Bob writes:
Perhaps you could enlighten those of us who aren't as knowledgeable on the social/musical significance of Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles (and while you're at it the Paradise Garage?)
Be happy to, Bob. Frankie and Larry grew up together, and they started hanging out on the underground NYC club scene together in the early 70's, most crucially at David Mancuso's Loft on Broadway, and later at Nicky Siano's Gallery. The Loft, the 30-years-running legendary party that created a template for the underground dance music scene, is itself the subject of a two-volume (4 CD's) musical retrospective on Strut Records (UK) and a British radio series.
Larry later became the light man, and by an uncanny twist of fate, DJ at the Continental Baths, located in the basement of the Ansonia Hotel on NY's upper west side. The same venue would launch the careers of both Bette Midler and Barry Manilow, among others.
When Larry left the Baths to open Reade St. and later the Paradise Garage with Michael Brody (circa '76), Frankie took over at the Baths DJ gig.
Frankie also spun at the infamous Better Days in Time Square, then the residence of another seminal DJ, the late Tee Scott.
Larry was approached to open a club in Chicago, but with the Garage about to open, he recommended Frankie instead. Frankie went to Chicago to open the Warehouse, the birthplace of the Chicago House sound.
Frankie, along with key figures such as DJ Ron Hardy, Marshall Jefferson, Jessie Jones, Farley Keith, Larry Heard, Ralphi Rosario, Adonis, Steve Hurley, Ten City, Mickey Oliver, and numerous others, created the sound we know as House Music at clubs such as The Warehouse, The Music Box and the Power Plant, and the gospel was spread through daily radio (YES, RADIO) broadcasts of House DJ's such as the "Hot Mix 5" on WBMX, WGCI and other stations.
The Paradise Garage was also a key influence for the House sound, based on the superlative sound system that Larry Levan (along with sound genius Richard Long)developed there through his 11-year residency. The bass produced in the club was louder and cleaner than in any club you've EVER been in, and this almost absurd low-end prominence became a key component of House.
The Garage was also a major celebrity/industry hangout, but because it was a private, gay, after-hours club, it managed to avoid the media frenzy which would kill off Studio 54 and other trendy spots.
On a typical night at the Garage one might see Frankie Crocker, Grace Jones, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Mike Tyson, Boy George (introduced to coke by Larry!), Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Chaka Khan, Nile Rodgers, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Thelma Houston, Sylvester, Eddie Murphy, and any number of up-and-coming actors, dance artists and DJ's. But these people were just treated like "normal folks" (you know, normal, drug-crazed, oversexed folks!).
The list of Garage classics from 76-87 is far too long to detail here (one discography I have lists more than 1000 songs which were broken at the club), but suffice it to say, if you heard a badass dance record during those years was probably played there first. The club became a testing ground for releases by essential dance labels such as West End, Prelude and Salsoul, and Larry was probably the top remixer in the world while he reigned at the
Garage. (Check the compilation of his West End remix work released in 1999 for further evidence of his genius - "Larry Levan's Paradise Garage" [West End] ).
The crossover to mainstream success for many of these records was engineered by none other than the "Chief Rocker" himself, who actually had the balls (and influence) to add records to WBLS's playlist based on what Larry played at the club! Anybody remember "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner? Thought so.
Times have changed.
The Garage closed in 1987, and Larry was in a bad state. He continued to DJ at clubs such as Studio 54, Bentley's, The Choice, The Shelter, Mars, and overseas in England (where he helped set up the Ministry of Sound sound system) and in Japan, where he played alongside Francois Kevorkian shortly before his death in November of 1992 at age 38. The drugs and a heart condition finally caught up with him. He joined other late members of the Garage family such as Michael Brody, Richard Long, Noel Garcia, Larry Patterson, Keith Haring, Tee Scott and hundreds of others.
Frankie moved back to NY in 1988, shortly after the Garage closed, and established the House sound in the city and worldwide, via clubs such as The World, The Choice, Sound Factory and Sound Factory Bar, the Roxy and elsewhere. He became an in-demand DJ worldwide (even name-checked on "Absolutely Fabulous") and received the first-ever Grammy awarded for a remix for his work with Toni Braxton. He has since relocated back to Chicago.
Those curious about exploring this fascinating history are urged to read Mel Cheren's book "Keep On Dancing - My Life and the Paradise Garage" [24 Hours For Life]), as well as the excellent "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton (Grove Press), which gives a broader history of the DJ's place in the musical universe.
For a document of what the fuss was all about, immediately go out and buy the "Larry Levan Live @ The Paradise Garage 1979" double-CD released last year on Strut (UK) and available in most fine stores and online.
The spirit of The Garage and the House community continues every Sunday at Body & Soul at New York's Club Vinyl (6 Hubert St.), with DJ's Francois K, Danny Krivit and up-and-coming-legend Joe Claussell.
Hope this has been informative! I know I had fun writing it!
Peace,
David (DL on the dl)
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