Ryo Kawasaki & Satellites

As a computer programmer, Kawasaki developed his own MIDI multi-tracking recording system, the "Kawasaki MIDI Workstation", in 1986. He was also fascinated by the new breed of club / dance music blossoming at that time, which fully utilized MIDI technologies in the production. This led him to produce a series of 12-inch dance singles featuring a mixture of freestyle, house, acid house and ambient in the late 1980s. All of the production was done at his home studio, the Satellite Station, in New York with singer and musical collaborator Ilana Iguana. At the same time, he founded his own label (Satellites) and record company (Satellites Records), to release these records.

He, Ilana, and their dancers performed extensively in New York dance clubs during this period, sponsored or supported mainly by record pools, club DJs and club promoters. Most of these 12-inch titles successfully charted in the top 5 of DJ play lists, proving tremendously popular both in dance clubs and on the many radio mix shows all across the Unites States.