Larry Levan - the beginning of DJ mixes

Larry Levan has been called the most beloved DJ in the history of Dance music.

Born Lawrence Philpot on July 20, 1954, Levan's life ended tragically on November 8,1992 but his innovative and inspirational House Music DJ mixes live on.

Famed for spinning discs at the New York City night club "Paradise Garage", Larry Levan developed a cult following, who referred to his DJ mixes as "Saturday Mass". Levan began his career alongside his friend DJ Frankie Knuckles at The Continental Baths, as a replacement for Nicky Siano, the DJ from The Gallery. As Knuckles was still trying to make his way in the New York club scene, Levan's DJ mixes became popular - perhaps due to his "diva persona", which he developed in the city's notoriously competitive black drag "houses".

Larry Levan - DJ mixes at Paradise Garage

At the height of the disco boom in 1977, Levan was offered a residency at the Paradise Garage. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he produced many DJ mixes, much of which crossed over onto the national dance music charts. Among the DJ mixes that received Levan's touch were his remixes of "Ain't Nothin' Goin On But The Rent" by Gwen Guthrie and "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner. His DJ mixes included production work on "Don't Make Me Wait" by the Peech Boys, a group that Levan formed and was part of. (Incidentally, the group became the New York Citi Peech Boys when the Beach Boys threatened a lawsuit due to the similar sound of the name.)

However, although the popularity of the Garage soared in the mid-1980s, Levan's popular DJ mixes were soon to end. This was a time when many of Levan's longtime friends lost their battles with AIDS and Levan became withdrawn and entirely dependent upon PCP and heroin. By the late 1980's Michael Brody, the owner of Paradise Garage was gravely ill from AIDs and Paradise Garage closed with a massive final party September 26-27, 1987. An estimated 14,000 people walked through the doors in 48 hours.

Larry Levan - a new era of DJ mixes

The club's closing was a serious blow to Larry Levan, who had been one of the "Godfathers" of House Music, with a unique style of DJ mixes. For a short time, he continued, with Ministry Of Sound in England, to set up a new club modelled on the spirit of Paradise Garage. Relatively brief residencies took place at The Choice, Mars, and Sound Factory. However, it was soon clear that many years of a punishing lifestyle including drugs was having a physical impact. Larry Levan embarked on a final tour in 1992 with Francois Kevorkian, however passed away on November 8, 1992 three months after the tour concluded.

Larry Levan's legendary status as a producer of popular House music DJ mixes has continued to grow. Every year, West End Records continues to help sponsor parties to celebrate Larry's birthday, and his spirit lives on in the countless DJ mixes, remixes, and artists influenced by his talents. Levan was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievement as a DJ.

The 2006 album The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast by electronic music duo Matmos contains a tribute to Levan titled "Steam and Sequins for Larry Levan."

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