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Francis Grasso
Regarded as the first Disco DJ to beat-mix records back in the late 1960s (b. 1948 - 2001)
Francis Grasso was an American disc jockey from New York City, best known for inventing the technique of slip-cueing and later beatmatching which is the foundation of the modern club DJ's technique.
Francis started his DJ career in 1967 at a New York City nightclub called Salvation II. When the primary DJ Terry Noel failed to show up on time, the owners offered Francis the job. It was there and at subsequent New York City clubs such as Tarots and his most famous nightclub, Sanctuary (featured in the movie Klute) where Francis perfected his craft.
Though he died in March of 2001, the skills and techniques he pioneered remain the foundation of what is heard in a modern nightclub.
Check out a rare recording of Francis Grasso at The Sanctuary circa 1971 by Luis Mario Orellana:
Submitted by Bozak (1)
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Apr 22, 09 | 11:34 pmActually, the photo credit goes to me as those pictures cam from my tripod.com memorial site for Francis Grasso, Phil Dickerson and Rick Squillante. All stories also list their original author's credits too.
DJ John England
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Nov 18, 08 | 6:24 am
D.J. Luis Mario "Flaco" Orellana's Trivute to Francis.
The Sanctuary - Francis Grasso - 1971 Live Recording - Part 1
Please use this URL http://www.youtube.com/...
This is a small sample from the full recording.
The Full Recording Contains 21 Tracks Recorded & Remastered By Luis Mario "Flaco" D.J.
This recording was made approximately between 3 am & 7 am.
Keep in mind this was a small battery operated recorder.
New York 1970. "The Sanctuary" 43rd Street & 8th Ave.
I would like to pay tribute to my friend and mentor Francis Grasso the innovator and creator of the slip-cueing Mix. I would like to thank Francis for allowing me to record him while he was playing, a little recorder was placed near the DJ area "The Altar" remember this was a church. You can hear the participation from the audience and how they reacted to the music this man was playing and mixing by clapping their hands, cheering and chanting with whistles and screams.
Outside the club there was a sea of people trying to get in, by midnight Francis would arrive while Michael Capello was warming up the crowd and to this day he is up there with the pioneers of DJ's. I had the honor to work with Francis 2 times once at "The Directoire" along with Al Garcia & Leo Sayan and the other time at the after hours club "Cobra's" where he would come in the middle of the night and ask me to let him play, how could I say no to a legend. I will keep Francis' memories alive and continue to play the music that made all the DJ's pay attention and to be creative, to learn how to read a crowd and how to manipulate and teach the audience that the DJ is in control not the other way around. Sadly, the man passed away just prior to his 53rd birthday, on March 20, 2001. I'd like to know if any of you remember these clubs and if you have any memories of it please add it. If anyone would like a copy of the entire recording maybe we can work something out.
List of songs in this recording
Don't Worry - Curtis Mayfield
You Brough The Joy - Denise LaSalle
Stick Up - Honey Cone
I Know I'm In Love - Cheche & Peppy
You're The One - Little Sisters
You're The One - Three Degrees
Stand - Sly & The Family Stone
Moment of Truth - Earth, Wind & Fire
Scorpio - Denis Coffey
C'mon Children - Earth, Wind & Fire
I'm Coming - Bobby Bird
Life And Death - Abaco Dream
Rain - Dorothy Morrison
I Wanna Take You Higher
Sultana - Titanic
Dam Fool - Exuma
Melting Pot - Booker T & The MG's
K-Gee - The Night Liters
Shaft - Issac Hayes
Listen Here - Bryand Trinity
Funky Chicken - Rufus Thomas - Part 1
The credit for these pictures belong to Phil Dickerson & Rick Squillante
From "Disco" by Albert Goldman, 1978.
From suenomartino.net
GET THAT PERFECT BEAT; FACE MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 1983
From the liner notes of the Rhino Disco Box Set:
Francis Grasso (Obituary from the New York Times, Sunday April 8th, 2001.)
I remember it well. What about
96 Tears: Question Mark & the Mysterians (the closing song)
The BAr Kays; Sha na na na
Baby Huey: Listen to me