Remember Paradise Garage? If you don't, we've taken it upon ourselves to give you the low down on one of the greatest dance clubs of all time. From 1977 to 1987, Paradise Garage reigned supreme in New York City nightlife. Unlike the other clubs and nightlife hot spots, this club kept a focus on dancing, rather than talking, and it's noted to be the first place to put the DJ at the center of attention, which is a monumental move since that setup is still alive and well today. At the time, disco was all the rage (and house was moving in), and it was still relatively underground, so this establishment held a pivotal role of allowing people from all walks of life to gather and dance, while also hosting some of the world's finest DJs.
One of the DJs that Paradise Garage is most known for is Larry Levan, a true master of his craft, and his talents inspired many, including the great Godfather of house music – Frankie Knuckles, Louie Vega, and more. Larry Levan, along with other original residents like Joey Llanos & David DePino, were so good that they began to build a reputation for not only themselves, but also for Paradise Garage. Eventually, the term “Garage music” was coined, and it's still present today, although it's typically tied to the UK due to their own take on the genre. With all of this in mind, it's clear that Paradise Garage was and still is a massively important part of music history, especially since DJ and nightclub culture has risen to such prominence over the years.
Paradise Garage closed it's doors decades ago, but it's coming back, and the Hollywood Palladium has the pleasure of hosting the upcoming A Night At Paradise Garage this Saturday. Get a first-hand experience of dance music history and buy tickets to the show here.
