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Disco Music > Discotheques and Clubs Index > Salvation
Salvation
Miami, Florida
DJs:
Robbie Leslie
Photos below submitted by Scott Blackwell:
1. DJ Booth at Salvation with Light Man Paul?
2. George Cardenas and Scott Blackwel in George's apt during one of his Saint guest spots.
3. Pic of salvation from bass bins looking at the bar and elevated DJ booth.
Please feel free to link to this page by using this URL:
http://www.discomusic.com/clubs-more/887_0_6_0_C/
COMMENTS ON THIS DISCO / DISCOTHEQUE / NIGHTCLUB
The original Salvation from the early 80's was truly the greatest disco Miami has ever seen. Housed in the old "Salvation Army" building in downtown Miami, the people, music & overall energy of the club have never been duplicated. I believe Bob Eckenweiler was the DJ.
Yes, Bobby Eckenweiler was the DJ and he was the best!
Would love to hear so much more about the club since we installed the sound system, but i was only there a few times. Who else played there?
Barry (Graebar Sound)
I know Jorge Cadenas was a guest DJ in 1982. He used to be the resident DJ at Monster in Key West at the time.
Downtown Salvation was the club.
Doors didnt open till 11:00 pm sometimes 12 midnight on Saturdays. You could smell the wood that had been polished before you entered the club. Sundays they use to have tdances and have a spread of food upstairs on the balcony. I remmber many nights in the bathroom talking to Jane the attendant. I miss Salvation it was a growing era for me
Salvation was one of the most amazing clubs in south Florida. A lot of the music that was played there were rare songs that really never made it out of the underground music scene at that time. Some of the songs that were played there: Glad To Know You, Jump Shot, The Visitors, The Force, Tripping On The Moon, Hills Of Katmandau, Atomatic Lover, Sandstorm...
danny
I remember one song that I never heard anywhere else, Strange Desires, by Pete Richards.
THE ORIGINAL SALVATON IN MIAMI WAS LEGENDARY. IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC! TO THIS DAY, THE BEST CLUB EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER WITNESSED. ALL BOW TO BOBBY DJ ECKENWEILER! AMAZING!
I came out when I was 14 and started to attend Miami clubs shortly thereafter. I frequented every Miami hot spot and never has there been a club like Salvations. It was amazing. Everyone dressed to the nine's and most everyone took a lot of drugs. The music, the energy, the space was truely magical! I remember the pounding of Abba's Lay all your love on me vibrating off the wall and into your heart. So many friends, so many of them gone. Salvations saved so many of us. I, occasionaly, drive by and gaze with transient memory at its facade and remember.
Saturdays at Salvation were legendary. It was an interesting mix of Preppies, leathermen, twinks and Cubans. All together in absolute harmony. We used to drive down from FtL.
The songs that stood out for me were "Rain, Rain, Rain" by Gombay Dance Band, "I Wanna Take You Home" by P Cowley and , of course, "The Visitors" by ABBA.
Coke, MDA, acid, poppers and ethyl were plentiful and added to the groove.
yep...in all the years that I was a clubber, Salvation became the standard against which all others were held.
I'm fortunate to have a cassette of Bobby from that time- the choice of tunes is totally Miami- some of the tunes I've yet to identify. One of the songs on there is "Deetour" by Karen Young, which still holds it's own.
I started going to Salvations Downtown Miami when I was 14 years old. It was my 1st time in a gay bar. I couldn't believe the music, the energy and the celebration of life. I don't know if it was because of it being my 1st bar or what but, I know that I've never had such fun again. My music was true ear candy (lay all your love on me, sing sing sing, the visitors, situation, tripping on the moon, the force and many more. I have a David magazine from 1981 with a drawing of the club on the front cover with a turn table for the roof.
I noticed a post from basil back in February. I have made it a point to collect as much music that I heard at Salvation as I can. I may be able to identify some of the songs for you.
where's Jorge now???????
Martin
People talk about "The Garage" in NY, Muzic Box & Warehouse in Chicago, Trucadero Transfer in SF, but no one can touch the original "Salvation" in Miami. I remember walking in and people offering you sugar cubes of acid and MDA. People would stand in line to get there stuff leave and come back in the middle of the night. By that time the music had gone absolutely bezerk. Krishnas would be outside. It was a great mix of gay, straight. It was all about the music first and foremost. I remember many nights walking around asking people "what is this song" it was always either "The Force" By Nancy Nova (Thanks to Mystic Bill), "Seahunt" by Patrick Cowley, And all the trippy disco classics mixed with the ryhthmic disco. That was the Miami Sound!!! and the best club to this day!!
I am looking for old David Magazines from 1975-1980. I ran some ads in them. It was a wild time in history and would like to make sure it is preserved.
What a great Christmas present to find this site. My partner "Joe" and I have many memories of Salvation's during the 80's. The music has never died for both of us. My song " Trippin On The Moon" says it all. MDA, Rainbow, 714, and yes, the fans. We were both into " Fan Dancing ". Our thing was to get ready by Wednesday by getting our clothes and fans cordinated for the weekend which usually was 3 changes in clothing since tripping made us sweat, hence the change in clothing. Joe used to call this ritual " Tune Up Wednesday ". Salvation's was home to many. There were many clubs, COPA, Backstreet, 13 Buttons ( showing my age here ), 1235, Club Z any many more that I can't remember, but none could ever compare to Salvation's. I've always wondered where the old crowd ended up, As for me, the Pacific Northwest ( the next best thing that ever happened to me ) and now the state of North Carolina (still figuring this one out), yet the topic of Salvation's was always present in conversation. In meeting new friends, they couldn't understand my feelings toward's this club, I just would say, " You had to have been there ". Today the music lives in my mixes ( I mix my own CD's on my PC ) and at times, it's like being there again. Joe and I are no longer together but remain very close and have a very strong friendship, after all, we did spend twenty plus years together. So, if the old crowd is out there, let me here from you or from anyone who was there. Salvation's, there will be nothing like it ever again. Joe, thanks for the best time of my life. Te Quiero !
Frank, you are not alone on not only thinking Salvation is indescribable. I've yet to go to another club(even studio 54) that had the energy of Salvation. I too have ended up in North Carolina. I really long for a place to groove like Salvation. I would travel far to do it.
It's incredible reading all these comments about Salvation. And we have to clarify that we are not speaking about the same Salvation that popped up in Miami in the 90's. They were 2 very different clubs. I used to think that I was the only one that thought that there has never been another club like it. Everthing that Frank said is true. It was such an event every Saturday night and into Sunday morning. I remember hearing "Changin'" by Sharon Ridley for the first time there and thinking what an amazing feeling that was. Hey Frank, what part of Caroline are you in? I am in Raleigh myself. Does anybody remember Constantine?
Hey Hey ! What a thrill to get the responses to my post. There is only one other club that was a little like Salvation's to me, "The Saint" in New York. All other clubs were smoke and mirrors. There was one place that sprang up after Salvation's closed, but I can't remember the name. It was located in decorators row north of 36th street in Miami. The old crowd transfered there but it was not the same. The music was different, what was known back then as "Progressive", gone was the Hi-nrg and the "SLEAZE", well you all know what I mean here. The 90's version of Salvation's is not even in my vocabulary, shame for using the name. By the late 90's I was out of the club scene but my heart was still in the music. Constantine, oh yes! What really surprises me is how long Salvation's lasted, considering the Miani PD was down the street. I personally feel it became just too comfortable, and the going on just got out of hand. I too would travel far for another Salvation's type club, but in truth, it's wishful thinking if another one came along, today's youth does not know how to party! This is why I mix my own music and re-live it all. I've settled in Reidsville, it's about 20 miles north of Greensboro. I became the care giver to my handicapped sister at the beginning of 2007, moved her up to Spokane, WA and quickly realized that taking care of her was going to be a challenge. My heart is still in the Pacific Northwest, taxes drove me out, plus I needed to be closer to family. I've been here in Reidsville about a month and have adapted well, considering it's a small town. Nice people, but waiting to see how tolerant they are. I can still hear "Standing Right Here" by Melba Moore during that final hour before last call in the mist of a great "High". Well all this has gotten me in the mood for music. I'm off to make a new mix, Salvation's style. Keep the post coming ! Who know's, we just might party again.
i've traveled and met people all over. Each time i encountered someone that partied at Salvations the memories are intense and wonderful. Trully, there has never been a club like Salvations ever again in Miami or the Beach. I'll drop a few "character" names to make some of you smile. Remember Lisa my Dear, Cecilia, Jose el negro, bob martinez, luis castro, carmen"new wave" kuki, tony sampson, jorge alonso, jorge lario, fernando garcia, guillermo, nilo, etc.. What great nights we had there.
Hey guys
It is so great to hear all the wonderful comments about the club.My partner (Peter) and I installed the sound there as well as The Saint, Troc and 12 West
We loved the place.
Anybody know what became of the owner Bob Harris? Would Like to know-Keep the comments coming
Wow!
Carmen "New Wave". Now that has taken me back. Partied many a night's with this fun loving person. If there is one song that was Carmen for me, "Quasimodo". She would really get into this song, plus her attire matched her to the "T". So full of life!
This is a short list of the songs that"took" me places at Salvations.
Let's Start to Dance by Bohannon,Hills of Katmandy, by Tantra, Lay all your love on me by ABBA, Tripping on the Moon, Cerrone, Tanited Love/where did our love go remix, by Soft Cell, Situation by YAZ, Just can't get enough by Depeche Mode, Megatron Man by P Cowley, Strange Desires by P Richards, Remeber by Gino Soccio, oh god i could go on and on ... So glad to find this site and read all of your comments.
Hey Frank, the club you're referring to in the Design District was "Fire and Ice". Great memories of that club as well.
SALVATIONS was one of the most popular clubs ever in Miami. Too many drugs for my taste, and that is saying something in itself. But everyone else loved it, so on my scale from 1 to 10, it gets a strong 9.
SHARE YOUR Salvation KNOWLEDGE | MEMORIES
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