FAO Nick Nack/Judy Doggie

**conor l** · March 15th, 2005, 10:05 AM

Guys,
You's seem to be the men in the know on this forum(and having read Nickys interview), I thought id ask a few questions about the following djs, as there seems to be very little info about them out there:

Roy Thode(Ive heard tapes of him playing in the Ice Palace and the Paradise Garage which are excellent)

Howard Merritt(I know he was resident in Flamingo and later in San Fran)

Jim Burgess(I know he played in 12West, Infinity and(I think) was the first resident in the Saint)

Richie Rivera(I know he played in the Firehouse and Flamingo)

Ray Yeates(All i know about him was he was resident in the tenth floor)

What were they like technically, personality wise, what clubs did they play in etc.

Thanks

**conor l** · March 16th, 2005, 06:05 AM

bump :)

**NickNack** · March 17th, 2005, 04:28 PM

Originally Written by conor l

Guys,
You's seem to be the men in the know on this forum(and having read Nickys interview), I thought id ask a few questions

:o "in the know...", not really. See what I can do.

Roy Thode(Ive heard tapes of him playing in the Ice Palace and the Paradise Garage which are excellent)

Didn't know him well at all. Judydoggie would be your source here. Roy and I met at Man's Country where I sat transfixed one night as he took command of the dj booth. I had been goofing off in there and he happened to stop by. The first thing he did was raise the volume about 100db :D . Said the music had to be felt as well as heard. His mixing skill was flawless and what struck me was his air of confidence as he worked. He played what he wanted and how he wanted it. This is where I first heard "Shakey Ground" by The Temptations at 45 rpm instead of 33. Drugs demanded no 'low energy' that night :) . I also watched him counterpoint a mix, intentionally bringing up the '2' and '4' beat of the snare against the '1' and '3' beat of the song playing. The mix became something "hell-driven with energy" is how I would describe it. I thought it would screw up the dance floor but as he faded the song out the crowd just switched flow. Outrageous!

Howard Merritt(I know he was resident in Flamingo and later in San Fran)

I've said it a hundred times and I'll say it again: I LOVE THIS MAN! :) . To me he was a sweetheart --- always friendly, always supportive and willing to share his 'new finds' with me at The Anvil. Howard was a 'pretty music' lover and he liked to play sleaze. In that respect, we matched well. I remember him showing me the import of "Illusion" by Imagination and saying, "You've got to have this!" I was able to catch him doing 'tea' at The Ring on Sundays. The guy was smooth and when Phyllis Hyman's, "You Know How To Love Me" came on I knew for sure I liked his music.

Jim Burgess(I know he played in 12West, Infinity and(I think) was the first resident in the Saint)

I'll keep my mouth shut. :evil: Personal demons. Maybe my friend, Art, will add something. He heard him play more than I.

Richie Rivera(I know he played in the Firehouse and Flamingo)

Mr. Perfection :lol: . This is Art commenting on Richie after a night at The Saint: "The man makes me sick!" "Excuse me?", I said. "He never misses --- it's aggravating." :D

Richie was great, whether at For The Record on Fridays where all of us picked up our stuff or behind the turntables. I remember annoying the hell out of him one evening when he was working The Anvil. Every 2 or 3 records I had to know what he was playing. (This was before my "import" craze :lol: .) He would just look at me, roll his eyes and smile, flash me the album cover and keep on doing what he was doing. It was that night he told me I better get into imports. I took his advice.

Ray Yeates(All i know about him was he was resident in the tenth floor)

Sorry. Never had the pleasure.

As far as where these guys worked, I couldn't name the places. I never really had or took the opportunity to "follow" them, as it were. All were part of the Fire Island scene, I know that. And they did work some smaller venues as well as the big names everybody remembers.

**Art Figueroa** · March 17th, 2005, 06:04 PM

Originally Written by NickNack

Jim Burgess(I know he played in 12West, Infinity and(I think) was the first resident in the Saint)

I'll keep my mouth shut. :evil: Personal demons. Maybe my friend, Art, will add something. He heard him play more than I.

I heard Jim play a couple of times and not enough to really comment. His mixing was flawless and he was one for "drama", in a good way that is. Something that is sorely lacking in music these days...but that's another subject.

Art

**NickNack** · March 17th, 2005, 06:20 PM

Originally Written by Art Figueroa

I heard Jim play a couple of times and not enough to really comment. His mixing was flawless and he was one for "drama", in a good way that is. Something that is sorely lacking in music these days...but that's another subject.

Art

Ah, yes... the DRAMA. The night Bill and I heard him play at 12 West was the night he put on "Ain't No Mountain..." by Diana Ross at around 6 in the morning. Sooo gay, but they loved it. And I'll admit, that song sounded outrageous on that sound system.

**conor l** · March 18th, 2005, 10:45 AM

Originally Written by NickNack

His mixing skill was flawless and what struck me was his air of confidence as he worked. He played what he wanted and how he wanted it.

I got this impression. I was always intrigued due to the lack of info about him in tim lawrences and bill brewsters books but hes a hell of a dj as i can testify after hearing the tapes i have which are nothing short of brilliant. Ive made copies of the paradise garage one for most of my DJ friends in dublin who were all blown away by it. Thanks for the story btw :)

when Phyllis Hyman's, "You Know How To Love Me" came on I knew for sure I liked his music.

Love this record and would play it a good bit when playing out. Is howard merritt still alive?

I'll keep my mouth shut. :evil: Personal demons. Maybe my friend, Art, will add something. He heard him play more than I.

Alan Harris had said in LSTD that he was a nasty bit of work but a superb DJ. I love a bit of drama in djs myself aswell and there really isnt enough of it nowadays. Was curious about him as I bought his mix of Venus Dodson - Nightrider recently on E-Bay and I thought it was excellent(The string arrangements in it really got my attention!)

Mr. Perfection :lol: . This is Art commenting on Richie after a night at The Saint: "The man makes me sick!" "Excuse me?", I said. "He never misses --- it's aggravating." :D

Didnt know he played in the Saint

**NickNack** · March 18th, 2005, 03:44 PM

Originally Written by conor l

Is howard merritt still alive?

I'm told he's living in Florida. I tried to reach him but no luck so far. :(

**conor l** · March 25th, 2005, 04:39 AM

Originally Written by NickNack

I'm told he's living in Florida. I tried to reach him but no luck so far. :(

Check these links out:

http://www.djsportal.com/en/pioneer/index.php?id=rip

http://www.djsportal.com/en/pioneer/...ard_merrit.jpg

:-?

**conor l** · March 27th, 2005, 08:08 AM

bump(again! :oops: )

**Art Figueroa** · March 27th, 2005, 01:06 PM

Conor, I checked out that link. It states that Roy Thode died in 1992. Roy commited suicide in the early eighties.

Like Nicky the last I had heard Howard was still alive and I heard this within the past couple of years.

Art

**Art Figueroa** · March 27th, 2005, 04:03 PM

I emailed Robbie Leslie and sent him a link to that page. Here is an excerpt from his reply to me:

Roy Thode died in 1982.

Chico “Superstar” is alive in South Beach.

Wayne Scott is alive in central Florida.

Howard Merritt is alive in Fort Lauderdale.

Richie Rivera died way back in the 1990’s.

Larry Sanders is alive.

Kevin Burke is alive.

Holy Cow!

He also suggested someone write to the author and tell him to double check his facts!

Art

**conor l** · March 28th, 2005, 12:42 PM

Originally Written by Art Figueroa

I emailed Robbie Leslie and sent him a link to that page. Here is an excerpt from his reply to me:

Roy Thode died in 1982.

Chico “Superstar” is alive in South Beach.

Wayne Scott is alive in central Florida.

Howard Merritt is alive in Fort Lauderdale.

Richie Rivera died way back in the 1990’s.

Larry Sanders is alive.

Kevin Burke is alive.

Holy Cow!

He also suggested someone write to the author and tell him to double check his facts!

Art

I knew that about roy thode and that was why i decided to post about it as i thought it may have been a big mistake. I think the guy who did the site is hungarian or something(AFAIK he actually has a robbie leslie interview on his site). Being the nice pedantic young man that i am i might mail him tomorrow and send him the link to here or just cut and paste the corrections.

Thanks Art (and indirectly)Robbie :D