Larry Levan was openly gay with transvestite tendencies. This did not stop him from becoming one of the best American DJs, after his 10-year work at the Paradise Garage club.
Levan had a mass of followers who proudly called themselves his disciples. After all, no one could experiment with dance music like Larry. He used drum machines and synthesizers in his productions.
Difficult school years Larry Levan
Larry Levan was born in 1954 in Brooklyn. He was born in a Jewish hospital. In addition to the future DJ, Isaac and Minnie grew up in the family of Lawrence Philpot. The brother and sister of the future star were twins.
As a child, the boy had health problems. Due to heart disease and asthma, Larry often passed out right during school hours. But he studied well anyway, especially showing interest in mathematics and physics. So the teachers were sure that he had a great future as an inventor.
Levan's mother was fond of blues and jazz. A kid from the age of 3 freely turned on the player and listened to records. She and her parent happily danced to rhythmic music.
In the late 60s, the white population mostly left the Flatbush area. And African Americans mercilessly mocked the last of the Mohicans. At Erasmus Hall, Larry was harassed more often than others. After all, the teenager dyed his hair bright orange, although at least 10 years remained before the birth of punk rock.
In the end, the poor fellow could not stand it and dropped out of school. He began to play ball in Harlem and worked part-time as a tailor. It was at this time that Levan's fateful acquaintance with designer Frankie Knuckles took place. With him for a long time they were inseparable and lit together at parties.
Larry Levan's Road to Fame
An affair with hippie DJ David Mancuso made Larry Levan think about creating music that would never stop. It was David who introduced the future star to the underground dance culture in midtown Manhattan.
Mancuso was the owner of a small private club. Mostly gays gathered there, but not all, but on special offers. In The Loft, visitors were treated exclusively to punch, fruit and sweets. And the music for dancing sounded in the processing of a modern sound system.
Gathered in an elite club mostly rich white men of non-traditional orientation. Mancuso generously regaled them with "black" music, which he simply adored.
In 1971, Knuckles got a job as a DJ at Better Days. And Larry became a lighting engineer at Continental Baths. Twice a week he was allowed to play as an opening act for a famous DJ. After the liberalization of legislation, sex clubs of interest began to appear like mushrooms after rain.
Club life Larry Levan
Levan lived in depraved "Baths". There was a swimming pool and a sauna for homosexuals. On weekends, straight people were allowed to visit the disco, although visitors could afford to go to the dance floor right in towels.
Of course, Larry Levan became a star in Paradise Garage, but he never forgot the place of his combat youth. For example, in SoHo Place he entered the club scene in the form of a diva. After Levan left the Baths, his friend Frankie took his place.
At the Garage, which operated in New York from 1977-1987, Larry experimented freely. There he acted as a producer and remixer at the same time. Without departing from the underground spirit of disco, he created such an atmosphere in the club that the party-goers prayed to him as to God. The Garage sound system was considered the best for a long time, and many clubs later took it as a basis. The musical genre created by DJ Levan was called Paradise Garage. His mixers often made it to the top of the music charts.
In the mid-80s, AIDS began to rage among Garage visitors. Levan became addicted to hallucinogenic drugs and heroin and especially became close to transvestites. In his melodies at this time, the rebellious sounds of Chicago house and hip-hop are increasingly heard.
Rollback into oblivion
In September 1987, a farewell party took place at the Garage, which dragged on for 48 hours. Shortly thereafter, club owner Brody died of complications from AIDS. Larry Levan was shocked by this news. After all, he perfectly understood that it would be difficult for him to find a new job and understanding with the employer.
Brody always said that the systems of sound and light after his death will remain with Levan. But, according to the official will, they passed to the mother of the owner of the club. It was rumored that the man's last lover did not like Larry. Therefore, he persuaded the owner of the club to do this to him.
Left without a livelihood, Levan was forced to sell records to raise money for the next dose. They were mostly bought by friends of the DJ, sympathizing with his misfortune.
Larry Levan was rejected in America, but loved in other parts of the world. In 1991 he spent 3 months in England. There he did remixes for the Ministry of Sound nightclub and helped set up sound equipment. A year later, he successfully toured to Japan. After that, he even decided to get rid of drug addiction.
In the Land of the Rising Sun, the DJ was injured, so he was hospitalized upon his return to New York. After being discharged, Levan ended up in the hospital again three days later. And on November 8, 1992, he was gone. Larry Levan died of heart failure.
