DJ Robbie Leslie Memories and Discussion

**Bernie** · January 24th, 2003, 01:41 PM

Disco DJ Robbie Leslie is best known for spinning at New York's finest clubs such as the Sandpiper, 12 West, the Saint, Studio 54, Underground, Palladium and others. He began his career as a DJ back in the 1970's and is still doing guest appearances internationally.

I recently conducted an in depth interview with Robbie and I hope to have it up by this weekend for all to read. Anyone who would like to share memories related to Robbie or any of the clubs he worked at are invited to add their thoughts to this thread. There will be a link to this thread from the article so it should get some nice feedback in due time.

**paul** · January 24th, 2003, 02:18 PM

Well I partied at the Underground a few times. I share my experience when you post the interview.

**Bernie** · January 24th, 2003, 04:25 PM

Hi all,

The Robbie Leslie interview is now available at

Robbie Leslie

Everyone is encouraged to comment on the interview or share memories of Robbie via this thread on the forum. Although Robbie may not reply personally he will be reading the posts. Enjoy!

**paul** · January 24th, 2003, 06:00 PM

That was a very pleasant interview Bernie. I can really relate to a lot of what he was saying. Examples include his ownership of an Opel. I too had one, the 1900 specifically. His love for the music of Carole King and the complaint about the low wages in FL. I lived in FL for a short while and the salaries there brought me back to California. I also liked his description of today's music being more aggressive but that speaks to this generation I suppose.
Hey Danceman, I see he his also a fan of "Loving Is Really My Game." :)
My experience at the Underground was awesome for the few times I went. I don't know if Robbie Leslie worked the nights I was there but the music seemed to flow continuosly. This around the mid '80s. It was like house music, lite, on a very intimate dance floor. I really miss that place. Of course the women there ultimately made the place memorable for me

**DanceMan** · January 25th, 2003, 10:34 PM

I just wanted to comment on the DJ Interview on
Robbie Leslie.....First of all, I already read it two times and it confirmed something that I always knew.....that Robbie was indeed the musical genius that we always knew and loved and I hope that he will continue to play for eons to come......the only thing wrong with the interview was that it ended too soon....i was so hungry for more....LOL! As Robbie can confirm, I rarely missed a Robbie evening at 12 West and always called in advance to make sure that he was playing and on what nights....he was our FAVE - followed by John Ceglia.

Thank you, Bernie and Robbie, from the bottom of my heart for all you both do for the continued recognition and furtherment of dance music throughout the world. Know that you are both in my musical thoughts and prayers until I drop - hopefully, on a dance floor!

**JohnTNYC** · January 27th, 2003, 12:16 PM

Robbie entered the pantheon with his set closing the Final Party at the Saint (the first closing party, the real one). I recently listened to the recording of that set for the first time in 15 years and was startled to realize that "In The Name of Love" was one of the tracks in the final segment -- sort of like discovering a new book to the Old Testament!

Robbie is also the man who should be credited (or blamed for) the institution of the White Party, since his sound defined these events at the Saint and the circuit queens are still trying to recreate that feeling lo these many years later.

It's also interesting looking back to realize that Robbie's sound paled for me at a certain point, when the whole scene started turning darker -- and the music played in NYC these days is bleak indeed. Fortunately, the music coming out of Europe (DJ Tiesto, Armin van Buuren and the like) is more in the lineage of uplift that Robbie kept alive. But I'm very pleased that he has managed to continue in his chosen field, and his sound sounds good to me once again!

**markydefad** · January 27th, 2003, 07:16 PM

I'm interested if anyone would agree with an assumption of mine, based on listening to Robbie Leslie's music over the years. ( I attended several parties when he played in SF and I've heard some of his tapes). Now, by no means, am I an expert and this is not meant as criticism (honest)....but I felt his affinity for "pretty music" AWAYS took precedence over the sleazier, darker, more drug-oriented tunes that Bobby Viteritti, for example, would play. Bobby played "pretty" and then moved into darker territory and back to pretty with much skill. I always loved the variety this brought to an evening of dancing. Robbie never seemed to "get down" into the funkier, sleazier, earthier, darker carnal realms.

Am I waaay off base here? As I said , I have the utmost respect for Robbie's taste and skill and his endurance. Just curious about the style and content. Was this a conscious choice? A lack of drug-taking in the DJ booth? Or just a Karen Carpenter hangover?

**QUINNY** · January 27th, 2003, 07:32 PM

Marky: Not everyone liked to get down and get dirty!

Reading between the lines, in what was an interesting interview that I could relate to in many places, I'd say he just comes across as a 'poppier' DJ than some of the others and dare I say it, a more balanced, more pleasant person.
IMO: This would certainly go some way to explain why he has survived. Niche players eventually either run out of followers ('cos there are never that many in the first place and their life priorities DO change) or find themselves going down a one way street that leads to finding ever more mediocre records to fill the niche (there's only so much product that is made before the scene moves on to something completely different).

**markydefad** · January 27th, 2003, 07:49 PM

Hey, as I said, NO OFFENSE intended. :D

BUT, I liked the contrast of the bitter and the sweet, the sweet and the sour, the dark and the light, the pretty and the sleazy. Moving from Giorgio's little popper trip to hell and back "Evolution" to the life-affirming, everything is gonna be all right "Keep On Holding On" was the stuff THE DRAMA was made of, at least to me.

The contrast from light to dark was accentuated by the lights and kept the moods changing and the evening always interesting.

NOT that there's anything wrong with pretty. I like pretty (BUT I like sleazy too).

**NickNack** · January 28th, 2003, 09:43 PM

Mark,

I haven't commented on Robbie's interview yet because I want to read it again. But, I don't think he would mind me saying that he would agree with your assessment. Robbie was definitely into "Pretty Music" and this was the music which was demanded at 12 West, The Saint, The Flamingo and on Fire Island where he started. It wasn't about being a "pop" dj, this was gay-white-boy-NYC-music and that is not an insult. These clubs were predominantly white with 'the rest of us' sprinkled in. This was 'the drug oriented' music of Gay New York. If you wanted the darker, funkier stuff, then it was time for a change of venue (Larry Levan's 'Garage'). 'Sleaze', a/k/a 'Morning Music', started in these clubs and it, too, was pretty. It's where I first heard it and fell in love with it.

Don't misunderstand me. Robbie as well as the other name jocks who worked these clubs could play just about any style. All they needed was the right 'room'. I don't remember everything on Robbie's Top 25 but I think it showed some diversity. And I've heard and loved Richie Rivera and Howard Merritt out of The Flamingo atmosphere. Pretty music just gets into your blood :D . Sadly, I don't know Trocadero but it sounds like Bobby had the freedom to be a little looser in his style. Example: Where I worked I could play ANYTHING by D-Train yet I know a lot of the 12 West crowd didn't care for "You're The One". (Robbie if I'm wrong jump in and set me, well, straight :lol: .) But, put on his cover of "Walk On By"? Hell, yeah, it worked. Sleaze with just a tinge of funk to please one and all. Yet, I could also play Souvenirs or In the Name of Love with no problem. Maybe that's how Troc was; the crowd shifted gears a little easier than The Saint.

Hey, I'm not here to make excuses for the man nor do I have to. He's proven his worth. I loved his music everytime I got the opportunity to hear and when I did, IT WAS PRETTY!

**nrgbeat** · January 28th, 2003, 10:06 PM

I would have to agree that I too am a fan of pretty.

I generally prefer the lighter, catchy stuff to the dark electronic "Hills of Katmandu" type of drug trip.

**The Saint** · August 13th, 2005, 09:08 PM

Dear Bernie, Thank you for the interview with DJ Robbie Leslie It's great to find out information about people that have influenced my life. Robbie, I love the picture you provided during your senior year of high school, Maine 1974.

I was lucky to have attended The Saint starting in 1984 at the age of 20 and was lucky to spend many nights and days at The Saint dancing to Robbie Leslie "The master". It is true, Robbie to me was the DJ that will play the most "Pretty Music" he also played 'Sleaze' but I most say that it was always on the pretty side. I feel that's the reason he will play The White Party and other DJ's will play The Black Party like Michael Fierman or Warren Gluck.

Markydefad, was Bobby V the only DJ at Trocadero aside from guest DJ's?

I feel that at The Saint you knew in advance who the DJ was, you had a feeling of what the night was going to be like and what the 'Morning Music' set will offer and of course what drugs to use and percussion instrument to bring :lol:

**LuvLatins** · August 22nd, 2005, 03:12 AM

Yes pretty is a perfect was to describe his music. As a memebber of the Saint I must say, we arrived late at about 2:00 am or later. Unlike anyother club when you went to the saint yuo expected to take a journey. Most of the music in the eairly morning was pretty and sort of put you in the right frame of mind for what you knew was going to follow. S-L-O-W-L-Y increasing in speed and intensity, into HINRG and then a gradual slow down. Robbie could take you up so slowly that you did not even feel it. All of a sudden your dancing your ass off and sweating and you did not even know how you got there. Then again on the gradual slow down he would play things like "Electric Dreas, or Sound of my Heart, of Shooting Party, I know that mood." The way he went up and down was a journey. Most of us were happy that he never really got dark. As the other person posted, if you wanted dark you would change venues and go to CRISCO DISCO or PARIDISE GARAGE. But most of us at that our wanted to float in a pretty environment and Robbie knew just how to carry you up and bring you back down real gentle. In fact after the morning sleeze music you left the club at around 11:00 am and wore sunglasses when you departed. The rest of the world was goiing shopping and having lunch and you just returned from another world. The smile still firmly planted on your face and your would hum those songs all afternoon. The journey did not even end after you left, you hummed those tunes almost for the rest of the week end. And all the favorites which developed as classics you wer happy to hear them again the following week. Dont get me wrong there was alsways new stuff but some like "In the evening" and "Hold On to my Love", "Touch me in the moring" They became anthems of the Saint. I really hope someone in NYC or somewhere elses gets brave and tried to bring back a 5 million dollar venue like that again. Such Amazing memories. I used to like the end of the eveing when the DJ would stop and everyone would break out in large cheers of delight and clapping and then the ligths would dim and you would would get a small encore

Ahh the memories.