Who ever said Disco was dead,didn't live in South Florida. We came from Cuba in the 60s. Musically we were welcomed by Elvis,The
Beatles,The Monkees but were were too young . We were still playing with our G.I. Joes. By the mid to late 70s we were beginning to
notice girls, we were going to parties. they were noticing us. We were listening to the Miracles " Love Machine " The Beginning of
the End "Funky Nassau" Barabas " Woman" we didn't really get into rock although we listened to it,but as more dance oriented
groups and artists surfaced ,the parties got better. So much that little bars started playing these records music while customers
drank. Somebody volunteered to bring their personal record collection to these establishments and thus the birth of the "mobile DJ
". One of the earliest companies I could remember doing this here back in the 70s, was a company called SOUNDS UNLIMITED.They
used to bring a reel to reel set up and their program was pre recorded ,no requests here. They did manage to do all the large venues
in South Floirida, Dupont Plaza,Dinner Key, Club de las Americas
Soon every one was a DJ. All it took was two belt driven BSR McDonald turntables ( with no pitch control ) a Radio Shack
microphone mixer ( No Cue ) some 45 RPM records from E.R.E. Records or the Record Gallery and a ride from Mom or Dad to your
next gig.
In The early 70s ,Local Musical groups were extremely popular and enjoyed a large following , groups such as Heaven, Mantrap,
Clockwork, Pearly Queen,Hemlock,Unit 3, The Antiques , Coke ( later OPUS ) Adam’s Apple, Ecstacy ,Clouds . Latin Groups such as
Conjunto Universal, Tipica Tropical, Los Jovenes del Hierro,Luis Santi, Rey and his Court, Carlos Oliva, Willy Chirino appearing in
High School Dances and venues called “ Open Houses “ large halls or Hotel ballrooms that would be rented out, sometimes by the
bands themselves. Typically a small cover charge ( anywhere from $2 to $5 ) with only soft drinks served inside, and a row of chairs
that would line the walls that would seat the chaperonas. One of the most popular spots at the time was “ El Salon Azul “ made
locally famous by DJ Jimmy E. Disco and the late Enrique de la Masa from the Rikki Tikki show on Cadena Azul. Later others
opened such as “ The Forest “. “ The Beat “ Midway Skating Center “ and SKIPS Teen Disco,on the other side of town we had
Super Star Roller Tek and Pack Jam Teen Disco.The halls that catered to these Open Houses should also be mentioned since the
actual spaces became as popular as the events themselves ; Club de las Americas, Electrician’s Hall , Our Lady of Lebanon ,Polish
American ,Dupont , Dinner Key, Salon Sofia and when they were Latin Flavored they were known as “ El Baile de la Coca Cola “.
Disco flourished,and has remained a staple of Miami Nightlife,although now it is limited to a few venues usually catering to 40 plus .
The " Radio" Disco survives because of it's nostalgic connection to the time aside from appearing in countless of movie
soundtracks. Unfortunately the Club Music the " Peter Jacques" "Kikrokos" "DD Sounds" " THP Orchestra " that type of orchestral
sounding tracks are becoming lost classics that only a handful of us can enjoy. It would be quite difficult to try to educate or train a
younger person to acquire a taste or appreciation for this style. At least here in Miami ,there are still a few thousand of us that will
keep the torch lit.
Beatles,The Monkees but were were too young . We were still playing with our G.I. Joes. By the mid to late 70s we were beginning to
notice girls, we were going to parties. they were noticing us. We were listening to the Miracles " Love Machine " The Beginning of
the End "Funky Nassau" Barabas " Woman" we didn't really get into rock although we listened to it,but as more dance oriented
groups and artists surfaced ,the parties got better. So much that little bars started playing these records music while customers
drank. Somebody volunteered to bring their personal record collection to these establishments and thus the birth of the "mobile DJ
". One of the earliest companies I could remember doing this here back in the 70s, was a company called SOUNDS UNLIMITED.They
used to bring a reel to reel set up and their program was pre recorded ,no requests here. They did manage to do all the large venues
in South Floirida, Dupont Plaza,Dinner Key, Club de las Americas
Soon every one was a DJ. All it took was two belt driven BSR McDonald turntables ( with no pitch control ) a Radio Shack
microphone mixer ( No Cue ) some 45 RPM records from E.R.E. Records or the Record Gallery and a ride from Mom or Dad to your
next gig.
In The early 70s ,Local Musical groups were extremely popular and enjoyed a large following , groups such as Heaven, Mantrap,
Clockwork, Pearly Queen,Hemlock,Unit 3, The Antiques , Coke ( later OPUS ) Adam’s Apple, Ecstacy ,Clouds . Latin Groups such as
Conjunto Universal, Tipica Tropical, Los Jovenes del Hierro,Luis Santi, Rey and his Court, Carlos Oliva, Willy Chirino appearing in
High School Dances and venues called “ Open Houses “ large halls or Hotel ballrooms that would be rented out, sometimes by the
bands themselves. Typically a small cover charge ( anywhere from $2 to $5 ) with only soft drinks served inside, and a row of chairs
that would line the walls that would seat the chaperonas. One of the most popular spots at the time was “ El Salon Azul “ made
locally famous by DJ Jimmy E. Disco and the late Enrique de la Masa from the Rikki Tikki show on Cadena Azul. Later others
opened such as “ The Forest “. “ The Beat “ Midway Skating Center “ and SKIPS Teen Disco,on the other side of town we had
Super Star Roller Tek and Pack Jam Teen Disco.The halls that catered to these Open Houses should also be mentioned since the
actual spaces became as popular as the events themselves ; Club de las Americas, Electrician’s Hall , Our Lady of Lebanon ,Polish
American ,Dupont , Dinner Key, Salon Sofia and when they were Latin Flavored they were known as “ El Baile de la Coca Cola “.
Disco flourished,and has remained a staple of Miami Nightlife,although now it is limited to a few venues usually catering to 40 plus .
The " Radio" Disco survives because of it's nostalgic connection to the time aside from appearing in countless of movie
soundtracks. Unfortunately the Club Music the " Peter Jacques" "Kikrokos" "DD Sounds" " THP Orchestra " that type of orchestral
sounding tracks are becoming lost classics that only a handful of us can enjoy. It would be quite difficult to try to educate or train a
younger person to acquire a taste or appreciation for this style. At least here in Miami ,there are still a few thousand of us that will
keep the torch lit.
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The purpose of this web site is to promote artists and music that would otherwise go unheard ,
Whilst reasonable effort is taken to ensure the accuracy, integrity and currency of the information published on this web site, it should not be relied on to the point where it could significantly introduce
any respective claim.
All images found on this web site are the explicit property of the artists
The purpose of this web site is to promote artists and music that would otherwise go unheard ,
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