production work a lot more in 09. These days he’s collaborating with people like; Mr. V, Kelli Sae and Adam Rios. He feels this is his year to establish a bit more visibility with work he’s truly excited about. Until his new material drops NY his following will continue to support “Temple” and tune into his “Master Mix” show before heading out in the wee hours to dance.

Besides maintaining his radio show Ruben has kept the temple parties going as a monthly event. He makes a point to stop into other parties here and there so he knows what’s going on. With all the venue problems that have plagued the city over the last few years he keeps pressing on. He’s also invited other guest DJ’s to spin alongside him at Temple. He’s made guest appearances with Nicky Siano, Kervyn Mark (Melting Pot) and DJ kamala at various parties around NY on a regular basis. You can also hear Ruben on internet stations like cyberjamz from time to time. Ruben Toro has truly created many of his own opportunities and in doing so he has carried on a grand tradition. He’s keeping the music alive on main stream radio, the same way his friends and mentors Merlin Bob and Timmy Regisford did “back in the day”. Ok so this is the part where I let Ruben tell the story himself.

SUNYC:  So Ruben, what fostered your interest in music and led you to being a DJ?

RT:  It started right after I saw the movie ‘Beat Street'. I started out scratching records, but an

older DJ friend of mine said I needed to learn how to blend records as well. I had no idea what that meant.

SUNYC:  Who were some of the people that influenced you and would you consider any of them mentors?

RT: As it turned out, I lived right down the hall from Timmy Regisford, who was mixing on WBLS. Merlin Bob, who was also on WBLS, lived down the hall from Timmy. Timmy heard that I was interested in mixing and basically became my mentor.

SUNYC: Ruben, How did you come to meet Timmy Regisford and be affiliated with Club Shelter?

RT: Well I've know Timmy all my life since I was a child in fact he gave me my first pair of turn tables lol So when Timmy opened the Shelter he came to my house and said be here at this time and that's how I got started working at the Shelter.

SUNYC: After Shelter you joined 98 KISS FM, was this something they approached you with or did you make a proposal to them for a dance music show?