Dope Ass People: Larry Levan

Once upon a time in the '70s and early '80s there was a place called the Paradise Garage.
At this magical place people from all different walks of life came together to dance, party and celebrate the escape the harsh reality of '70s New York (drugs, drugs and more drugs).
Larry Levan gave these people the road to walk on their way to this fabulous escape.

Larry Levan (born Lawrence Philpot,July 20, 1954 – diedNovember 8, 1992 was probably one the most influential DJs in the history of dance music. The club has been described as the prototype of the modern dance club, because it was entirely focused on dancing, and was the first to put the DJ at the center of attention. Larry developed a cult following.
, who referred to his sets as "Saturday Mass". Influential US DJ Francois Kevorkian credits Levan with introducing the dub aesthetic into dance music.

Levan was openly gay and got his start alongside DJ Frankie Knuckles at The Continental Baths as a replacement for the DJ from The Gallery, Nicky Siano.
Levan's DJing style was influenced by Siano's eclectic style, and by The Loft's David Mancuso
(the father of modern day clubbing!), who briefly dated Levan in the early 1970s. As Knuckles was still trying to make his way in the New York club scene, Levan became a popular attraction perhaps due to his "diva persona", which he developed in the city's notoriously competitive black drag houses .
Nevertheless Levan drew manage to hold court at the Paradise Garage until 1987, when the authorities closed down the legendary club where Levan drew a mixed crowd of black & hispanic gays and str8 dance fans.



All hail queen Larry.

CLIPS:
Larry DJ:ing
Paradise Garage
Larry Levan Mix