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Francis Grasso
New York Disco DJ acknowledged as being one of the first. (b. 1948 - March 23, 2001)
New York DJ considered by many to be the first DJ to beat mix. Began spinning records in New York as far back as 1968 at a club called the Sanctuary.
Francis Grasso was an inspiration the first day I walked into the Sanctuary. I was 16 years old and just arrived from Miami. The music and the atmosphere drove me wild.
First was Kenny playing till around 1am then Francis Grasso showed up playing Mongoose, Life and Death in G A, Give Itup or Turn It Loose... the tambourines, the whistles... then was music for gong gong rain, dorothy morrison, Cat Mother track in a followed by Melting Pot, Lloyd Price, Sweet Inspiration, Sultana, United 8... Wow what memories.
Then Francis moved to a club called Tigress that nobody mentions and that's the last I heard of Francis Grasso.
Carlos Nodal, another great disc jockey, was a pupil of Francis Grasso where he got his first gig at Wild Child in Jersey City, NJ and moved to Miami.
To surmise this episode... Francis Grasso was an inspiration and discotheques that opened after 1971 owe a gratitude to Francis Grasso as he was the creator of discotheques like, Regines, Hardrts, Limelight, Ice Palace, the Garage, Infinity (the best disco after Sanctuary), and lets not forget Studio 54.
Photo of Francis Grasso with DJ Tony of Hudson County, New Jersey submitted by Alex Garcia.
Check out a rare recording of Francis Grasso at The Sanctuary circa 1971 by Luis Mario Orellana:
Submitted by mickey1111111111 (12)
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Dec 12, 09 | 5:26 pmthat picture of francis with tony wow
tony was the guy with the music in jersey his matinees on sundays were to look forward to .
and not to ever forget tonys famous words when he ran into any friends
(zocio tengo tremenda muzica!)
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Feb 20, 09 | 12:41 pm
francis grasso personified brillance,he created mixing{thats what he called it}im so sad he didnt get the recognition he deserved...i was his fiancee for many years, he was a natural teacher and taught me many things,i loved him then and i love him now. god bless you my angel as always,patricia
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Mar 23, 08 | 4:05 pm
Francis went on to many other great DISCOS, and Carlos Nodal went to the Jersey Shore for a few summers before coming down to Miami. While both of these great disc jockeys lead the DISCO revolution, playing the unknown music that radio stations wouldn't touch. Their particular way or style of mixing, was a quick, sharp exit or entry, a "Cut" mix. That was soon replaced by BEAT mixing, the synchronized long introduction mix style. Those two distinct styles eventually welcomed a "combination" mixer, who would employ both styles and create further magic. It is to the credit of Francis and Carlos that they changed with the times to also employ the other styles as well. That fact gave them longevity, and a reputation that out-lived them both. Pioneers of the craft of deejaying. May you still spin to your hearts desire in the here-after. God Bless.
The Wild Child I remember it well. Sunday nights me and my friend Frankie. Occasionally we would leave snd go to a nieghborhood dive bar and drink cheap drinks and laugh at the old hookers with the permanently unlit cigarette dangling from her lips, waiting for a gentleman suitor to step up. Then we'd run back to the club and dance fiercely. Several times we gathered a huge crowd and had them come back to our friend's house. It was a huge mansion with a pool and tennis courts and when her parents werenot home we'd take over and play Soul Makossa all night long....