NYC Club Icon & Legendary DJ David Mancuso Passes Away Aged 72
The pioneer was a pivotal figure in the city's burgeoning club scene in the mid-late 20th century
New York City has lost a legend of its vibrant and vital club scene, with veteran venue owner and DJ David Mancuso passing away at the age of 72 on Monday.
The news of Mancuso's death was broken on Facebook by longtime friend Craig Roseberry (of Shifty Entertainment and KID Recordings), who reported the news "with a very heavy heart" and described the trailblazing DJ and founder of iconic NYC venue The Loft as "more than just a seminal, influential and elusive figure in the development of DJing and NYC underground club culture, he was family".
"My heart is broken," Roseberry, who posts under the name Craig Shifty, said. "He will be GREATLY missed but, thankfully, he left the world a lasting vibrant legacy that continues to inspire and influence countless generations of music lovers and clubbers… and what a gift that is!"
Kicking off its first event on Valentine's Day, 1970, The Loft was as much philosophy as it was any fixed bricks-and-mortar address: a series of invitation-only shindigs where no alcohol or food was sold (partially to ensure they could avoid legislators pushing to make Mancuso obtain a 'cabaret license' to continue hosting Mancuso's 'dos) that served as a proto-safe space for the LGBTQI+ community of the era, who were having a time even being able to mingle in then-established gay bars and clubs without the threat of harassment. Essentially, Mancuso's privatised parties provided a place in which non-heterosexual punters were able to freely be themselves (and they apparently boasted a hell of a sound system for the time, since the man himself was something of an unapologetic audiophile).
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The original Loft parties were held at Mancuso's house, where they stayed until the collapse of a neighbouring hotel saw them move to an address in Soho in 1975. It was here that Mancuso pushed back against the (ultimately unsuccessful) drive to have him obtain a cabaret license, opening the way for other private clubs — such as the renowned Paradise Garage — to blossom. The Loft was forced to move again, in 1984, to new premises in the area known as Alphabet City, in Manhattan's East Village, and twice more as the events have scaled down in size over the years.
Mancuso and his club accrued broad yet feverishly cultish renown over the past several decades; unsurprisingly, several well-known musicians, producers, DJs, journalists and other identities have expressed their grief and offered their condolences since being made aware of his death. See a small selection, and Roseberry's original post, below.
I went to The Loft in Spanish Harlem as a youth, 1st time I heard "Supernature". We owe so much #DavidMancuso pic.twitter.com/Tbf9FjfpJk
— Kevin Saunderson (@kevinsaunderson) November 15, 2016
May your inspiration of bringing people together through music, live on, David Mancuso. We need this now, as ever.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) November 15, 2016
Another one of my heroes gone too soon ...rest in power David Mancuso. You changed my life forever. #mydjidol https://t.co/MOPn7QdbRq
— KingBritt (@kingbritt) November 15, 2016
DAVID MANCUSO. pioneer/titan of NYC nitelife. rest in peace xx https://t.co/pOx2zDy1jx
— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) November 15, 2016
In memory of NY DJ David Mancuso, a link to one of his 7-hour mixes. Throw a party and celebrate life. https://t.co/XCO3IMTvzc
— Eve Barlow (@Eve_Barlow) November 15, 2016
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