In this blog article, I’ll discuss the history of New York City party culture, and David Mancuso, with author Tim Lawrence.
Tim is undoubtedly a walking encyclopedia on New York DJ legend Mancuso and his parties at the Loft. Additionally, he is one of the most profound music historians of the New York Dance Scene of the 70s and early 80s I have ever met.
Indeed, Tim grew up loving music. The first traces of its deep connection to the party culture date back to the “Summer of Love” of 1998, hearing the first time house music and experiencing the legendary Hacienda in Manchester.
“The place was absolutely throbbing with energy. It was the first time I heard house music on a sound system.”
Tim Lawrence
House music and New York City: Tim’s natural starting point.
Moving to New York felt like being in a completely different world, and at the same time, he felt like the city was ahead of the game musically. But then everything started to change when he began to write his first book, interviewing for the first time David Mancuso.
The idea was to write a book about house music, but it became a celebration of David Mancuso’s Loft club and a history of pre-disco.
“The Loft’s ethos was all about inclusion and bring poeple in, no matter what your backgorund.”
Tim Lawrence
The rest is part of an extraordinary documentation of a radicalized and innovative DJ scene, very mixed socially and musically.
Tim Lawrence – Books
In addition to ‘Love Saves The Day: A History of American Dance Music, 1970-79’, Tim has written exhaustive books to date about early American club culture.
The second on the series is ‘Hold On To Your Dreams: Arthur Russell and the Downtown Music Scene’ and then lastly ‘Life and Death on the New York Dance Floor, 1980-83’.
In today’s interview, Tim passionately shared the details and experiences about The Loft and David Mancuso. I wish I could spend more time listening to Tim, shedding light on the contribution of music legends and what New York in the 70s was all about.
Enjoy listening! 😊
In addition, read this blog article: A Journey into Afrocentric Music with Dj Khalab
Episode #35 DAVID MANCUSO & THE LOFT with TIM LAWRENCE
03:18 TIM AND ITS FIRST CONNECTION TO MUSIC
09:14 HOUSE MUSIC AND NEW YORK CITY IN THE EARLY 1990s
14:29 LITTLE LOUIE VEGA AND THE NEW EPITOME OF NEW YORK DANCE MUSIC CULTURE
16:35 THE MEETING WITH DAVID MANCUSO
20:08 THE LOFT – A GENUINE UNDERGROUND PARTY
24:14 DAVID MANCUSO’S PHILOSOPHY: ENTERING INTO A MUSIC CONVERSATION
27:50 LOVE SAVES THE DAY
34:22 THE MUSIC AT THE LOFT
49:30 PARADISE GARAGE, LARRY LEVAN, FRANKIE KNUCKLES, ALL INSPIRED BY THE LOFT
52:20 THE LOFT vs STUDIO 54
57:01 “JOY” – THE PARTY IN NEW YORK CITY (2017)
Episode Links #35 DAVID MANCUSO & THE LOFT with TIM LAWRENCE
Love Saves the Day: A History Of America Dance Music Culture
Love is the Message – Dance, Music, and Counterculture
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