Paradise Garage
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Paradise Garage is a notable club in the history of modern nightclub culture. It was owned by Michael Brody and was located at 84 King Street, New York City, which was of importance to New York's musical development. It operated from 1977 to 1987 and was the base for DJ Larry Levan. Its name derives from its origins as an old parking garage. The Paradise Garage was heavily influenced by another club that had come before it known as The Loft, which was run by David Mancuso.
The sound system was developed by Richard Long and Associates (RLA) and was said by those that attended to be the best in New York City at that time. The style of the sound system has become the model for sound systems the world over and has been copied by superclubs such as the Ministry of Sound in the United Kingdom. The club has been credited for its influence on the development of the modern dance club as it is today: unlike other clubs of its time, the Paradise Garage was focused purely on dancing, not social interaction, and it was the first to put the DJ at the center of attention.
Among those to benefit from what became known as "The Garage Sound" or "Garage Music" was West End Records, run by Mel Cheren. Among its successes were "Sessomatto" by Sessa Matto, Karen Young's "Hot Shot," "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner (remixed by Levan) and "Don't Make Me Wait" by the Peech Boys (produced by Levan). West End Records folded for a number of years, re-opening in the late 90's and releasing one of Levan's DJ sets recorded live at the Garage.
The building, formerly an actual garage, which housed the Paradise Garage is now a facility for Verizon Communications.
Music
The unique and eclectic style of disco and dance musics played at the Garage gave rise to the descriptive terms "garage", "garage style" and "garage classic" (to describe a record that was made famous 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, although certain house tracks may be considered to be garage classics. The term "garage" has changed meaning over time, see garage for a more detailed description.
This form of music is not in any way related to garage rock.
Dance
The Paradise Garage is one of the venues where dancers first began to develop house dancing in the 1980s.
Performers
- Gwen Guthrie
- Loleatta Holloway
- Peech Boys
- Grace Jones
- Phyllis Hyman
- Taana Gardner
- Sylvester
- The Weather Girls
- Madonna (who also filmed her first music video, "Everybody", here)
- Patti LaBelle
- The Pointer Sisters
- Kid Creole & the Coconuts
- Chaka Khan
- Whitney Houston
- Karen Young
- Colonel Abrams
- Was (Not Was)
- D. Train
- Konk
- The System
- Peter Brown
- Liz Torres
- Tim Curry
- Dan Hartman
- Patti Austin
- Amanda Lear
- First Choice
- Natalie Cole
- Betty Wright
- Miquel Brown
- Bonnie Pointer
- Luther Vandross
- Jocelyn Brown
- Siedah Garrett
- Meli'sa Morgan
- Stacey Q.
- Claudja Barry
- Sharon Redd
- Nu Shooz
- Frankie Smith
- France Joli
- Lime
- New Order
- Pattie Brooks
- Jennifer Holliday
- Evelyn Thomas
- Yaz
- Gary's Gang
