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Joey Madonia

First Name: Joey

Last Name: Madonia

Location: FT. Lauderdale - FL

Occupation: D.J., Sound, Lighting, Video, Electrical, Custom Wood & Metal Fabrication and Istallation.

Hobbies: Collecting Records & Vintage Audio Equipment. Cooking Italian food for people I like. Living the word.

Personal Bio: Joey Madonia started collecting Night Club records in 1970, the first club he went to was The Sanctuary, he was brought there in 1970 by Frankie, Harry, and Cisco Ramos of the legendary Downtown Records N.Y.C.. Once exposed to this music his record collecting career started. The Sanctuary is one of the clubs that not only influenced him but lead him to buy every song ever played at the legendary club. This made him not only an authority of the music but also began his impressive collection.In turn, it lead him to become one of the original DJ pioneers of the night club industry in N.Y.C.

Joey Madonia started playing records professionally in 1972 at The SHAFT in NYC which started a list of dozens of night clubs in the NYC area. Galaxy 21, which was headed by the legendary DJ Walter Gibbons, and the Barefoot Boy, with head DJ Tony Smith were two out of the many he played at. During that period of time he had the opportunity to see the first record pool in the United States established at 99 Prince Street (The Loft), which he was a member of. At the record pool he met DJ Larry Levan, which he quickly became friends with. Frankie Ramos was responsible for taking him to the first Loft (Broadway location) prior to the Prince Street location in 1973, where he met David Mancuso. Joey Madonia was one of the privilege people to have close association within the inner circle of such people as David Mancuso (The Loft), Nicky Siano (The Gallery), Richard Long (Richard Long and Associates) Mike Stone(Soho Place),Larry Levan (Paradise Garage) Francis Grasso (The Sanctuary) and Frankie Knuckles, this meant hanging out in the club when it was not open and in the homes of these people. Because of his friendship with Larry Levan he was asked by Larry to become his lighting operator and sound tech at The Paradise Garage NYC between 1979-1982, taking a brake from D.J.-ing he took the job. After a few years Joey moved to Florida and continued his D.J. career, one of the clubs in Florida being the Paragon which was given to him by D.J Frankie knuckles. After working at various night clubs he also got a job with a professional sound & lighting company which he worked on and off for 16 years. During that time he also opened the first Loft style after hours in Ft. Lauderdale (Good Life) which led to three other after hour clubs. Larry Levan was invited to play at the Warsaw Ballroom by legendary D.J. David Padilla in Miami in 1989 which is how he met David Padilla, the two became friends for many years and eventually Joey became David’s lighting operator at the legendary Mix after hours in South Beach, Miami. Aside from DJ,ing he is in business for him self designing sound systems, light shows, specialty electrical systems & custom d.j. consoles (Custom Made Systems, Inc. Xtreme Engineering).

He recently was extensively interviewed for “MAESTRO” on DVD.

A documentary about the night club scene and The specialty audio equipment segment.

Joey is curently doing guest DJ spots with SOBE SOUL South Beach, Miami.
and a once a year party called back to Paradise / Back to my Roots @ Laundry Bar South Beach Miami.

He has also been added to the Disco DJ hall.

All who know Joey know he is one of the most knowledgeable people on the face of the earth that knows CLASSIC CLUB DANCE MUSIC to the tee, and also keeps his collection current.

Recent completed project: Club Paris / Orlando Florida see pics in the gallery at www.custommade.cc

Here is a list of DJ's he associated with on a personal basis due to being one of the pioneer D.J.'s of that time.
• Francis Grasso • Alfie Davison • Michael Cappello • Tony Gioe • David Todd • Larry Paterson • Walter Gibbons • Tony Smith • Dwayne Dixon • Richie Kaczor • David Mancuso
• Larry Levan • Frankie Knuckles • Joseph Bonfiglio • Mike stone • Bob Casey • Ronald Coles • John Colon • Richard Conte • Steve D'Acquisto • Bobby Guttadaro • Kenny Carpenter • T Scott • Joe Palminteri • Eddie Rivera • David Rodriguez • Tom Savarese • Nicky Siano • Louie Vega • David Padilla • Paul Casella • Brian Tappart • Tony Wilson • Bill Kelly • David Solero

 

 

Submitted by Joey Madonia (1)