Category: Alex Gutierrez

Blondie was mostly known as a punk/new wave band formed by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein in the early 70s. The release of their Parallel Lines LP in 1978 had many fans calling them a “sellout” as the hit single ” Heart of Glass” was picked up by radio and classified as Disco, but was it really? Was this a dance floor filler at nightclubs at the height of Disco’s popularity in 1979?The song released in January 1979,reached number one in both the United States and the UK .

The production team made use of cutting edge technology at the time by creating it’s drum pattern on a Roland CR-78 drum machine, first introduced the year the track was recorded. Some DJs of the period would use this as an early evening opening track but in my experiences I never heard anyone program this track to a packed house accustomed to a more energetic style. So what’s the verdict? Disco: YES or NO?

Back in the Day it was a “NO Brainer “. New Years Eve you were going out to your favorite club,buying a bottle and ringing in the New Year with a bunch of friends. Over the years as our generation became older alot of us just settled for staying home and celebrating with the family, by 12:05 we were seriously considering calling it a night. There were many reasons to stay home too far to drive, too expensive, music was changing and we didn’t want to hear Hip Hop all night many other reasons of course. So we settled and stayed at home. 12 grapes, a glass of ” Cidra” and another slice of ” Brazo Gitano” when no one was looking So we decided to evaluate what it was that people were looking for to motivate them to go out on this the last night of the year. Our particular demographic target was ages 47 through 60 ,those of us that had been here from the very beginning, the Open Houses, The Pete and Lenny’s , The Limelight a select crowd of well dressed , well behaved individuals we no longer thought were out there. We had been able to duplicate this at our November 1st event. The chemistry of those that attended was ” magical” as if we had stepped back in time to 1979.
” Everything fell into place that night,the energy level was exhilarating, the music , the people as well as the visuals on the monitors around the club. Our bodies were in 2014, our senses were in 1979. It was incredible ” remembers Lizzie Valencia of West Miami. On Wednesday December 31 Veteran DJs Mr.Q 305 from Miami Landmark night spots such as Alexandre’s at the Omni Hotel and Daphne’s at the Sheraton River house along side of DJ Alex Gutierrez from clubs of the past such as Alcazaba at the Coral Gables Hyatt Regency, 609 , Mezzanotte in South Beach and Coconut Grove as well as Club Mystique at the airport Hilton once again bring you the perfect combination of style and sounds. ” We know you have many choices ,but our venue stands out for it’s quality and location. Award Winning Chef and an extremely friendly staff, not to mention the music you won’t hear anywhere else” states Mr. Q
” We enjoy entertaining audiences of our generation. We share a bond with them, a connection to that era that allows us to enjoy the experience together, To recreate a long lost time for just a few short hours” DJ Alex Gutierrez
We invite you to come and share with us.
A variety of packages are available to enjoy the evening. Call 305 441 7902

When I first heard Dr.Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band in 1976 I felt that I was being tricked into liking my parents or maybe even their parent’s music. This strange mixture Forties big-band sounds with the disco flavors of the time confused many young DJs who didn’t know if they should like it or give it to their grandparents as a Christmas present. (Tuxedo Junction, Manhattan Transfer and others would later ” Trick” me as well.) The album would become a Gold Selling record the single ” Sunshower” would be sampled by a variety of artists. His band would catapult vocalist Cory Daye into the Disco limelight, and this unique sound would open the door to other artists who would explore this era and interpret it in their own Disco way.
August Darnell whose real name was Thomas August Darnell Browder would undergo a variety of incarnations eventually reinventing himself and scoring big as Kid Creole and the Coconuts in the early 80s which would combine all his previous styles as well as infusing some Caribbean rhythms. Co-founded by Darnell and his Savannah Band mate vibraphone player Andy Hernandez.Darnell presently lives in Sweden and occasionally tours with original members.

While listening to some old unlabeled Cds I had in my car, I came across a track I had not heard in a while. I was surprised that in all the recent Disco nights and Concerts I had played at , I had totally overlooked this ” Gem” . The Track was ” Night and Day” by John Davis and The Monster Orchestra released in 1976. As I listened to this ” Disco Masterpiece” I wondered why John Davis was not a name that popped up more frequently when discussing the Disco Masters such as Giorgio, Alec R. Costandinos and Cerrone.
John Davis is an arranger, producer and musician (playing keyboards, sax and flute)he had been working in Philedelphia, with groups like First Choice, The Intruders,and artists like William DeVaughn. Davis first came to the attention of DJs with his ” Discofied” version of Cole Porter’s ” Night and Day” (written for the 1932 musical play Gay Divorce ) The track opens with Davis’ signature percussion intro, focusing heavily on the conga work of Larry Washington followed by an infectious bass line that hooks in the listener as well as the dancer. The familiar Disco standard incorporated in many songs of the time such as ” Brazil ” Salsoul Orchestra , the female chorus yelling ” WOOOOOO!!!” greets the listener into a pure Disco experience utilizing all the elements of the genre. It is no coincidence that we hear Salsoul influences in this track since John was a part of Salsoul Orchestra.
For all of you ” Disco Heads” out there it is worth adding this classic to your music library allowing in to surprise you one day when you least expect it. It is one of those tracks that will instantly transport you back to the club where you first heard it.
John Davis and the Monster Orchestra without doubt, were one of the best Disco orchestras of it’s time earning a well deserved spot among Disco royalty.