Roy Thode

 

Disco Music > Disco People Index > In Memory Of > Roy Thode

Roy Thode

(1942-198?)

Roy Thode Roy Thode (1942 - May 21 or 22, 1982)
(DJ) New York DJ and remixer of Poussez's "Come On and Do It" who took his own life shortly after his 33rd birthday.

Roy Thode's friend Marsha Stern was kind enough to send in the following in March of 2006 to correct some of the comments posted further down this page from other members and to set the record straight as to the mystery surrounding Roy Thode's death:

Bernard,

This email to you is long overdue... not easy to write...please post as you feel best.
Thank you,
Marsha

What becomes a legend most??
Roy Thode I suspect fits the profile, one that we know not everything about but who has touched us so that we create a mystique about the facts that surrounded their life. This email is long overdue and as black party weekend is fast approaching, perhaps just the catalyst I needed to write this. I find that not only is it 25 years of Saint Black parties but also an anniversary of sorts for me.

It was 25 years ago that I assisted Roy in his preparation for the first Saint Black Party. There was such joy in anticipation and much satisfaction in the afterglow of completion of a truly memorable weekend. I am happy to hear that evening's music currently being played on The SaintatLarge radio website and I'm sure that Roy would be proud. His joy was in sharing the music and giving a musical journey to all who cared to join him. Often he would remark "How wonderful, I get to dance with EVERYONE at the party!". In this spirit I would like to offer some facts and corrections of misconceptions that I read on this site concerning Roy, his life and death.

For the record Roy Thode was born on May 15, 1949 and died on May 21/22, 1982 (exact time of death was undetermined) about a week after his 33rd birthday. He was found in his apartment. He did not slit his wrists. There was no blood. He was not in the bathtub. I know this because I was there, in the apartment with the police on the day he was found. Yes, it was just days before the Saint's closing party Memorial Weekend 1982 and also the opening weekend of Ice Palace Fire Island.

That day is forever burned into my mind and still seems quite a bit surreal even to this day. I was lovingly taken care of by friends and my 'gay family' for the days immediately surrounding his death. Mocha (his dog) and I lived together for many a year to follow; we were in the procession of friends carrying his ashes to their final resting place on his beloved Fire Island (as remembered by Walden on this website - I am not real clear as to the exact date however - I'm sure I was in a bit of shock for many weeks that followed). It is quite sad that so many of those friends and family from that era are also no longer with us, only in spirit.

I am happy to report that I, Marsha Stern, am quite alive and well. I am deeply moved at some of what I have heard and read about memories of Roy. I miss him dearly and it brings a bright spot to know he touched so many others as well. I'm pleased to say that I have been working with the Saint at Large radioSaint in digitizing some of the nights that Roy played The Saint.

These days professionally I can be found doing various aspects of lighting design...take a look at my website www.msldc.com for types of projects that have kept me busy over the years.

I thank Bernard for having this forum and allowing me to offer this bit of information and my feelings...I welcome all who wish to correspond...my email is marsha@msldc.com

Marsha Stern

Please feel free to link to this page by using this URL:
http://www.discomusic.com/people-more/1649_0_11_0_C/


Posted by: Bernie: DiscoMusic.com



YOUR COMMENTS ON Roy Thode

Thode didn't die in 1992. He died some time in the late '80s; I think '84 or '85. Sadly, he slit his wrists in the living room and walked to the bathtub and was found by the police. We got the call at the Red Parrot and two of the managers, friends of his, had to go down to his place and then call his friends. Marsha Stern, a lighting technician at the clubs, inherited his records and his dog, a golden retriever. I don't know where Marsha is now. Roy was a legend; one of the finest, second only to Houlihan. I remember his fine work at the Fire Island Ice Palace. Just when you thought he couldn't excite the crowd any more; he'd kick the adrenaline up another notch. He seemed to read the crowd's mood before they even knew what they were thinking. I remember being asked to coax him out of his room one evening (he suffered terrible depression). One of the club staff members, a horrible novice dee-jay, was playing as the patrons lined up at the gates. Roy let me in, and we talked for a good 45 minutes. He was terrified to go on. I told him, let's not go to work; let's go get pizza. Much to Jim B's horror; we slid out a back door and got two sodas and pizza. After another twenty minutes, I had him explaining to me how "this song works with that song..." and I accompanied him to the deejay booth, pizza, cokes and all. We stayed there, except for bathroom breaks, for most of the rest of the night, until he told me, "thanks for your help, don't you want to go dance?" I told him, "Only if you'll dance with me." That clinched our friendship.
 
Posted by: JudyDoggie | May 25, 04 | 7:18 pm

Roy Thode was a master DJ and a good friend during the years that I worked with him at the Ice Palace 57 in NYC. He always appeared to be a quiet intense creative artist and created a powerful mix of music that directed the mood of the dancers at the club. I actually often thought of him as "Thor" like a god of thunder who could take us to new heights through the music. I especially enjoyed the magic he performed nightly with Donna Summers' four seasons of love album. When Roy segwayed into her pulsing beat of "Working the Midnight Shift" I always felt chills inside as the room soared with excitement. I was that "working girl" that Donna sang of yet nobody could love their work more than we did five nights a week 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM. Roy would usually close with a transition into "Last Dance" and then sometimes new world sounds as the guests departed and we began to clean our stations. My section was the darker back third of the room where the DJ booth was located. I spent many hours with Roy in the glass booth standing behind him and watching him share his gift of sound with the throngs dancing in the neon lights. Roy was a good man and brought happiness to many visitors to the Ice Palace through his music.
 
Posted by: spinner333 | Jul 26, 04 | 9:56 pm

If anyone has a photo of Roy Thode, or other key Disco DJs of the era, please send them in and they will be posted here with proper credit. Upload any quantity of photos at http://www.discomusic.com/uploads/index.php
Thank you all!
 
Posted by: Bernie: DiscoMusic.com | Oct 23, 04 | 10:29 am

Roy was a master. He was one of the (very) few DJ's who was able to take an entire club through mood swings throughout the evening. The dance floor was like butter in his hand! He was one of the first DJ's to create that cult like following. His nights at The Ice Palace (F.I.) were known to have multiple highs and lows well into the morning.

Roy never received the recognition he deserved for the success of Studio 54. It was Roy who brought the gay crowd to the club (and everything that went with it) that made the club so attractive to the beautiful crowd. His nights (and days!) at The Saint are legendary. In the latter part of his carreer he migrated from the Ice Palace to The Pavillion on Fire Island. Playing alongside great DJ's like John Ceglia, Sharon White and Henry Winslow, Roy still managed to stand alone.

His death dealt a major blow to the dance scene and in some odd way much of the scene died with him. Roy will not be forgotton. Nearly 20 years (and what seems like a lifetime) later my wife and I had our first son - Roy!
 
Posted by: gm123 | Dec 23, 04 | 10:50 am

Ice Palace 57 in 197? "Two Hot For Love" THP Orchestra you blew me away!!!
Thank you.
 
Posted by: Gary Alan | Sep 09, 05 | 7:46 pm

I remember that Roy Thode died sometime during May 1982. I remember this in particular because it was before the Memorial Day closing of The Saint's first (1981-82)season. On the weekend immediately following his unfortunate death, The Saint announed that a party would be given (three days later on Tuesday) at the club to "celebrate his life and music." Although it was mid-week, the Saint was filled to full capacity with Roy's friends and the many admirers of his inspired music. The party lasted until nearly 7:00am. Additionally, shortly thereafter , I made my first visit to the Fire Island Pines and witnessed a procession of Roy's friends taking his ashes to scatter upon the beach (I remember this happening on the morning of June 6, 1982 the date of the 1982 Tony Awards which I happened to attend). I still treasure the few recordings I have by Roy Thode and I've heard few that can approach his level of expertise in terms of timing, taste and creativity.
 
Posted by: Walden | Jan 04, 06 | 7:38 am

Great email Marsha. Very touching.

Although Ive only heard Roys work through old tapes and his mix of Poussez, he is one of the best djs Ive heard and it is a true testament to his ability that his influence is still felt today, over 20 years after his death
 
Posted by: conor l | Apr 19, 06 | 3:44 am

Roy Thode? There will never be anyone like him. I was in Europe when I heard of his death(weeks after his memorial) it has always saddened me that I never got to say good-bye to him. He was wonderful and I will always treasure his memory and kindness. He was not only a great dj he was the Master!! I love you Roy Thode and thanks for the memories.
 
Posted by: E-O-Tree Palmer | Apr 28, 07 | 11:04 pm

Marsha, what a lovely and touching piece on Roy Thode! I just adored meeting you last night at Splash and look forward to connecting again! We had great fun and the pictures aren't too shabby either w/Sir Leslie behind the Pioneers.....You are great fun and your comments about Roy are everlasting.....He had a very interesting style of playing music...He wasn't too lushy, nor beyond belief dark, he had that perfect musical balance of combining songs together that just left you saying, "those songs were meant to be blended together....Oh, when I heard him play Lew Kirton's "Heaven in the Afternoon" I was in heaven myself...Love and Kisses from myself and that Disco Dolly I was with!
 
Posted by: Alex Garcia | Jul 30, 07 | 6:34 am

Roy Thode was a man of great talent and love for his music. I remember the first time he DJ'd on Long Island. It was 1970 and he and I were living together in Farmingdale. He was a man I shall never forget.
I remember when we first met in 1968 and he will always be the first love of my life. We lost touch in the early part of the seventies. But, will always cherish his love and kindness.I didn't hear about his death till much later when I already had moved to Los Angeles. It's so nice to see people remembering him fondly.
 
Posted by: James F. Tarzia | Jan 01, 08 | 7:20 am

Roy's work with the THP orchestra is legendary. And POUSSEZ could be the ULTIMATE DISCO album. It was a standard in every club, all thanks to the remixes that Roy gave us. It allowed other deejays to incorporate their own mixes in their sets.I am impressed that he was thinking of the deejay when he remixed his songs. It is very smart way to work, make us love the songs, and we'll play them more often. BRILLIANT!!
 
Posted by: vyniljunkie | Mar 03, 08 | 10:17 am

Roy was one of the greatest DJ to ever been heard. His music always told a story. I had the honor and priviledge of hearing him play in the early mornings every weekend at the Ice Palace after my night ended at Flynn's on Fire Island. I would grab a water taxi & rush to the Palace to meet with my crowd and catch his final 2 hours of music. It was magical, especially his ending set, with the "birds". I notice someone mention on how Roy died & I believe that's inaccurate. To my memory, Roy died "accidentally" of an overdose at the Ice Palace on Fire Island in his hotel room during the summer of either 1982 or 1983.
RIP Roy - Thanks for the fond memories!!!
 
Posted by: Vito | May 20, 08 | 5:40 am

Hey all, I was at the Saint on the weekend when Roy died...my understanding was that he overdosed in the booth there....I keep reading lots of other versions of his death...any one else hear of him overdosing at the Saint??? I might be way off base...but I remember the night vividly...(through all the recreational drugs)
 
Posted by: markymark | Jun 30, 08 | 11:26 pm

Marsha, it is fantastic that we have found each other again after 29 years. I am extremely proud of you and your accomplishments that I am now discovering after all these yesteryears. I am also proud of your being able to reach down into your heart and soul, your bravery in setting the record straight about what really happened so that Roy name is not blemished and that all can know the real Roy Thode. It is great that you have done this in that the real Internet record is straight and what it is meant to be.
Thanks also goes to discomusic.com for providing this avenue of documenting all those things disco.

Kudos to you all.

Ramon Sandoval
 
Posted by: Ramon Sandoval | Oct 03, 08 | 7:14 am

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