Disco Music has survived the test of time. The parodys, the satires,Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in 1979. Contemporary Dance music draws upon the structure created by the pioneers such as Alec R Costandinos, Cerrone,Giorgio Moroder, Boris Midney, John Davis, Paul Jabarra and others but it could not have survived without the support of the DJs and the fans that keep this music in their sets and in their hearts. There is a culture , a movement that continues to expose generations to this music. A parent passing it on to his children , a DJ playing it for his crowds , an artist producing music reminiscent of the time ,repackaging for today’s ears. They are out there, consciously or unconsciously keeping the style alive.
I have decided to do a series of Profiles highlighting those people, mainly the fans of this genre who have continued to enjoy and support Disco all over the world. Without these faithful followers the music would not have endured. If you are a Fan and have a personal story of when your ” Love Affair” of Disco began , please LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW so I may contact you for a brief story of your first encounter. Thanks
Category: Blog
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Le Freak Reaches #1 December 9, 1978
The song started with explicit instructions to immediately lose control as if anticipating the effects that this track would have on anyone listening to it.Chic was no stranger to the top 10 having already scored big with their huge hits ” Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)” (1977), “Everybody Dance” the first song recorded as Chic (1977)”. I really hadn’t heard about that new dance craze and wasn’t really totally convinced that there was one, but the song sure knew how to make people get on the dance floor the track enjoyed most of its popularity on FM radio, for some reason the club DJs did not pick up on this one and and opted to go with other dancefloor friendly Chic hits such as “Everybody Dance” maybe because of its unmixable intro nonetheless on December 9th 1978 the song reached number one on the Billboard charts.
Formed in 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards in New York the group then known as ” The Big Apple Band” was rejected by every major label until being signed by the small independent label ” Buddah Records’who released a 12 inch containing Dance Dance Dance / Everybody Dance. The record became so popular among Club Djs that Atlantic Records soon signed the band.
The Freak reached #1 on a variety of International charts and sold 7 million units released in 1978 on the album C’est Chic 
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Who is August Darnell?
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.
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Grace Jones is Back
I love Grace Jones. Saw her several times in the 70s at the South Florida Nightclub Limelight in Hollywood. Great show, Great tracks , “Do or Die”, ” I Need a Man” ” Sorry” her timeless rendition of ” La Vie En Rose” Her own Unique style , her instantly recognizable voice as if commanding you to do her will. That was Grace !!
Her New Track ” ORIGINAL BEAST” in over 20 years on the New Hunger Games Soundtrack delivers the Grace we remember growling her vocals over a tribal drum beat with reggae riffs here and there and an electronic bass line that kicks in half way through the track but never quite delivers the goods. The track ends and you’re left with a sense of ” That’s it?”Definitely not made for Dancing ,unless you’re in a Cirque du Soleil show. Hey I get it , it’s on a soundtrack. It maybe playing over a scene where leopards and panthers hunt human prey by the light of the moon. Ok but as a stand alone Grace Jones track it lacks the musicality I remember her for.We’ll wait for the Remix
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Bringing Back the Funk !
Roger Troutman ( Zapp) is smiling up in Heaven . So is Rick James and a couple other “Funkmeisters” that aren’t with us anymore. The New Track by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars packs in all the elements of Funk and other 80s R&B styles you can handle in their latest track ” Uptown Funk” ( Co-written and Co-produced by Marrs) It took me about 5 seconds to recognize that these guys had alot of respect for the styles that inspired them to record this track. Its all right there guitar Riffs, Horn section and those 80s keyboards.
For those of you ( like myself) who are not familiar with Mark Ronson He was the man behind Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black album and produced tracks for Q-Tip, Nikka Costa, Daniel Merriweather, Sean Paul, Mos Def, Lilly Allen, Duran Duran, and Ghostface Killah.He has also remixed Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and The Smiths. Getting myself aquainted with his work Ronson packs a punch in everything he touches ,Energy is his middle name. His stepfather is Mick Jones from Foreigner, he was a DJ,and would go on to win three Grammys for ‘Producer of the Year’ as well as ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’ and ‘Record of the Year’ (which he shared with Amy Winehouse) .
The track sizzles from start to finish and is testament to the appreciation that many young musicians and vocalists have for their forefathers. Hope is not lost when cuts like this hit the airwaves. Providing today’s generation with a glimpse of a world beyond EDM and Hip Hop. Thankyoy Mark and Bruno !!
Released November 10, 2014
DJ Alex Gutierrez
A few years ago on our Disco program Open House Radio we had the pleasure of interviewing one of the early stars of Disco, Leroy Gomez. His project Santa Esmeralda with friends Nicolas Skorsky and Jean Manuel de Scarano, songwriters who had launched their own label was the collaboration that led to the worldwide hit Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, with Gómez on lead vocals, and debuted on the independent French labels, Fauves Puma ( To date selling more than 25 million units ) The track ( written by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, and Sol Marcus for the jazz singer Nina Simone, who first recorded it in 1964)added disco arrangements infused with elements derived from flamenco and other Latin styles with a European flair and opened the door for other Disco projects to explore and derive from other genres. He remained with Santa Esmeralda until the fourth release in late 1978, Beauty.He was on the Phillips as well as the famed Casablanca Record label. Aside from his work with Esmeralda, Leroy released ” Get up and Boogie” in 1979 a dancefloor sizzler that was well received by club DJs of the time. His ” You’re My Everything” remains one of the most beautiful ballads written to date ( sampled by Rap Group Dead Prez in 2000). He continues to tour and record. Check out our Interview below.
DJ Alex Gutierrez
Open House Radio Leroy Gomez Santa Esmeralda Exclusive Interview by Open House Radio on Mixcloud
Written and produced by Rick James and Kevin Johnston and ranked as #36 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever. Comedian and actor Eddie Murphy scored big in 1985 with this infectious and catchy track that basically complained about his girlfriend’s addiction to ” Party All The Time” The track which was Murphy’s second attempt in the music biz reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.Djs of the time embraced the track at both clubs and private events. Rick Jame’s signature funk sound were all over this track which featured Eddie Murphy getting down and serious in the studio with James by his side on the Video. Rick James appearance gave the track the credibility it needed since a solo attempt by Murphy would have been greeted as a parody. His third album Love’s alright only reached #80
Recently Eddie has has been trying his hand in the Reggae Genre with a Snoop Dog Collab titled ” Red Light”…..not bad Eddie …Good Luck!
DJ Alex Gutierrez
Born May 7, 1939, Collinsville, Mississippi, he first signed with a Motown subsidiary, the short-lived Miracle, in 1961. He had several hits between the 60s and the 80s, the most successful being “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.” He would recall in an interview “I heard this tune being sung by the writer James Dean. The song had the kind of words one can feel and it was a beautiful, melodic song. When I asked him whom the song was for, he told me the Spinners were going to cut it. But I told him to give it to me instead. He liked my version enough to let me have it’
He was known as the older brother of former Temptations lead David Ruffin ( who died of a drug overdose) In 1980 he released the album “ Sunrise” produced by Robin Gibb and featuring Maurice & Robin Gibb on two tracks “Where Do I Go” and “ Forever ,Forever written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb .He died Monday November 17 th in a Las Vegas hospital. He was 78.
Take a 1/2 cup of his Academy Award-winning theme from the 1978 movie Midnight Express and add 1/4 cup of Donna Summer’s ,Moroder produced track ” I Feel Love” throw in some filters and a couple of Daft Punk vocoder riffs proclaiming that ” 74 is the New 24″ and you have Giorgio Moroder’s New track in over 30 years.
“Dance music doesn’t care where you live,” Moroder said in a press release. “It doesn’t care who your friends are. It doesn’t care how much money you make. It doesn’t care if your 74 or if you are 24 because… 74 is the new 24!”
The track taken from his new album will feature collaborations with a variety of artists, including Charli XCX, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and a few others.
Moroder reemerged back into the limelight with his contributions on Daft Punk’s 2013 release Random Access Memories,and has recently been seen as ” Guest DJ” in a variety of music festivals.
Moroder’s signature sound is all over this track. It is evident that he called the shots in the studio during the creative process. For old school Djs like myself it’s 1979 all over again. The track contains elements from every possible dance genre you can think of smoothly transitioning from Electronic to New Age to Hyper Disco all the while keeping the listener engaged . I’m still a little on the fence on the title of the track ” 74 is the new 24″ which can be a mouth full and may deter some younger listeners who may be turned off by the age gap, but I think the “Collabs” will help with mainstream acceptance.It is great to see these great talents re surfacing. French producer Cerrone has been active in the Dance Music scene for decades. It is time to recognize the men who are responsible for all of Dance Music.
Alex Gutierrez