In this episode of the W.WA.A. Podcast, hosts Kristy Mickelsen and Billy Dees sit down with special guest John DeNicola—music composer, lyricist, and producer. A native of Amityville, New York, and a longtime resident of Greenwich Village, DeNicola began his musical career as a bass player with the band Flight, which recorded for Motown in 1980 and was later sampled by Erykah Badu on her hit song “Back in the Day.” He went on to perform with several other acts before transitioning into songwriting and producing. Although his portfolio includes music written for and performed by a variety of artists, DeNicola is best known for his collaboration with Franke Previte and Donald Markowitz on the iconic, award-winning songs from Dirty Dancing. In this interview, John shares how he developed his passion for music, how he got his start in the industry, and how he co-wrote two of the most beloved tracks from Dirty Dancing: “Hungry Eyes” and “(I've Had) The Time of My Life.” Be sure to tune in to this episode to learn more about John DeNicola and his remarkable journey through the music industry.
