Steve Fabus

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Steve Fabus

San Francisco and New York Disco DJ (June 29, 1951 - Present)

Steve Fabus is one of the first nationally recognized DJ's that originated during the disco era in San Francisco. In his long career he has also lived and had DJ residencies in New York City and Los Angeles. He is known for his musical versatility and his expertise of playing a late night sound. His deep/groove r&b disco sound that he played in the late seventies and early eighties was a precursor for the House music that followed.

Steve was born in Chicago where he was influenced by the city's distinctive musical influences. The first DJ that inspired him was Lou Divito who played at Chicago's Dugan's Bistro.
Lou played impeccable music and was one of the first DJ's to construct a whole night of music and mix on beat. This was before variable speed turntables. It was on Lou's dancefloor that Steve realized that this was something he wanted to do. That wouldn't start to happen until Steve moved to San Francisco two years later.

Steve Fabus moved to San Francisco in 1975 to go to film school and enjoy the city. At that time he had a cartoon strip published in a local newspaper and was involved with the political activism of the day. He also started giving parties. At these parties he would dj. Steve mixed an eclectic array of sounds, mostly album cuts and 45's. He slip-cued records on beat like Sly and the Family Stone and the Isley Brothers.

The parties became popular with many of San Francisco's counter-culture luminaries. Because of his popularity at the parties Steve was offered a job to dj at a bathouse called The Hotel. The bathouses in those days were the only places people could go after-hours. They were great places for a dj to get exposure and work on his craft with a captivated audience. Steve was in his glory mostly because he just loved playing music for an audience. It was at this bathouse that Steve's music caught the attention of Rod Roderick and Bob Wharton.

Rod Roderick's aim at the time was to bring San Francisco up to speed with New York by producing all-night loft parties. At this time San Francisco did not have an all-night disco. Rod was in the planning stages of co-producing events with Michael Molletta and later with Steve Whitney. Rod thought Steve Fabus had a sound they were looking for and asked him if he would like to play his next party. Steve said yes and played at a party called "Boiler Room" that was staged in an alley off Folsom Street. There he found a hungry crowd of what some people would call the A-list of beautiful men, artists, and social climbers all highly stimulated and ready to go all night. This was the perfect place for Steve to play. Steve found his crowd and they found him. Everyone involved knew they were involved in the creation of something special. Steve became the signature DJ at most of the parties that followed.

During this same period Bob Wharton along with partner Sanford Kellman, were getting ready to open San Francisco's first big disco, the I-Beam. Bob liked the East coast and Chicago influences in Steve's music and wanted him to play at the I-Beam. Bob and Sanford hired Tim Rivers, Michael Garrett, and Steve Fabus to play at the I-Beam. Steve was very happy to play with Tim Rivers and Michael Garrett, both he deeply respected. During the early years the I-Beam was the place to hear more of a soulful sound, Loleatta Holloway, Jackie Moore, Lenny Williams and of course the Trammps. In many ways the I-Beam was like the Garage of San Francisco in those days.

Trocadero Transfer opened a short time later and Steve worked with Bobby Viteritti.

During these same years, 77, 78, 79 Steve Fabus was the resident DJ at Chains, an all-night underground South of Market club much like the Cockring in New York. This club is legendary in the memory of those that attended. Richie Rivera was a regular guest.

In 1980, Steve Fabus became a resident of the legendary Endup in San Francisco. His shift was the 6am to 2pm slot on Sunday mornings. That was the best time to play because people would come to the Endup after the Trocadero. Some people would actually wake up early to go. People called the Endup "Church". At that time Steve established a soulful edge that lives on at the Endup to this day. D-Train's "You're The One For Me" ruled Steve's dancefloor at the Endup in 82.

Steve always wanted to play in New York and in 1983 he was offered a spot at the River Club in Manhattan and took it. The River Club was in the old 12 West space in the West Village. Steve played there a short time because the club closed but was soon hired by Michael Fesco to play at Tracks, a club that opened uptown on 19th St. Steve played Sundays at Tracks and introduced Chicago House on his nights. David Depino, Michael Jorba, and Michael Fierman were also regulars at Tracks.

Steve also played at the Palladium, Steve Rubell's mega showplace club famous for it's giant video grid screens (of Club MTV fame) and Keith Haring's giant mural.

It was now later in 1988 and Steve gets a call from promoter Ron Baer in San Francisco. Ron wants Steve to move back to San Francisco to reopen Dreamland. Steve moved back to SF and not only reopened Dreamland but also reopened the Trocadero, albeit with a different name. Steve had brought in a new young promoter, Gus Bean, to do Saturday nights in the Trocadero space. Gus called the club Crew. Steve played at Crew and then Colossus until he moved to LA in 1990.

In LA Steve Fabus became one of Jeffrey Sanker's resident DJ's. He also worked for Sandy Sachs. He played the circuit, including White Parties. Steve also started an after-hours house club "Pulse" with DJ Andrew D and worked with Tony Largo at "Does Your Mama Know?"

Steve is now back in San Francisco where he still DJ's, but less frequently.

DJ Steve Fabus:
CLUBS
-- 1970's
I-Beam, Trocadero Transfer, Chains (San Francisco)
-- 1980's
The Endup (San Francisco)
River Club, Tracks, Anvil, Palladium (New York City)
Dreamland, Crew, Colossus (San Francisco)
-- 1990's
Probe, Asylum, Axis, Arena, Girl Bar, Boy Bar, Does Your Mama Know?, Pulse, Palace (Los Angeles)
-- 2000 to present
Metropolis, Fab, Thick (San Francisco)

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