Paradise Garage

The Paradise Garage, also known as “the Garage”[1][2] or the “Gay-rage”,[3][4][5] was a discotheque in New York City notable in the history of modern dance and pop music, as well as LGBT and nightclub cultures.[6][7][8] It was founded by Michael Brody (its sole proprietor) and was located at 84 King Street, in the Hudson Square neighborhood. It operated from 1977 to 1987 and was the base for resident DJ Larry Levan[9].

The club’s name derives from its origins as a parking garage. The Paradise Garage’s business model was largely inspired by David Mancuso’s private, invitation-only DJ parties at The Loft in New York City: no liquor was served, there were no sales of food or beverages, and the club was not open to the general public.[10]

The sound system was developed, designed, and installed by Richard Long of Richard Long & Associates (RLA), and was said by club patrons to be the best in New York City at that time.[11] A distinctive style of dance music known as garage house or simply “garage” developed there. The club has been credited for its influence on the development of the modern dance club as it is in the 2000s; unlike other clubs of its time, the Paradise Garage was focused on dancing rather than verbal interaction, and it was the first to put the DJ at the center of attention.[11] It was known for its enthusiastic, yet unforgiving nature if a performer was struggling. Among the notable musicians who performed there were Diana Ross[12] and a young Madonna.[11] In 1979, Tim Curry released the album Fearless, containing the single “Paradise Garage”, whose lyrics narrate visiting the discotheque.[13][14]

Among those to benefit from what became known as “The Garage Sound” or “Garage Music” was Mel Cheren, who owned the New York label West End Records. West End’s successes included such hits as “Sessomatto” by Sessa Matto, “Hot Shot” by Karen Young, “Heartbeat” by Taana Gardner (remixed by Levan), “Do It to the Music” by Raw Silk, and “Don’t Make Me Wait” by the Peech Boys (produced by Levan). West End Records folded for a number of years, then re-opened in the late 1990s and released one of Levan’s DJ sets recorded live at the Garage.

The line to get in this joint !!

The building which housed the Paradise Garage is now a facility for Verizon Communications.[when?][citation needed] As of 2008, the Paradise Garage trademark is owned by Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC).[citation needed]

The unique and eclectic styles of disco and dance music played at the Garage gave rise to the descriptive terms “New York house”, “garage”, “garage style”, and “garage classic” to describe a record that was made famous at or is associated with the Paradise Garage. When the term “garage music” is used in reference to the Paradise Garage, it does not exclusively mean house music.

House music as a genre originated with the Paradise Garage’s house DJ Larry Levan and his contemporaries, Frankie Knuckles and Nicky Siano. These DJs played all kinds of music at the Paradise Garage so long as it was danceable; for example, The Clash and The Police, as well as traditional “disco” artists like Gwen Guthrie and Sylvester. Levan played music from different genres.

The term “garage music” has changed meaning over time; see UK garage for a more detailed description.

Notable performers who have played the Paradise Garage include:

  • 2 Puerto Ricans, a Blackman, and a Dominican
  • Colonel Abrams
  • Noel Pagan
  • Gayle Adams
  • Patti Austin
  • Baltimora
  • B. B. & Q. Band
  • Claudja Barry
  • Carl Bean
  • Celi Bee
  • Taka Boom
  • Pattie Brooks
  • Jocelyn Brown
  • Miquel Brown
  • Peter Brown
  • Sharon Brown
  • C-Bank
  • Camille [15]
  • Change
  • Cheyne
  • Linda Clifford
  • Natalie Cole
  • Willie Colón
  • Company B
  • The Cover Girls
  • Tim Curry
  • E.G. Daily
  • Sarah Dash
  • Cory Daye
  • Divine
  • D. Train
  • Duran Duran
  • ESG
  • First Choice
  • Samantha Fox
  • Marshall Jefferson
  • Freeez
  • Taana Gardner[11]
  • Siedah Garrett
  • Gary’s Gang
  • Gloria Gaynor[11]
  • Georgio
  • Gwen Guthrie
  • Curtis Hairston
  • Hanson & Davis
  • Keith Haring[12]
  • Dan Hartman[11]
  • Nona Hendryx
  • Jennifer Holliday
  • Loleatta Holloway[11]
  • Thelma Houston
  • Whitney Houston
  • Al Hudson[11]
  • Rhetta Hughes
  • Phyllis Hyman
  • Imagination
  • James Ingram
  • The It[16]
  • Dee D. Jackson
  • Debbie Jacobs
  • Peter Jacques band
  • France Joli
  • Grace Jones
  • The Jones Girls[11]
  • Kid Creole and the Coconuts
  • Madleen Kane
  • Chaka Khan[11]
  • Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King
  • Fern Kinney
  • Jean Knight
  • Konk
  • George Kranz
  • Patti LaBelle[11]
  • Cyndi Lauper
  • Amanda Lear
  • Paul Lekakis
  • Lime
  • Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
  • Loose Ends
  • Cheryl Lynn
  • Madonna[12] (who also filmed her first music video, “Everybody”, here[citation needed])
  • Nancy Martinez
  • Hugh Masekela
  • Janice McClain
  • Stephanie Mills
  • Melba Moore
  • Meli’sa Morgan
  • Mr. Fingers
  • Alicia Myers
  • Nayobe
  • New Order
  • Klaus Nomi
  • Nu Shooz
  • Odyssey
  • Dennis Parker
  • Paul Parker
  • Peech Boys
  • Bonnie Pointer
  • The Pointer Sisters
  • Positive Force
  • Quando Quango
  • Fonda Rae
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph
  • Sharon Redd
  • The Ritchie Family
  • Barbara Roy
  • Diana Ross[12]
  • Arthur Russell
  • Sinitta
  • Sister Sledge
  • Frankie Smith
  • Stacey Q
  • Candi Staton
  • Amii Stewart
  • Sybil
  • Sylvester
  • The System
  • Evelyn Thomas
  • Tasha Thomas
  • Judy Torres
  • Liz Torres
  • Unlimited Touch
  • Luther Vandross
  • Táta Vega
  • Was (Not Was)
  • Jody Watley
  • The Weather Girls
  • Wham!
  • Deniece Williams
  • Precious Wilson
  • Betty Wright
  • Syreeta Wright
  • Yaz
  • Karen Young

 Just to name a view…ha ha ha …DJ Cavon

Where House Music LIVED !!!!

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