DJ Lonyo, born Lonyo Engele, first entered the entertainment scene in 1998 as an MC host for tour parties featuring major artists such as Janet Jackson, Jamiroquai, and The Fugees.
In 1999, Lonyo formed Bon Garçon, releasing the UK No.1 R&B hit If You Need a Man, which also appeared on Trevor Nelson’s Urban Soul compilation. That same year, he featured as the lead vocalist on Dem 2’s track Destiny, widely regarded as one of the first two-step garage releases.
In 2000, Lonyo signed as a solo artist to Riverhorse Records, an imprint of the Sony Music Group. His debut single Summer of Love became a major hit, reaching No.6 on the UK Singles Chart and earning recognition as one of the summer’s standout anthems. The following year he released Garage Girls, which topped the UK Dance Chart for three weeks. Around this time, Lonyo also began incorporating DJ sets into his live performances, further expanding his presence in the dance music scene.
