If you could see into my mind, you would view the greatest celebration on Earth. It took me 10 years, but I finally did it! I made the Top Ten on the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart (the April 16th issue). This is something that has eluded me since making the transition from banker to recording artist 10 years ago. In 2001, I became the first artist in music history to remake John Lennon’s iconic song “Imagine” as an original dance-pop record. I thought my debut single would make it into the Top Ten because it was produced by two-time Grammy nominee Ernie Lake, with various mixes by the best in the business including Eddie Baez, Josh Harris and Mike Rizzo. However, the music chart gods were against me, although not in the beginning. They allowed “Imagine” to rapidly climb the charts to #31 and enter the Top 40, before spiraling downward at an alarming rate. It wasn’t that the song had suddenly lost its appeal to the DJs, it’s because my label suddenly lost their financing.

Without money to promote the record and pay employees, my record basically ceased to exist. Talk about buzz kill. Following “Imagine,” every single song I released including “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair),” “Peace On Earth,” “For What It’s Worth” and “Kumbaya” all made the Billboard Charts - but none could break into the Top Ten. Ten years after “Imagine” I can honestly say that I’ve paid my dues and it was all worthwhile. Only Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and five others stood between me and the number one spot. It’s the best feeling in the world to know that DJs genuinely like my music, my style, my producer, my remixers, my lyrics, and my concept. My oh my!  I am one happy guy.  Drinks on me!

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As you've probably noticed there was no blog post for this week…I was just too high on life! But all kidding aside, find out why in next week's blog post!

To be continued....this coming Wednesday!

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Good job mom! Who would have figured when I was a kid growing up in suburbia, that my mom (from an Orthodox Jewish family) would be honored by The Miami Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (or any gay and lesbian chamber of commerce for that matter)? My dad, mom, brother, sister, and I were all straight and none of us had gay friends or relatives. My old-school European dad, in fact used to actually make jokes about “faygelahs” (fags or fairies) in Yiddish, if he met an extremely effeminate man, but never in a hateful way. Having had 59 members of his own family murdered by the Nazis, part of the murder of six million Jews known as the Holocaust, he would never advocate discrimination, hate, or violence against any human being based on religion, color, or sexual preference. Many people don’t know it, but in addition to murdering millions of Jews, Hitler murdered tens of thousands of homosexuals.

Pictured above: Ivan and his mother Naomi with the mayor of Miami Beach.

The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community picked my mom, Naomi Wilzig, as Business Leader of the Year because she defends their community any time she gets the opportunity and proudly displays gay art in her World Erotic Art Museum (W.E.A.M) even though some politicians, landlords and members of the community have been hostile to her because of it. She stood up to them all, and now the museum has entered its’ 6th year as a cultural institution in South Beach. Four hundred people in the Miami Downtown Hilton ballroom cheered her on as she accepted the award. The food and silent auction were all great! I was lucky the theme was purple because I got to break out my purple Peaceman Cape for the occasion. Mom, you looked like a royal diva in purple too! I’m very proud of what you have accomplished.

Pictured above: Ivan and his mother Naomi.

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When South Beach first became popular in the ‘80s, one club promoter and party planner stood out from the ever-increasing pack-Gary James. With his model looks, piercing blue eyes and perfect body, Gary threw legendary parties with his best friend Mickey Rourke when Mickey was at his Hollywood peak having starred in the kinky movie, Nine 1/2 Weeks.

Always one to reinvent himself and South Beach nightlife, Gary has come up with a new venue and new plan that up until now has remained a secret. He has complete control of Eleuthera at Villa, a party space in downtown Miami that allows you to play loud music indoors and out without neighbors complaining or calling the cops. The space screams underground party. I’m itchin’ to join the James gang Gary; I’m tired of being the only notorious outlaw in town. Saddle up!

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The best thing about gay nightclubs and parties is that the sound, the lighting, and the energy on the dance floor are unsurpassed.  Sunday night, the Just Circuit Magazine party at LUX in South Beach confirmed it once more. The Circuit (for those of you that have no gay friends or family) is a string of themed parties that take place all over the world that cater to the GLBT community (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) although straights are more than welcome to join in the festivities.

Derek Scott Graves, the Public Relations superstar, booked the talent that put the party over the top. My gorgeous date, Elodie from Paris, and I were amazed at the performance artist on stage. Mykel, a dancer who twirled fabric around his head and body at supersonic speed, had a multi-colored row of colored spotlights fluctuate and hit the twirling pieces of cloth. As he danced he became engulfed in a hurricane of color, transforming into a human kaleidoscope.  Above that, the DJ honored me by playing my new single “Hare Krishna,” which is now #16 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.  Now that’s what I call a fun night out!

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