Preston FM are proud to broadcast Parts 1-5 of the excellent documentary "A Piece Of Paradise" New York's Paradise Garage club and its DJ Larry Levan. This was first broadcast by BBC 6 Music earlier this month.
Wednesday's Show - 57th Heaven - Larry Levan's Birthday.
Part 3 features interviews with DJ Victor Rosado, singer Taana Gardner and DJ David Depino. Three people who worked with Larry Levan closely. Produced by Eddie Gordon & Lenny Fontana.
Larry would have been 57 years old this month had he not succumbed to heart failure due to his narcotic addiction. One of his career highlights in his short 38 years was his remix of Gwen Guthrie's song "Seventh Heaven" for Island Records.
Tonight we are given a close perspective of Larry from two of his co-DJ's and the artist who's record Levan remixed to success.
DJ Victor Rosado - A New York DJ who played at the Garage many times and toured the world with Larry right up to his passing tells of how he met Larry, the character, and the sad times as Levan's career came down with the closing of the Paradise Garage in 1987.
Music Beds:
Manuel Gotsching - E2 E4
Kano - I'm Ready
Main Ingredient - Happiness Just Around The Bend
Pleasure - Take A Chance
TW Funkmasters - Love Money
Creative Source - Who Is He and What Is He To You
Syliva Striplin - Give Me Your Love
Jimmy Bo Horne - Spank
Xavier Gold - You Use To Hold Me
Man Friday - Real Love
Rio Edits - So Much Love To Give
Taana Gardner - From Westfield, New Jersey, her first release for West End Records was "Heartbeat" which became an international hit after Larry remixed the song for the clubs.
The track was heavily sampled in the #1 hit for Ini Kamoze "Here Come's The Hot Stepper", also in the De La Soul classic "Buddy", as well as being covered by the Clivilles and Cole produced act Seduction, going onto be be a hit all over again. Taana also recorded other sings with Levan including "Work That Body".
Tonight she speaks fondly of Larry plus the experience of walking, scared, onto the Paradise Garage stage for the first time to sing "Heartbeat" to the capacity crowd.
Music Beds:
Straff - Set It Off
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Taana Gardner - Work That Body
DJ David Depino - Depino was one of the main DJ's in the Paradise Garage.
Here he speaks of his relationship with Larry in a glorious reflective manner, rich in New York colloquialisms, tales of the two of them fighting over records.
How amazing working in the club was an some of the nights including the very night of the 2nd Anniversary in 1979.
Depino will share the incredible live performance of Loleatta Holloway and Dan Hartman singing "Relight My Fire" live that night as well as the work he still does today in 2011 to keep Larry's memory alive.
Music Beds:
Ultra High Frequency - We're On The Right Track
South Shore Commission - Freeman
Labelle - What Can You Do For Me
CJ And Co - We Got Our Own Thing
Instant Funk - I Got My Mind Made Up
Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait
ESG - Moody
Phreek - Weekend
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Dan Hartman - Relight My Fire
Wednesday 24th August 2011
Preston FM
10-11pm
Listen online here or tune to 103.2fm
Parts 3-5 will be broadcast Wednesday to Friday this week - 10-11pm.
