroit Boat Club, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a Coast Guard post, and a municipal golf course. The city still maintains a Nature Center where visitors are able to traverse wooded trails and view wildlife natural habitats. The island includes a half-mile (800 m) swimming beach.

Dequindre Cut Greenway[link]

Dequindre Cut Greenway looking north.

Dequindre Cut Greenway is a non-motorized trail planned to extend from the Detroit River northward, with the future potential to connect to the Ferndale-Birmingham greenway in Oakland County. The mile (1.6 km) long trail will primarily connect the Lafayette Park neighborhood and Eastern Market to the Riverwalk . The greenway utilizes half of the corridor, with a 20-foot (6.1 m) wide paved path with separate lanes for biking and walking. The landscape anticipates future transit.^[1]

Construction of phase I of the Dequindre Cut Greenway, extends from the River one mile (1.6 km) north to Gratiot Avenue, is complete. Funded by MDOT’s Transportation Enhancement Program and the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, this portion of the greenway sets the template for future phases and includes a 20-foot (6.1 m) bituminous path; access ramps for bicyclists, pedestrians and emergency vehicles; landscaping; lighting; signage and security cameras. The first phase of the trail officially opened May 14, 2009 with an opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Woodbridge Street entrance of the greenway between Orleans Street and St. Aubin Street.

The Dequindre Cut Greenway phase II North project begins at the northern terminus of the phase I at Gratiot Avenue and continues for over one-half mile to Mack Avenue. The strategic plan for phase II provides a design approach and project budget that builds on the lessons learned in phase I construction.

The Dequindre Cut is noted for the high quality graffiti covering the walls of the corridor. The Riverfront Conservancy which operates the greenway will permit current and future painted art work to remain as long as it is not deemed offensive. The trail is one of the city's few public art parks and is a major attraction for urban photographers.^[1]

Access[link]

Photo gallery[link]

• DetroitWaterfront1901.jpg

  Riverfront circa 1901

• 

  View from Caesars Windsor casino resort overlooking Detroit.

• 

  Looking upriver to Belle Isle Park.

• 

  Rivard Plaza includes a Merry-Go-Round

Notes[link]

Metro Detroit portal

References and further reading[link]

• Cantor, George (2005). Detroit: An Insiders Guide to Michigan. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0472030922. 
• Hill, Eric J. and John Gallagher (2002). AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3120-3. 
• Rodriguez, Michael and Thomas Featherstone (2003). Detroit's Belle Isle Island Park Gem (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-2315-1. 
• Sobocinski, Melanie Grunow (2005). Detroit and Rome: building on the past. Regents of the University of Michigan. ISBN 0933691092. 

External links[link]

• Canadian Heritage River Systems
• Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
• Detroit Wayne County Port Authority
• Downtown Detroit Partnership
• Great Lakes Cruising Coalition
• Photography-plus.com
• Riverfront Towers
• Tri-Centennial State Park official website
• Sea Grant Michigan
• Video review of the Riverfront with on-site footage
• Eastern Market Detroit
• Model D Transformations

v t e City of Detroit Architecture · Culture · Detroit River · Economy · Freeways · Government · History · Historic places · International Riverfront · Media · Music · Neighborhoods · Parks and beaches · People · Skyscrapers · Sports · Theatre · Tourism · Transportation Metro Detroit · Michigan · United States

v t e Architecture of metropolitan Detroit Skyscrapers 10 tallest Renaissance Center One Detroit Center Penobscot RenCen Towers 100-400 Guardian Book Tower 150 West Jefferson 20 tallest Fisher Cadillac Tower Stott One Woodward Avenue McNamara Federal DTE Energy Broderick 211 West Fort Buhl Westin Book Cadillac Hotel Greektown Casino Hotel 30 tallest First National Cadillac Centre RenCen Towers 500-600 1001 Woodward Millender Center AT&T Chrysler House Jeffersonian Blue Cross Blue Shield Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 40 tallest Penobscot Annex Lafayette East Riverfront Tower 300 Riverfront Tower 200 Whitney Washington Square Riverfront Tower 100 Water Board Washington Boulevard 50 – 195 tallest Riverside Hotel Fort Shelby Hotel Industrial-Stevens Courtyard by Marriott Ford Leland Fyfe Grand Park Centre Compuware United Artists Theatre Michigan Central Station Cadillac Place 60 – 195 tallest MGM Grand Detroit MotorCity Casino Hotel The Qube Maccabees Fort Washington Plaza One Kennedy Square Detroit Free Press Metropolitan Wardell 70 – 195 tallest Kales Masonic Temple Michigan Building Vinton Bellcrest Park Avenue House Harvard Square Fox Theatre Detroit Building The Penobscot (1905) Marquette Griswold Building Lawyers Building 1212 Griswold Levin United States Courthouse New Center Fisher Cadillac Place Argonaut Building Henry Ford Hospital New Center Building East side Lafayette Park Jeffersonian Detroit Towers The Kean The Whittier Harbortown Apartments Suburban Southfield Town Center American Center Top of Troy Tower Plaza Hyatt Regency Dearborn Parklane Towers Chrysler Headquarters Low rise under 10 stories selected Downtown 411 Bankers Trust Cass Building Detroit Athletic Club Detroit Club Detroit Cornice and Slate Fillmore Harmonie Centre Harmonie Club L. B. King Opera House Music Hall Merchants Wayne County Building Wright-Kay Savoyard Centre Midtown Orchestra Hall Metropolitan Center for High Technology Phoenix Group Old Main Rackham Building Verona Wayne State University Buildings Clay Office North University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Golf Club East side Alden Park Towers Brewery Park Coronado El Tovar Garden Court Milner Arms Riverwalk Hotel Pasadena Suburban The Dearborn Inn GM Technical Center Royal Park Hotel Inn at St. John's Townsend Hotel Parks and gardens Belle Isle Cranbrook Campus Martius Grand Circus Metroparks Matthaei Botanical Gardens Riverfront parks Detroit Zoo Museums and libraries Detroit Institute of Arts Detroit Public Library Museum of African American History Science Center Historical Museum Cranbrook The Henry Ford Meadowbrook Hall Fair Lane Edsel and Eleanor Ford House Pewabic Pottery Southfield Public Library University of Michigan Museum of Art Religious landmarks Religious landmarks Performance centers Theatres and performing arts venues Neighborhood Historic Districts Residential Arden Park-East Boston Atkinson Avenue Beverly Road Boston-Edison Brush Park Canton Township MPS Corktown East Ferry East Grand Boulevard East Jefferson Avenue Grosse Pointe Highland Heights-Stevens' Sub. Indian Village Layafette Park Northville Palmer Park Apartments Palmer Woods Park Avenue Rosedale Gardens Rosedale Park Sherwood Forest Virginia Park Warren-Prentis West Canfield West Village Willis-Seldon Woodbridge Woodward East (See also: Historic homes) Mixed-use Adams Street Broadway Ave. Capitol Park Cass Park Cass-Davenport Congress Street Cultural Center Eastern Market Eastside Cemetery Financial District Grand Boulevard Grand Circus Grand River Avenue Gratiot Avenue Griswold Street Greektown West Jefferson Avenue Jefferson Chalmers Larned Street Michigan Avenue Monroe Avenue New Amsterdam New Center Piquette Ave Randolph Street Shelby Street State Street Sugar Hill University-Cultural Center Washington Boulevard Wayne State University West Vernor-Junction West Vernor-Lawndale West Vernor-Springwells Lower Woodward Midtown Woodward Woodward Avenue See also: List of tallest buildings in Detroit

v t e Neighborhoods in Detroit Downtown Bricktown Broadway Ave. Campus Martius Capital Park Downtown Financial District Greektown Grand Circus Griswold Street West Jefferson Avenue Monroe Avenue Park Avenue Randolph Street Riverfront Condominiums Washington Blvd. Lower Woodward Avenue Woodward Avenue Wayne State University Midtown Art Center Brush Park Cass Corridor Cass-Davenport Cass Park Cultural Center Medical Center East Ferry Avenue Jeffries Midtown Midtown Woodward Avenue Sugar Hill University-Cultural Center Wayne State University Warren-Prentis West Canfield Willis-Selden Woodbridge Woodward East Woodward Avenue New Center Alden Park Arden Park-East Boston Atkinson Ave. Boston-Edison Henry Ford Hospital New Amsterdam New Center Piquette Ave. Virginia Park Woodward Avenue University of Detroit Mercy North Chaldean Town Detroit Golf Club State Fairgrounds Green Acres Highland Park Martin Park Palmer Park Palmer Woods Sherwood Forest University District University of Detroit Mercy East Upper Chandler Park Conant Gardens East English Village Fox Creek Greenbriar Grixdale Hamtramck Highland Heights-Stevens' Sub. Krainz Woods Milwaukee Junction La Salle College Park Mohican Regent MorningSide North End Pulaski Ravendale Regent Park Van Steuban Central Eastern Market Forest Park Poletown East Lower Barry Sub. Belle Isle Park Conner Creek East Grand Boulevard East Jefferson Ave. East Village Eastside Cemetery Elmwood Park English Village Gold Coast Indian Village Islandview Jefferson-Chalmers Lafayette Park McDougall-Hunt Marina Park Rivertown St. John Hospital Victoria Park West Village West Upper Bagley Belmont Berg-Lahser Brightmoor Blackstone Park Castle Rouge Eight Mile Wyoming Eliza Howell The Eye Fitzgerald Five Points Grandmont # 1 Grandmont - Rosedale LaSalle Gardens Minock Park NW Goldberg Oakman Boulevard Old Redford Petosky-Otsego Riverdale Russell Woods Rosedale Park Westwood Park Central Aviation Barton-McFarland Briggs Castle Rouge Core City Fiskhorn Franklin Park Grandale Herman Gardens Littlefield Parkland Hubbard-Richard Warrendale Weatherby Southwest Boynton Carbon Works Delray Corktown Hubbard Richard North Corktown Mexicantown Michigan-Martin Millennium Village Oakwood Heights West Vernor-Junction West Vernor-Lawndale West Vernor-Springwells Westside Industrial Historic Districts Residential Arden Park-East Boston Atkinson Avenue Boston-Edison Brush Park Corktown East Ferry East Grand Boulevard East Jefferson Avenue Highland Heights-Stevens' Sub. Indian Village Layafette Park Palmer Park Apartments Palmer Woods Park Avenue Rosedale Park Sherwood Forest Virginia Park Warren-Prentis West Canfield West Village Willis-Seldon Woodbridge Woodward East Mixed-use Adams Street Broadway Ave. Capitol Park Cass Park Cass-Davenport Congress Street Cultural Center Eastern Market Eastside Cemetery Financial District Grand Boulevard Grand Circus Grand River Avenue Gratiot Avenue Griswold Street Greektown West Jefferson Avenue Jefferson Chalmers Larned Street Michigan Avenue Midtown Woodward Monroe Avenue New Amsterdam New Center Piquette Ave Randolph Street Shelby Street State Street Sugar Hill University-Cultural Center Washington Boulevard Wayne State University West Vernor-Junction West Vernor-Lawndale West Vernor-Springwells Lower Woodward Woodward Avenue See also: Historic homes in metropolitan Detroit

v t e Parks in metropolitan Detroit Detroit city Belle Isle • Campau Park • Campus Martius • Chandler Park • Clark Park • Central Park • Dequindre Cut • International Riverfront • Engel Memorial Park • Ford Park • Fort Wayne • Gabriel Richard Park • Grand Circus • Layfayette Park • New Center Park • Owen Park • Palmer Park • Patton Park • Reid Memorial Park • State Fairgrounds • Three Mile Drive Park • Roosevelt Park Metro 600 to 1,500 acres (243 to 607 ha) Addison Oaks • Algonac State Park • Belle Isle • Camp Dearborn • Crosswinds Marsh • Hayes State Park (Irish Hills) • Independence Oaks • Lower Huron • Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area • Metro Beach Metropark • River Rouge Park • Sterling State Park 1,500 to 5,000 acres (607 to 2,023 ha) Bald Mountain • Brighton Recreation Area • Hines Drive • Hudson Mills • Huron Meadows • Indian Springs • Kensington • Lake Erie Metropark • Pontiac Lake Recreation Area • Oakwoods • Pointe Mouillee State Game Area • Stony Creek Metropark • Wolcott Mill • Willow over 5,000 acres (2,023 ha) Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge • Highland Recreation Area • Ortonville Recreation Area • Pinckney State Recreation Area Waterways Clinton River • Detroit River (Islands) • Huron River • Lake St. Clair • River Rouge • St. Clair River Major beaches Belle Isle • Kensington • Lakeside Beach and Park • Lighthouse Beach and Park • Metro Beach • Stony Creek Trails 5 to 36 miles (8 to 58 km) Bald Mountain • Detroit River Walk / Dequindre Cut • Highland Recreation Lakes • Kensington • Lakelands Trail State Park • Maybury State Park • Novi North Park • Paint Creek Trail • Poly Ann Trail • Pontiac Lake Recreation Area • Stony Creek Inwood Trails • Waterloo-Pinckney Trail Zoological and botanical Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory • Cranbrook • Detroit Zoo • Matthaei Botanical Gardens See also Tourism in metropolitan Detroit and Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Mauro Picotto (born December 25, 1966) is an Italian electronic music musician. Previously a member of the Italian eurodance group, Cappella^[1]. He became well known as a solo artist with techno-trance tracks including "Komodo" (2000), "Pulsar" (2001, with new mixes in 2002) and most famously for "Lizard" (1999, remixed in 2000). He has collaborated with other techno-trance musicians such as Tiësto and Mario Più.

He now promotes his own techno club night, Meganite (named after an early 21st century track of his), which has run for consecutive years annually since 2005 at Privilege Ibiza. He now produces under his own record label, Bakerloo.

Biography[link]

Born in the Italian town of Cavour, near Turin, Picotto was raised in a family of stonemasons and dancers. His father ran a mason's yard called CRW, a name Mauro would later use as a pseudonym for his trance side-project.

Picotto longed to start making his own productions, but felt that to be successful he must first become a DJ. After winning the Walky Cup competition on national TV^{[citation needed]}, an event for the top DMC^{[clarification needed]} DJs in Italy, he met with Daniele Davoli who was there to promote his Black Box single "Ride On Time", and this led Picotto towards record producing. His first track "We Gonna Get", produced under the name RAF, became a Top 20 hit single across much of Europe.^{[citation needed]}

Another RAF release followed, alongside remixes and co-writing credits for Clubhouse (who had a European hit with "Light My Fire"), Cappella (best known for rave hits like "U Got 2 Let The Music" and "Move On Baby") and the 49ers. A track released under his own name, "Bakerloo Symphony", ended up being Number 1 in Italy for eight weeks.^{[citation needed]} Also in 1996 Picotto became a partner in Media Records alongside Gianfranco Bortolotti.

1998 saw the release of the gatecrasher anthem, "Lizard (Gonna Get You)". The track ended up being a Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart^[2] - and was followed by two further instalments in the reptilian trilogy: "Iguana" (#39) and "Komodo (Save a Soul)", which would give Picotto the highest UK chart position of his career - #13.^[2] This would see him make his only solo performance on BBC Television's Top of the Pops. Picotto was the first DJ to mix live on the show.^[3]

Later tracks he was involved in also made an impact on the UK chart. "I Feel Love" - released under the pseudonym CRW - reached #15 in 2000,^[4] whilst "Communication (Somebody Answer The Phone)" - which he produced alongside Mario Più - reached the UK Top 5 at the end of 1999.^[5]

His remix of "On The Beach" by York, also helped to propel that song into the UK Top Five in Spring 2000,^[6] when it was selected by the record company - Manifesto - to be used as the official radio edit. Two solo albums, The Double Album (2000) and The Others (2002), followed, as well as remixes and productions for Freddie Mercury, Jimmy Somerville, the Pet Shop Boys and U2. Upon leaving Media Records in 2002, Picotto formed Bakerloo Music, as well as a new label Alchemy, releasing several club tracks, including "New Time New Place" and the "Alchemy EP". That same year he launched his Meganite party at the Miami Winter Music Conference.

Picotto has more recently released several Meganite Ibiza albums on a new label Big In Ibiza.

Picotto's 'Meganite' party is held every Wednesday at Ibiza'a Privilege club.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• The Album (2000)
• The Others (2002)
• Live in Ibiza (2002)
• Superclub (2006)
• Now & Then (2007)
• Meganite Ibiza (2008)
• 2010 (2010)

Singles[link]

Awards[link]

• German Dance Awards: Best International DJ, Best Producer, Best Radio Hit
• Danish Dance Awards: Best International DJ
• Ericsson Swiss Dance Awards: Best International DJ
• BBm Magazine Irish Dance Awards: Best International DJ
• Deejay Magazine Spanish Dance Awards Best International DJ
• TMF Dutch Dance Awards: Best International DJ
• RTÉ 2fm Irish Dance Music Awards: Best International DJ
• DJ Awards 2005 Ibiza: Winner
• Voted in the Top 100 DJs in TheDJList.com (US) and DJ Mag (UK)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mauro Picotto Official Site
• Mauro Picotto at Discogs.com
• Mauro Picotto discography at MusicBrainz

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2010)

Minimal Man was an American industrial and experimental rock project, formed in 1979 in San Francisco, California. The group was founded and led by Patrick Miller, a visual and sound artist who moved to San Francisco in the late 1970s. The band often changed members featuring at different times members of bands such as Tuxedomoon, Factrix and others active in the then thriving San Francisco experimental post punk and industrial scenes. Their cover of "The Shroud Of" featured one of Miller's signature mask/head paintings.

Minimal Man remained active in San Francisco recording on the Subterranean Records label till the mid 1980s, after which Miller relocated to Europe, often working with compatriots Tuxedomoon who had made a similar move previously.

The Minimal Man output ceased after the 1980s, and Miller returned to Los Angeles, where he worked as a set dresser.

Miller died at his home in Eagle Rock, California, on December 14, 2003.^[1]

Discography[link]

Singles and EPs[link]

• "She Was A Visitor" / "He Who Falls" (Subterranean Records, 1980) - Recorded live at The Deaf Club, San Francisco, on October 9, 1979.
• "Two Little Skeletons" / "Tired Death" (Subterranean Records, 1983)
• Sex Teacher (12" EP) (Fundamental Records in US, Play It Again Sam in Belgium, 1985)
• "Mock Honeymoon" (12") (PIAS, 1987)

Albums[link]

• The Shroud Of (Subterranean Records, 1981)
• Safari (CD Presents Ltd., 1984) - Also released in Germany by Good Noise Records in 1985.
• Sex With God (Dossier, 1985)
• Slave Lullabyes (PIAS in Belgium, Fundamental Records in US, 1986)
• Hunger Is All She Has Ever Known (PIAS, 1988)
• Hunger Is All She Has Ever Known / Mock Honeymoon (CD) (PIAS, 1988)
• Pure (LD Records, 1988)
• The Shroud Of (Digitally Remastered CD) (Boutique Records, 2004) - Included five rare bonus tracks.

References[link]

• Strauss, Neil, "The Pop Life; Drugs, Demons: A Man In a Mask", The New York Times, January 8, 2004.

External links[link]

• Underground Music Library Article on Minimal Man / Patrick Miller
• Myspace fan page
• Last.fm page
• Discography at Discogs.com
• Minimal Man biography at LTM