Legendary DJ Larry Levan was born on this day in 1954
DJ Larry Levan was born on this day in 1954. He left this world too early, dying at just 38 in 1992.
The New York City DJ is synonymous with the Paradise Garage, the legendary club where Levan held a residency for over a decade.
Levan began his DJ career at the famous gay venue The Continental Baths, where he became close friends with fellow DJ Frankie Knuckles. In the late 1970s, he was also deeply involved in New York’s Black drag scene.
In 1977, Levan was offered a residency at The Paradise Garage. Located in a former garage in Hudson Square, the club did not serve alcohol and was not open to the general public.
Levan became known for his eclectic sets, blending disco, hip hop, and British indie music. He was also a sought-after remixer and producer, bringing a dancefloor sensibility to many tracks.
Influential post-disco DJ François Kevorkian credits Levan with introducing a dub aesthetic into dance music.
Levan, who was gay, died of heart failure in New York City in 1992. He is remembered for his iconic remixes, including Gwen Guthrie’s Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On but the Rent, Loose Joint’s Is It All Over My Face?, and even C Is for Cookie by Cookie Monster.
In 2006, electronic music duo Matmos paid tribute to Levan with their track Steam and Sequins for Larry Levan.
OIP Staff, Hero image: BROOKLYN, NY- MAY 1:Mural at East Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn on May 1, 2014. Outdoor art gallery known as the Bushwick Collective has most diverse collection of street art in Brooklyn. Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.
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