Roo AOTD #5 Green Velvet

By Daniel Karasek | February 7, 2025

All aboard the hype train for Bonnaroo 2025! Only 125 days until we are all on the Farm again, can you believe it? It’s coming up fast and we can’t wait to be dancing with all of you at Bonnaroo! Today’s Artist of the Day is the one and only Green Velvet at Bonnaroo. Learn more about the artist below. Don’t forget to check out all of our artist spotlights! Thank you for reading these posts!

Artist Biography

Green Velvet, born Curtis Alan Jones on April 26, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the true pioneers of house and techno music. His journey from the Windy City’s deep roots in blues, jazz, and funk to becoming an electronic music icon is as unconventional as the genre he helped shape. But it wasn’t always music that called to him—Jones first explored other creative paths before discovering his true calling in the electronic scene.

By the late 1980s, it was Chicago’s house music radio broadcasts that sparked his shift. Armed with a basic keyboard, a drum machine, and a four-track recorder, he created his first tracks, laying the foundation for what would become a career that blended pure innovation with raw energy. In the early ’90s, he returned to Chicago after a stint at the University of California, Berkeley, diving headfirst into the city’s blossoming house scene. His Cajmere alias emerged alongside Cajual Records, the label that would define Chicago house music, and in 1992, the iconic track “Percolator” became his stamp on the world. The groove-heavy, infectious track became an anthem of the underground, putting Jones firmly on the map.

But it wasn’t until the late ’90s that he transformed into the Green Velvet persona—distinctive green mohawk, eccentric stage presence, and a darker, experimental edge that pushed boundaries. Tracks like “La La Land” and “Flash” came to define this alter ego, a departure from the traditional house and into something a little more complex, a little more provocative. Green Velvet became synonymous with tracks that weren’t just about the beats—they were about the vibe, the experience. His sound was as electrifying as his live performances, fusing house, techno, and acid house into a potent, genre-defying mix.

Today, Green Velvet’s legacy is undeniable. His tracks continue to be revered by fans and artists alike, and his energetic performances still have the power to ignite any dance floor. A true innovator, Green Velvet has shaped and reshaped the electronic music landscape, all while maintaining a commitment to the darker side of the groove. Whether under the Cajmere name or with his Green Velvet alter ego, Jones remains a force, forever pushing forward with the same bold vision that made him a legend.